Here’s the thing nobody tells you when you finish school: everyone is in exactly the same position.
Every single person applying for their first job has no experience. That’s what a first job is. The trick isn’t to pretend you have experience you don’t, it’s to show employers what you do have, and make it easy for them to say yes.
Stop applying for jobs that ask for experience
This sounds obvious, but a lot of school leavers waste months applying for roles that were never going to hire them. If the job ad says “minimum 2 years experience required,” move on. There are thousands of employers in Australia actively looking for people with no experience, people they can train, shape, and keep long-term. Those are the jobs worth your energy.
Entry-level roles, apprenticeships, traineeships, and graduate-level casual positions are designed for you. Start there.
Show what you’ve actually done
You have more to offer than you think. School doesn’t count for nothing. Think about:
Part-time or casual work, even if it was just a few shifts Volunteering or community involvement School leadership roles, sports teams, clubs Projects, competitions, or awards Looking after siblings or helping at family businesses
None of it has to be formal employment. Employers hiring school leavers aren’t looking for a 10-year track record, they’re looking for someone who shows up, learns fast, and gets along with people. Give them evidence of that.
Your application needs to be clear, not clever
I’ve hired a lot of people over the years. A cover letter that clearly says who you are, what you’re after, and why you want that specific job will beat a generic template every time. Don’t write what you think sounds impressive. Write what’s true.
Same with your resume. Keep it to one page. Put your education, any work or volunteer experience, and three or four skills that are actually relevant. Leave the rest out.
Apply wider than you think you need to
Getting your first job usually takes more applications than you expect. That’s not a reflection of you, it’s just numbers. Some employers don’t respond. Some roles fill internally. Some interviewers just pick someone they already know.
Don’t take it personally. Keep applying. Adjust your application after each rejection if you can figure out why. And keep showing up.
Follow up
Most applicants don’t follow up. A short, polite email a week after applying, just checking in and reiterating your interest, is noticed more than you’d think. It takes two minutes and it separates you from everyone who applied and disappeared.
The best thing you can do right now is get clear on what kind of work you’re actually suited to. Not just what’s available, what fits how you think and work. That’s where RooKi’s career assessment comes in. It takes about 15 minutes and matches you to real career categories based on your personality, strengths and working style. Then you can start applying to the right jobs, not just any jobs.