Getting A Job – Advice For Early Careers

Ready to take the next step and look for work?

getting a job

Get job hunting tips from experts and young people who know what it’s like.

Getting a job is harder than it sounds! Are you stuck for career ideas? Need CV advice and interview tips? Or looking out for Youth Friendly Employers?Do you know which life and work skills employers are looking for, and how to show them you’ve got what it takes?

You’ll get what you’re looking for – but sometimes it takes time! Work on your confidence, stay motivated and shine bright like the Young Professional you are.

How to find a job

Once you are 18 or over you can work in a job full-time. Until then, you need to be in some form of education.

If you are under 18 but want to brush the school dust off your feet get into the workplace, you can always find out more about apprenticeships.

There is no such thing as pointless work experience. Everything helps you grow.

Job Hunting Advice

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Interview Tips

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CV Tips

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Finding A Job – Your Stories

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What Are Your Future Plans?

I know what my future plans are

If you know what kind of career you’re interested in…

  • Explore ways into your career on our Careers Hub
  • Visit the career websites of employers you’d like to work for
  • Search online for jobs that suit your experience
  • Tell Jobcentre Pluswhich areas of work interest you
  • Check social media for hashtags like #PRjobs or #Apprenticeships.

And, of course, polish your CV and cover letter so that your education and work experience sounds like a great match for that specific area of work.

I don’t know my future plans yet

Everyone has more than one career inside them, and more than one job they’d be great at doing. It’s fine if you’re not sure what you want to do yet.

Try a few things and give them your all. It may not be your dream job but you’ll pick up great skills and knowledge for the future.

Use our free Young Professional training to boost skills and find opportunities.

Achieving success in a job that wasn’t right for you could lead to getting other amazing jobs you might not even know about yet.

And it’s always good to stay sweet with your employers and get a good reference, even if you’re not working in your dream job!

Browse Our Youth Friendly Employers For Job Opportunities

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.
Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.

Martin Brower Careers Break into business, admin and supply careers with Martin Brower. Don't settle for the status quo. EXPLORE Royal Air Force There’s nothing like a career in the RAF, it’s not just a job but a way of living. EXPLORE Surrey County Council Careers Thinking about rewarding apprenticeships and early careers in a diverse environment? Fire up your career with SCC! EXPLORE Essex Youth Service Aged 13-25 and live in Essex? Get involved in fun activities, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and online Plan B Traineeships. EXPLORE Generation: Free Skills Training Get FREE skills and careers training today! Generation gives you skills and connects you with employers to find a job fast. EXPLORE Coca-Cola EuroPacific Want to work for one of the most well-known brands in the world? They work hard to develop their young people! EXPLORE IHG Early Careers Discover how you can grow your career in hospitality! EXPLORE VHR Technical Recruitment The VHR talent academy can help you get into a successful technical recruitment career - with NO experience! EXPLORE Get Into Teaching You can get a teaching degree for FREE with apprenticeships! EXPLORE Catch22 Youth Services Want to overcome barriers in life, whatever your background? Want employers to give you a chance? We can help. EXPLORE Haven Joining Haven is more than just a job. Our early careers are a breath of fresh air! EXPLORE McDonald's Early Careers You probably knew you can get McDonald's Apprenticeships. Did you know you can also study for a FREE Management Degree? EXPLORE NCFE Vocational Qualifications Young people get amazing perks when they work for the NCFE, with apprenticeships and more. The training is great, too. EXPLORE Environment Agency Careers Our work helps to protect and improve the environment to make it a better place for people and wildlife. Join us! EXPLORE Coach Core Apprenticeships See how Coach Core Apprenticeships get you into sport careers EXPLORE Severn Trent Careers Discover opportunities for apprentices, graduates and undergraduates in the office and beyond! EXPLORE ABP Foods Apprenticeships, graduate schemes and an AMAZING early careers academy in the world of sustainable food EXPLORE Careers in Eyecare From healthcare lab to high street fashion - you don't need a degree to open your eyes to eyecare careers EXPLORE Aspiration Training Traineeships & Apprenticeships in childcare, dental nursing, teaching, health/social care, and business admin EXPLORE Careers in Racing Horse racing is a great career choice! British Racing is the 2nd largest spectator sport after football. EXPLORE Historic England Discover early careers in heritage for all backgrounds, skills and interests. EXPLORE Working in local government Local government touches everyone's lives every day EXPLORE Pret Apprenticeships & Careers When you apply for a Pret Apprenticeship or junior role, you’ll belong to a community of achievers. Get support on your own unique career journey! EXPLORE Prezzo Restaurant Careers Prezzo offers so many early careers, from cooking great food and giving great customer service to managing like a boss! EXPLORE The British Library Work experience, internships and apprenticeships with The British Library open up a WORLD of possibilities. EXPLORE
The British Library
Royal Air Force

getting a job