Getting a first job is a well-known catch-22: employers want experience, but you need a job to get experience. For young people facing disadvantage, the challenge is steeper. They may have left school early, moved between homes, been carers for family members, or simply not had anyone around them who could open a door to work.
This article looks at what young people bring, the barriers they face and how a good first job can change the direction of a life.
What young people bring
It is easy to describe young people by what they lack. We prefer to start with what they bring:
- Digital confidence: comfortable with technology, apps and online systems that many workplaces now rely on
- Energy and willingness to learn: often keen to try new things and pick up skills quickly
- Fresh perspectives: noticing things that people who have been around longer can miss
- Resilience: many young people facing disadvantage have already dealt with more than most adults
- Informal experience: caring for siblings, helping in a family business, volunteering, sport and casual work all build real skills
The barriers are often invisible
Some barriers are obvious, like not having a driver licence or reliable transport. Others are harder to see:
- not knowing what kinds of jobs exist or how to find them
- having no one to ask for a reference or an introduction
- gaps in foundation skills such as reading, writing, maths or digital literacy
- unstable housing or family circumstances that make routine difficult
- low confidence after negative experiences at school
Recognising these barriers early means a first job is more likely to last.
Building foundations
For some young people, the most useful first step is building foundation skills: literacy, numeracy, digital skills and the everyday knowledge of how workplaces operate. Pre-employment workshops can help with confidence, resumes and interview practice. For others, an entry-level qualification through one of our partner registered training organisations is the right next step, especially in industries with clear pathways for new workers.
What matters is that the steps connect. Training should lead somewhere the young person wants to go, and work should be a place where they can keep learning.
A first job is more than a pay cheque
A good first job teaches routine, responsibility and how to work with others. It builds a work history and a reference. Most importantly, it shows a young person that they can succeed in a workplace, which shapes every job that comes after.
That is why support in the first weeks matters so much. Small problems, like a misunderstanding with a supervisor or a transport issue, can turn into a lost job if no one helps sort them out early.
A first job is where people learn what they are capable of. It deserves to be set up well.
How we can help
We work with young people to understand what they want to do, build the skills and confidence to get there, and connect with employers who are willing to give new workers a genuine start. Each young person has one point of contact, and support continues after they start work.
If you are a young person looking for work, or you support one, get in touch or call 1800 993 557. Youth workers and caseworkers can read about how referrals and consent work.