Best first jobs for teenagers in NZ with no experience

Before you start applying, it’s important to know the rules. In New Zealand, there is no official minimum age for starting work, but there are strict guidelines to keep you safe and ensure school remains your priority.

• School comes first: If you are under 16, the law says you cannot work during school hours.

• Reasonable hours: You should not be working late at night if it interferes with your education. Most student-friendly roles focus on after-school hours (3:30 pm – 6:00 pm) or weekend shifts.

• The Pay: As of 1 April 2026, the adult minimum wage is $23.95 per hour. However, if you are 16 or 17 and haven’t completed six months of continuous employment with the same employer, you might be started on the "starting-out" wage, which is 80% of the adult minimum wage ($19.16).

• The contract: You must have a written employment agreement. This protects you and ensures you’re getting paid fairly for every hour you work.

For a full breakdown of what you're entitled to, check out the Employment New Zealand website.

Supermarkets are some of the biggest employers of teenagers in NZ. They offer two main roles that are perfect for students during the day or early evening:

• Checkout Operator: You’ll be the face of the store, scanning items and helping customers. It’s fast-paced and social.
• Personal Shopper: You’ll fulfill "Click & Collect" orders by picking items off the shelves. It’s active and great if you prefer to keep moving.
• The schedule: Weekends are the "rush hours" for supermarkets. Shifts like 8:00 am – 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm on weekends are common and highly sought after.
• Why it’s great: Supermarkets usually have very structured training and clear rosters.

If you can handle the smell of fresh coffee and a bit of noise, a job as a cafe assistant or barista could be for you. Saturday and Sunday mornings are the "golden hours" for cafes in New Zealand.

• The schedule: Typically morning shifts like 8:00 am – 1:00 pm on weekends.

• Why it’s great: You’ll learn high-value technical skills like milk steaming and espresso extraction.

• Training tip: Consider a weekend course at The New Zealand School of Food and Wine or ServiceIQ to get a head start.

Kitchen hands are the "engine room" of a restaurant. This role involves washing dishes, clearing tables, and basic food prep (think peeling spuds or chopping onions).

• The schedule: Focus on weekend lunch shifts or early dinner rushes (e.g., 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm).

• Why it’s great: It’s fast-paced, high-energy, and teaches you the importance of teamwork under pressure.

If you’re a bit of a pro at Maths, English, or Science, why not help out younger students? You can work for a tutoring company or set up your own local service.

• The schedule: Usually 1 or 2 hours immediately after school (3:30 pm – 5:30 pm).

• Why it’s great: The pay is often higher than retail, and it looks brilliant on a university application.

Programs like sKids or Kelly Club are always on the hunt for energetic teens to help manage games and activities for primary school kids after the 3:00 pm bell rings.

• The schedule: Consistent hours from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday (or just a few days a week).

• Why it’s great: You get paid to stay active and be a role model for younger kids.

If you’re a confident swimmer, local pools are often looking for instructors for weekend kids' classes or lifeguards to keep everyone safe.

• Why it’s great: It’s a position of responsibility that looks incredible on a CV.

• The skills: Leadership, first aid, and patience.

• Training: You’ll need specific certifications. Check out Skills Active Aotearoa for qualification pathways.

For animal lovers, this is the ultimate "no experience" job. You can start by offering services to neighbours or listing yourself on local community boards.

• Why it’s great: Total flexibility, you can fit this in immediately after school or on weekend mornings.

Even if you've never had a "real" job, having a qualification shows an employer you’re serious. Here are some top options for Kiwi teens:

• First aid certificate: Useful for almost every job, especially in recreation or childcare. St John New Zealand offers courses nationwide.

• Hospitality & customer service: Whitireia and Weltec offer excellent short courses that can get you job-ready.

• Barista training: A one or two-day course can be the difference between "we'll call you" and "you're hired." Check out ServiceIQ.

One of the best ways to get ahead is to use the resources that might already be available at your high school. Many schools in New Zealand offer the Gateway programme and STAR courses.

• Gateway: This is a government-funded programme that lets Year 11–13 students spend one day a week in a real workplace while still enrolled at school. You gain hands-on experience and earn NCEA credits at the same time. It’s essentially a "test drive" of a career.

• STAR (Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource): These are shorter "taster" courses delivered by polytechs or private training providers. You might do a two-day barista course or a week-long intro to construction.

Our advice: Go and have a chat with your school's Gateway Coordinator or Careers Advisor. They can help set you up with a placement that fits your interests and provides you with the basic health and safety training you need to be employable. You can find more official info on the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) website.

The biggest hurdle for most teens is the "no experience" catch-22. But you have more experience than you think.

• Highlight school achievements: Were you a sports captain? Did you lead a group project? These show leadership.

• Include your "unpaid" work: Helping at the marae, coaching a junior sports team, or regular babysitting for your neighbours all count.

• Focus on attributes: If you’re never late to school, you’re "punctual." If you play team sports, you have "strong teamwork skills."

For a step-by-step guide and a template that does the heavy lifting for you, check out our guide on how to make an impressive CV with no experience.

If you get the call-back, don't panic. The employer knows you’re a student; they want to see three things: reliability, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.

• Do your homework: Look up the business online so you know what they do.

• Dress the part: You don't need a suit, but a clean shirt and tidy trousers go a long way.

• Know your schedule: Bring a copy of your school timetable and any sports commitments so you can be clear about when you can work.

Pro tip: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when answering questions. For example: "When I was captain of the netball team (Situation), we were losing a game (Task). I called a huddle and encouraged the team (Action), and we ended up winning by two points (Result)."