FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common questions, answered.

GENERAL
APPLICANT
EMPLOYER
FUNDER
ALUMNI
ALUMNI

  • NextUp901 is a free career program that connects young adults to careers that pay and grow — and helps local employers find the talent they need.

  • For young adults ages 18–30: get paid to train in Memphis' high-demand fields, with career coaching and support along the way.

    For employers: no-cost job matching for open roles with trained, career-ready talent.

  • NextUp901 is about more than training or filling open jobs. It's about what happens when more Memphians have a real opportunity to build a career, businesses have the talent they need to grow, and our city gets stronger because of both.

    Boundless futures, stronger businesses, a better Memphis.

  • We're the nonprofit behind NextUp901. For ten years, we've run tuition-free, paid career training in Memphis.

    Now we're expanding — with new partners and funding — to grow our cohorts and add support for young adults working toward a high school diploma and those recently impacted by the justice system.

  • Young adults can take our career quiz and apply to the pathway that fits.

    Employers can connect with our team to find career-ready talent.

    Community partners can refer young adults, share opportunities, and help more Memphians connect with NextUp901.

General FAQs

Applicant FAQs

  • If you're between 18 and 30, live in Shelby County, and are ready to build a career that pays and grows, NextUp901 may be for you.

    Here's what we look for:

    • Live in Shelby County with reliable transportation

    • 17 or older now — must be 18 when the program starts

    • 30 or younger when you apply

    • Not currently enrolled in college or another training program

    • Have not completed a college degree or certification program

    • No work experience required

  • We have four pathways. Each one is designed to meet you where you are.

    Foundation Pathway — Earn your high school credential and get career-ready.

    Justice-impacted friendly.

    Forward Pathway — Reentry and career support for people with a justice-impacted background.
    Requires a high school diploma.

    Explore Pathway — Not sure what career fits? Get paid to find out. $17/hr internships.
    Must be 24 or younger. Requires a high school diploma. Justice-impacted friendly.

    Career Pathway — Train for a job in skilled trades, healthcare, or tech.
    Requires a high school diploma. Some programs are justice-impacted friendly. Extra requirements may apply.

    Not sure where to start? Take our career quiz and we'll point you in the right direction.

  • No. You don't need work experience, a resume, or a degree to apply. You just need to be ready to show up and grow.

  • No. NextUp901 is free for every participant, every pathway, every time.

  • No. All training is tuition-free. We cover the cost so you don't have to.

  • Yes. You get paid while you train. You don't have to wait until you finish to start earning.

  • It depends on the pathway you choose. 

    Some pathways are a few months. Others take longer. We'll walk you through the timeline after you apply.

  • We don't turn people away because of a record or time away from work. Several of our pathways are justice-impacted friendly. What matters most is that you're ready to build what's next.

  • You won't go through this alone. Depending on your pathway, you can expect:

    • Get paid while you train and learn

    • Career coaching

    • Hands-on training

    • Peer learning groups

    • Job referrals and employer connections

    • A network that sticks with you after the program ends

  • Most of the programs are in-person and on-site, with some hybrid days depending on the pathway.

  • Not getting in right away doesn't mean the door is closed. We'll keep you connected and let you know when the next opportunity opens up.

Employer FAQs

  • We help employers fill in-demand roles across Memphis. Here's what we currently support:

    Healthcare

    • CNA

    • EMT

    • Medical Assistant

    Technology

    • Entry Level IT

    Skilled Trades

    • Labor & Electrical Apprenticeships

    • Plumbing Apprenticeship

    Business & Operations

    • Customer Service

    • Project Management

    • Coordinators

    Don't see what you need? Tell us. We'll work with you.

  • Every candidate is vetted through a structured screening rubric that looks at hard and soft skills, ambition, and personality.

    Before they ever meet you, they've completed hands-on career training, professional development, and career coaching.


    We screen employers too. Every partnership gets vetted to make sure it's the right fit for our talent pool. We want to set both sides up for success.


    Our support doesn't stop when the program ends. We stay connected with participants and employers to make sure the placement sticks.


    We are background-friendly and follow all applicable laws when it comes to disclosure.

  • We offer placement for full-time roles and paid internships.

    Our matching service is free.

    For full-time hires, you pay the salary. For internships, we cover the $17/hr rate — you just provide the on-site experience.

    Once you've been vetted, we can start sending you candidates within a week for full-time roles.

    Internships are offered through our Explore Pathway only. We run cohorts throughout the year.

    Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when we're accepting employers.

    And follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

  • Nothing. Our matching service is free for employers. You pay the salary for full-time hires and we cover the $17/hr rate for interns.

  • We work with both sides to find a solution. At the end of the day, who's on your team is your call — but we're here to help make it work.

  • Our support doesn't end at placement. Participants stay connected to career coaching, professional development, and our alumni network long after the program ends.

  • Yes! We love tabling events, career exposure events, job fairs, and more. Email us at info@thememphiscollective.org with your company or organization name and what you have in mind.

  • Easy. Sign up for our newsletter and complete an employer interest form. We'll take it from there. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for program updates.

Funder FAQs

  • Success looks like every young adult in Memphis having a real career path to a boundless future. More young people moving into work they care about, earning more over time, and building stability for themselves and their families.

    Here's what we're working toward:

    • 1,000 young adults through our pathways in year one

    • 5,000 over five years

  • We serve two audiences: young adults and employers.

    For young adults, we created a common application that connects them to vetted, reputable workforce development pathways — one place to find training, coaching, and career support at no cost.

    For employers, we offer a one-stop shop for no-cost job sourcing through full-time placement and paid internship opportunities.

  • We pay young adults to learn and train for careers they're excited about. Then we connect them directly to employers looking for career-ready talent.

    No cost to participants. No cost to employers.

    We're a nonprofit solution — we're not here to make money off our audience. We're here to make Memphis stronger.

  • Reach

    • 750+ of young adults served

    • 2K of applicants each year

    • 65+ of employer partners

    • $1MM raised

    • Zip codes reached

    • Jobs and internships secured

    Impact

    • Wage increase over time

    • Employment rate

    Employment

    • Employer satisfaction

    • Percentage of employers who convert interns to full-time hires

    And more. Sign up for our newsletter to get updates on our progress. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more updates.

Alumni FAQs

  • Make sure we have your current email and phone number on file. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

    Don't be a stranger — reach out anytime at info@thememphiscollective.org.

  • Yes! If you know someone ready to level up their career, send them our way.

    Share the link, tell them to take the quiz, and let us handle the rest.

  • There are a few easy ways to stay plugged in:

    • Share NextUp901 on social media and help spread the word

    • Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn

    • Let us know how you're doing — your story matters

    • Participate in our yearly alumni survey. It takes 5 minutes and pays $50

    • Stay in touch with your career coach