Get ready before you apply
Sort out the basics — a professional email, a clear voicemail, a couple of referees, and a Tax File Number and bank account so you can be paid. See the first job guide and tick off the first job checklist.
First job and no experience
Going for your first job, or applying with no experience? You're in the right place. Whether you're a student, leaving school, starting out later or returning to work, this is a free, step-by-step path — with resume and cover letter templates, checklists and plain-English guides. No sign-up, and it works on your phone.
Start here
Your step-by-step path
Work through these in order, or jump to the step you need.
Write your resume
Turn school, skills and life experience into a strong resume. No work or volunteering at all? Use the no experience resume template. Done a placement or some casual work? The entry-level template suits you. Going for a specific area? Try our hospitality, retail or warehouse templates.
Add a short cover letter
A few genuine lines help you stand out. Use the free no experience cover letter (or the entry-level one if you have some experience) and make it your own.
Find jobs and apply
Look for casual and part-time roles in retail, hospitality, warehouses and customer service. Read each ad closely, tailor your application, and check it with the resume checklist before you send.
Prepare for the interview
Get ready for a short interview or trial shift, and follow up afterwards. The phone interview checklist helps if they call you.
Free to use
Templates, checklists and guides
Everything here is free, with no sign-up.
Entry-level resume template
A clean, Australian-format resume for no experience — view on screen and download in Word or PDF.
View & download →Entry-level cover letter
A short, friendly cover letter template for your first job.
View & download →First job checklist
Everything to sort out before, during and after you apply — printable as PDF.
Open the checklist →How to get your first job
The whole process, step by step, for students and first-time job seekers.
Read the guide →Resume with no experience
Turn school, skills and volunteering into a strong resume, with worked examples.
Read the guide →Application message tool
Turn a few details into a short, polite message to send with your application.
Open the tool →Frequently asked questions
How do I get a job with no experience in Australia?
Start with the basics — a resume, a couple of referees, a Tax File Number and a bank account. Write an entry-level resume that highlights your school, skills and any volunteering, add a short cover letter, and apply for casual and part-time roles in industries like retail and hospitality. Tailor each application and follow it up politely.
What are good first jobs for students and teenagers?
Retail (sales assistant, checkout, shelf stacking), hospitality (barista, waitstaff, kitchen hand, fast food), warehouse roles (picker-packer, especially at Christmas) and customer service are common first jobs. They offer plenty of openings, training and flexible casual hours that fit around study.
Do I need a resume and cover letter for a casual job?
Yes — even for casual and part-time roles, a clear resume and a short cover letter help you stand out, especially when you have little experience. Both can be done in an afternoon using a free template.
Is everything on JobCall free?
Yes. Every guide, template, checklist and tool is free, with no sign-up. JobCall helps with the writing and the process; for anything about pay, rights or tax, we point you to official sources like Fair Work and the ATO.
JobCall.com.au provides free, general help with job communication and the application process only —
not legal, employment-law, tax, financial, migration, recruitment or career counselling advice. For pay,
conditions, working age or tax, see official sources such as Fair Work and the ATO, or ask a trusted adult.