Where do you look for a job? Everywhere! Even the most unlikely avenues can prove profitable:
Check out the following web sites:
Don't give up if you don't get the first job you apply for. There will be others, so just keep your eyes and ears open for other job opportunities.
Make sure you have an up-to-date resume (a document which shows your personal details, education and work history). For tips on writing a resume, visit www.seek.com.au.
If you’re studying, undertaking training, or just looking for work, you may be entitled to financial assistance, such as through a Youth Allowance (visit the Centrelink web site for more information).
www.centrelink.gov.au
Your first payday always feels mighty good. Now you don’t have to rely on pocket money! You should receive a regular payslip from your employer giving the details of each salary payment. Your salary can be paid in cash, by cheque or electronic transfer, whereby it is placed directly into an account for you.
Electronic transfer is now the most common method as it makes things easier for employers, and also enables the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to track payments more effectively.
Wages and conditions of employment vary from state to state, and your age and occupation. However, minimum government-legislated conditions apply to most employees.
Some industries, workplaces and jobs are also covered by workplace ‘awards’ and ‘agreements’ between employers and workers, or their unions. These set out pay and conditions. You can ask your employer if an award or agreement applies to you.
When you get your first pay, you’ll notice that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has also taken its cut. There may also be other deductions, such as union fees, superannuation or even payments you've arranged to go into a savings account.
'Entitlements' refer to the conditions of employment set out in an award or in your contract of employment. They may include:
Common leave entitlements include 4 weeks paid annual leave and 5 days paid sick leave each full year of work. Not every employee gets these entitlements. For example, a casual employee usually doesn't get holiday or sick leave, but they usually do receive a higher hourly rate of pay than permanent employees. This is meant to compensate them for their loss of entitlements.
6. More sources for employment info
If you want to double check on anything work related, a good place to start looking is the website The Source at www.thesource.gov.au. This is a youth friendly Commonwealth Government site that contains links to other workplace information sites.
The Wagenet site (also accessible through the Commonwealth Government's workplace website at www.workplace.gov.au), has everything you could possibly need to know about wages, including minimum conditions of employment under an Award. This site is a good place to find out about your rights, as well as your responsibilities.
Back to top
7. Tax
Whenever you commence a new job you must complete a Tax File Number Declaration form. You do not have to provide a Tax File Number (TFN) if you are under 18 and earn less than $6,000 a year or receive certain Centrelink benefits. However, if you earn over $6,000 and do not quote a TFN, your employer must withhold 48.5% for tax from any salary payment – the highest marginal rate, plus Medicare levy (Note: If you have two jobs you can only claim exemption from withholding tax on one).
Download a Tax File Number Declaration form from the Australian Taxation Office website. www.ato.gov.au
8. Superannuation, what’s the deal?
You need these details so contributions from your salary can be automatically deposited. Superannuation is a compulsory savings program that aims to ensure that when you retire you have some money to live on. If you are aged 18 years and over, are employed full-time, part-time or casual, and earn over $450 gross per month, your employer must make contributions into your super fund (called the ‘Superannuation Guarantee’) at a rate of 9% of your wage. If you're self-employed, you can set up your own super fund or join an existing one.
When you join a company you’ll be asked to supply the account number of your superannuation fund, if you have one, or your employer will provide you with details and a prospectus of the company superannuation fund.
For more information on superannuation visit the Australian Taxation Office web site www.ato.gov.au.
When looking for a job the first thing you should consider is how you want to be employed – as a permanent employee, as a casual employee, or on a fixed term contract.
Permanent employees can be full-time (about 35 to 40 hours per week) or part-time (working a set number of hours a week). As a permanent employee, you'll get entitlements like holidays and sick days. This means if you go on holidays or take time off work because you're sick, you still get paid. Obviously, these days aren't endless, but the average for full-time employees is 4 weeks a year holidays, and 5 to 10 days a year sick leave. If you are part time you receive part of the full-time entitlement.
10.Casual work
A casual employee isn't guaranteed a minimum number of work hours a week, but you and your employer may have a 'good faith' agreement on your working hours. Working as a casual allows you flexibility in the number of hours you work, which is great for studying, or sports, or even your social life. You can still take time off for holidays or sickness, but you don't get paid.
As a casual employee you receive a casual rate of pay (usually hourly), which is generally higher than the standard full-time rate. The higher rate is intended to compensate you for the holiday and sick pay you don't receive.
Contract or temporary work involves working on a specific project or for a certain length of time. A common example is when people get summer jobs; they may work full-time and get a casual rate of pay over the summer holidays and then go back to school at the end of summer, when the job ends.
If you are working on a specific project and you have special qualifications and experience, then you might be able to negotiate your rate of pay.