Trail map

How do I get a job? Seven steps, in the order you walk them.

To get a job, work through the steps in order. List the skills you already have, pick two or three job types to aim for, write a short resume, look in more than one place, send applications shaped to each ad, practise for interviews and follow up. Keep a simple record so nothing slips.

What do I need before I set off?

  • A phone number you answer, with a clear voicemail greeting
  • An email address that is simply your name
  • Two people who have agreed to be your referees
  • A folder for every ad you apply to
1

Trailhead

Where do I start?

Start with what you already have. Take a sheet of paper and write down ten things you can do. Include paid work, school, sport, caring for family, volunteering and hobbies. Beside each one, note where you did it and what happened. This list feeds your resume, your cover letters and your interview answers.

2

Fork in the path

What kind of job should I go for?

Choose two or three job titles, not twenty. Read five ads for each and circle the words that keep coming up, such as "reliable", "customer service" or "forklift licence". If an ad asks for something you lack, check whether it is a must or a nice extra. Aim for jobs where you meet most of the list.

3

Pack your bag

What should my resume say?

Keep it to one or two pages. Put your name, phone and email at the top, then a three-line summary of who you are and what you are after. List work and other experience with the newest first. Under each, write two or three dot points that start with a doing word: served, packed, organised, fixed. Finish with your two referees. Check the spelling twice.

4

Lookout

Where do I look for jobs?

Look in several places each week. Set email alerts on the big job sites. Visit the careers pages of employers you like. Tell friends, family, old workmates and coaches that you are looking, and say what kind of work you want. For shops, cafes and trades, walking in with a resume at a quiet time is still worth doing. Ask for the manager and be brief.

5

River crossing

How do I apply well?

Shape each application to the ad. Use the same words the ad uses when they are true for you. Write a short cover letter: which job, why you want it, two reasons you fit and how to reach you. Follow every instruction, down to the file name. Then log it: employer, job, date sent and the date you will check back.

6

The steep bit

How do I get ready for an interview?

Read the ad again and look up the business. Prepare three short stories that show a skill in action: what was going on, what you did and how it ended. Say them out loud until they sound natural. Plan your trip, your clothes and two questions to ask. Arrive ten minutes early.

7

Rest stop

What if I hear nothing back?

Not every application gets a reply, and silence is not a verdict on you. If a week or two passes, send a polite follow-up. After each batch of applications, look for a pattern. No replies at all can mean the resume needs work. Interviews with no offer can mean the answers need practice. Change one thing, then go again.

From the course

This passage on step one comes from the lesson Skills Profiling and Values in our Getting a Job course.

Before you can plan where you are going, you need to know what you already bring. Skills profiling is the process of listing what you can do, what you enjoy and what matters to you. This is not a one-off task. Your skills profile is a living document that grows as you gain new experiences.

Everyone has skills, even if they have never had a paid job. Think about what you have done at school, in sport, at home or while helping out in your community. These are called transferable skills because they move with you from one setting to another.

Common transferable skills include:

  • Communication: explaining things clearly, listening, writing
  • Teamwork: working with others toward a shared goal
  • Problem solving: finding solutions when something goes wrong
  • Time management: getting things done on time, setting priorities
  • Organisation: keeping track of tasks, materials and schedules
  • Customer service: helping people, staying patient, being friendly

Open the Worthy Courses demo to read the full lesson, free.

Your options

This list was judged on three things: how useful each option is for someone job hunting right now, how it is priced and whether it ends in a recognised qualification.

  1. Worthy Courses our course

    Getting a Job is our career planning course. It helps you work out what suits you, research Australian industries and finish with a plan you can act on. It sits first because we make it. Pass the final assessment and you earn a certificate of completion, not a recognised qualification.

  2. Workforce Australia

    This is the Australian Government's employment service, and job seekers use it for free. It offers job search and online tools, plus providers who work with job seekers. Go here first to see whether a provider can help with your search. Its website has the current details.

  3. Your Career

    A free career information website run by the Australian Government. Use it for exploring occupations or for a course search. It is the stronger pick while you are still choosing which kind of work to aim for. See the site for more.

  4. TAFE

    Every state and territory has a TAFE, its public training provider. TAFE teaches nationally recognised qualifications and accredited short courses. Pick it when the job you want asks for a recognised qualification. Cost shifts by course, by state and by whether a subsidy applies. Our link is the national register of training.

  5. LinkedIn Learning

    Picture a large library, global in reach, where every item is a video course teaching a professional skill. A subscription opens the door. It fits a reader who would sooner watch than read and wants many subjects under one roof. Its own pages list the plans.

Why Worthy Courses

Worthy Courses builds practical employment skills training here in Australia: 9 online courses that hold 52 modules between them. Getting a Job covers the planning end of this map. Job Readiness covers the hunt itself, from CVs to interviews.

Lessons are written in plain English, at a Grade 6 to 9 reading level, so they make sense the first time. Learn at your own pace, on any device. Each module has a quiz, and the course ends with a scored final assessment. Pass it and you earn a verifiable certificate of completion you can show an employer.

A single course costs $299 and stays open until you finish it. Three courses of your choice cost $599, the full set of 9 costs $799 and both packs come with lifetime access. Every full-price purchase funds one free place, given through an eligible organisation.

See the Getting a Job course

Questions and answers

How long does it take to get a job?

It depends on the job, the area and the time of year, so nobody can give you a date. What you control is being steady: a set number of applications each week and a follow-up for each one.

Will this course get me a job?

No course can promise that, and we do not. It teaches practical skills you can use in a job search and at work.

Can I get a job with no experience?

You can apply. Use examples from school, sport, volunteering or home to show the skills the ad names.

Is this course accredited or nationally recognised?

No. It is not a nationally recognised qualification and it is not accredited training. Worthy Courses is not a registered training organisation. Pass the final assessment and you earn a Worthy Courses certificate of completion.