Explore Your Career Options
Not sure what career you want yet? Merge helps you explore real options before you commit to a path. Our participants go on to careers across:
Merge uses Transfr VR to help young adults experience different work environments and career paths through immersive virtual reality, so you can get a feel for a job before you commit to training for it.
Find Your Path
Explore the four ways Merge can help, based on where you are and what you need next.
Career Readiness
Build the skills and confidence to compete for a job, through either structured, long-term support or the flexible help when you need it.
Paid Work Experience
Get paid, hands-on experience while you build your resume and professional network.
Skilled Trades & Apprenticeships
Train for a hands-on career in construction, electrical, solar, plumbing, or HVAC.
Career Growth & Support
Get support after you’re hired, plus help with transportation and other everyday barriers.
Career Readiness
Workforce EDGE: Comprehensive Career Preparation
A structured, long-term program. Through professional development training, individualized career planning, and access to Merge employer partners, you’ll build the skills and preparation needed to move toward sustainable employment.
Program Commitment
A minimum one-year engagement, with a signed Accountability Agreement outlining your responsibilities and Merge’s commitment to supporting you.
What participants receive
BRIDGE: Flexible Career Assistance
Focused help during Merge’s designated office hours— building or updating a resume, practicing through mock interviews, and planning your next career step, without the one-year commitment of Workforce EDGE.
Which pathway fits you best?
Workforce EDGE
BRIDGE
You can move between Workforce EDGE and BRIDGE as your goals and needs change — our team can help you find the right starting point.
Paid Work Experience
WEX: Work Experience
Get paid. Gain experience. Build your next step. WEX gives you paid, hands-on work experience to build workplace skills, confidence, and professional connections—alongside career coaching and support to help you move toward longer-term employment.
What participants receive
Eligibility and available opportunities depend on the specific cohort.
AI-Focused Cohort
A specialized opportunity within WEX: paid work experience while learning how AI tools are used in the workplace, alongside professional development, coaching, and support. Helps you build confidence with technology and prepare for a workplace where AI is becoming part of everyday tasks.
Skilled Trades & Apprenticeships
MAP: Build Skills for a Career in the Trades
MAP helps you explore and prepare for skilled-trades careers through technical training, hands-on experience, credentials, and employer connections, including help connecting with apprenticeship and employment opportunities.
Career Areas
Training & Credentials
Varies by opportunity, and may include OSHA 30 safety training, trade-specific instruction, and relevant certifications. SkillCat provides online learning to support technical skill development.
Women in Construction
A focused opportunity within MAP helping women explore and prepare for construction and related skilled-trades careers.
Support continues after you’re hired.
Career Growth & Support
LEAD: Support Beyond Getting the Job
Once you’re hired, you move into LEAD; no need to start over or enroll separately. Merge stays connected to help you retain employment, navigate workplace challenges, and keep growing in your career.
Support May Include
Drive2Thrive
Reliable transportation can make the difference between getting a job and being able to keep it. Drive2Thrive connects donated vehicles with eligible participants who need transportation to reach training, interviews, and work. Vehicle availability and eligibility determine access.
Additional Support
Depending on individual needs and available resources, Merge may provide assistance or referrals for workplace essentials, financial education, and other practical barriers to employment—available throughout your journey, not just at one program stage. Talk with the Merge team about what you need.
For Workforce Boards, Employers & Referral Partners
Looking to Refer Participants or Partner with Merge?
Merge works with partners across Los Angeles and Orange Counties to connect young adults with career preparation, training, work experience, and employment.
Workforce Boards
Partner with Merge on referrals, cohort opportunities, and eligibility coordination for paid work experience, training, and employment.
Referral Partners
Schools, community organization, nonprofits, reentry programs, and foster-youth organizations: help a young adult connect with the pathway that fits their goals, whether that’s career exploration, paid experience, skilled-trades training, or flexible career support.
Employers
Hire talent, host paid work experience, offer apprenticeships, or mentor participants. We also collaborate on specialized cohorts.
Train-to-Retain
Support your employees beyond the hire. Train-to-Retain helps employers strengthen retention through continued support and guidance on challenges that affect workplace success.
Program questions
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Find the right opportunity
Whether you are looking for a program, referring a young adult, hiring talent, or exploring a workforce partnership, we can help you find the right next step.
IGNITE
Prepare for careers through readiness, training, and work experience.
Programs in this Track
You walk away with
Job-ready skills and real paid experience
Train to Retain
Upskill current workers and help partners deliver training within their own programs.
Programs in this Track
You walk away with
A stronger, longer-lasting workforce
Drive2Thrive
Remove transportation barriers so participants can reach training and employment.
Programs in this Track
You walk away with
A reliable ride to work and training
LEAD
Learn, Elevate, Advance, Develop. Support growth through mentorship and youth leadership.
Programs in this Track
You walk away with
Confidence, guidance, and a path up