Jobs for Teenagers in Brisbane – Where to Start

Last Updated: August 23, 2022
Happy Teenager Girls

So, your Brisbane Kid is suddenly a Brisbane teen and wants to start earning a little money and freedom? This resource is designed so that you can help them help themselves and find a job in Brisbane. The range of choices will simply come down to what type of work they are willing (or able) to do, their location and what sort of hours they can commit to. 

Jobs for Teens: Things to know first

Identify strengths

Before your teen heads out into the big, bad working world in Brisbane, sit down and identify their strengths and weaknesses along with their interest areas. There is no point in your teen approaching customer service oriented industries if they are not comfortable doing this sort of role. Be sure to think outside the square – if your teen enjoys a certain subject at school, use this as an advantage – manual arts might be the key to getting a job in a hardware store; drama could be a good asset to work in afterschool care, and great grades could open doors for tutoring.

The digital age and privacy

It’s not just teen recruiters doing their homework, anyone looking for a job these days needs to be mindful of their digital footprint. Ensure your child’s Facebook/Instagram etc profile is set to private BEFORE they send out resumes. Google their name and look at what comes up – this is a good time to have one of those conversations. We like this digital guide from Rebecca Sparrow which outlines what you should be aware of and what your teenager should (but probably doesn’t know). https://rebeccasparrow.com/before-you-hit-send-notes/

Safety and rights

Your teenager has rights to a safe working environment. Make sure you both take the time to understand what the rights of a young worker are. Here is a guide the government has put together to assist young workers and their families in knowing what their rights are – you should both read through each section. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/find-help-for/young-workers-and-students

Schoolwork and part-time job restrictions

When your teenager decides to get a job, knowing their limits with school work and extracurricular commitments is important. The Queensland Government has set down restrictions for the amount of time a schoolchild is able to work on school days and outside school days. Find out more about the legal work limitations for school kids here. 

Transport

If your teenager doesn’t drive or have a car then consider the logistics of where they can apply and what that will look like for your family. If there are buses they can catch, what does this look like at night? Considering this upfront will help to narrow and determine the choices of places they should apply. 

Advice for the resume

Teenagers tend to have very “thin” resumes made up of school charity events and school results – which is perfectly fine.  That said there are several ways to help your teenager stand out in a crowd, some are simple ideas, others might take some time.

  • Attach a cover letter. Whether they are applying for a job at Macdonald’s or at a local takeaway, if able, a smart and simple cover letter will already put them ahead of the queue. Write out a basic template and your teen can adjust and personalise for the role.
  • Proofread the resume for them. 
  • Turn some of their personal qualities into transferable skills. No employer wants to read lies or waffle but by demonstrating your child’s skills and aptitudes, you can turn them into benefits for the employer. 
  • Start with holiday work. School holiday workers are often hired fast and with a lot less due diligence. Especially at Christmas, casual, low responsibility, temp jobs are EVERYWHERE and your teenager can take on a few week’s works that will not only provide spending money for January but will also give them the edge when applying for a more permanent position.
  • Consider volunteering as an option not only to improve their resume but also as a way to get experience in workplaces or fields of work that are of particular interest but where jobs are harder to come by. 
  • For some kids, it may be that they prefer to start their own side hustle. Whether it be lawn mowing, babysitting or some other dream, make sure you stay on the journey with them to ensure they are safe and to guide them in their dream. Adding jobs like “babysitting” or “casual gardener” to resumes is another brilliant way to fill out a resume and show a willingness to give things a go. 

Where to find the jobs

Peer recommendations 

In smaller, local and suburban areas of Brisbane many casual and part-time jobs are given on the basis of a referral. The best way to get a foot in the door is for your teen to talk to their friends and other similarly aged family members to find out where they are working. This can lead to introductions or tips on how they achieved their employment. 

Suburban social media groups

Local businesses love to hire local teenagers and will often advertise positions in their local suburban Facebook Groups. If you don’t want to be on Facebook, that is ok, just ask some of your parent friends to keep an eye out. If you are on Facebook and you don’t belong to any local Facebook Groups yet, simply type in your suburb and the word “community” and you will often find a variety you can join. When you get accepted you can use the search function and type in the term “jobs” to locate any recent posts or ask directly on the page if anyone knows of any local business hiring juniors. 

Social media groups are also an ideal place to scope for holiday work for kids looking for work experience. Whether they want to be a carpenter or a mechanic, asking if anyone needs casual labouring work can be a great way to get a foot in the door. 

Shopping Centres

If your teenager is thinking about working for the local Kmart or Coles, they should simply head to their websites and they will find information about job opportunities. While hiring happens throughout the year, there is a definite push around the Christmas school holidays. 

When applying at the smaller speciality shops and takeaways, hiring local kids means having on-call staff so ensure your teen’s resume and cover letter clearly identifies where they live. When doing the shopping centre resume shuffle, from shop to shop, speaking to the person responsible for recruiting is essential. This may require going after school on a weekday, rather than a Thursday evening or weekend when juniors will usually be rostered on. Speaking to the right person will allow your teen to demonstrate their enthusiasm and be “that kid” rather than a name on paper. If your teen is going to take this approach, always ensure they are suitably dressed – smart and tidy appearance is a must.

Links to places they can apply today

The options above will help ensure your Brisbane teen has the best opportunity for employment, but some additional websites and services can offer further assistance. The list below is just a starting point for beginning their working journey

Finding a first-time job for your Brisbane teen can be a fun and exciting experience but it does require persistence and leg work. Researching online will definitely assist your teen in knowing what their options might be, as will a drive around the local area. From there it is simply a matter of presenting themselves through a resume and face to face meeting whenever the opportunity arises. Soon enough, their hard work will be rewarded. Good luck!

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