Entry level jobs for school leavers in NZ

You get paid, you build a work history and you find out what you actually enjoy before committing to years of study. It can also be the door to a qualification. Tahatū Career Navigator, the government's careers website, says you need to find a job before you can start an apprenticeship, so a first job in the right industry is often step one.

Your next step is to pick one or two industries that interest you and read the roles below.

These are common starting points, mostly in hands-on industries. None need a qualification to get your foot in the door, but requirements vary by employer, so read each ad closely.

You'll set up sites, prep materials, handle tools and keep things safe while a qualified tradie shows you the ropes. It's one of the most direct routes into an apprenticeship, because an employer gets to see how you work. Apprenticeships cover everything from carpentry and concrete to fabrication and refrigeration. If electrical appeals, apprentice electricians usually need NCEA Level 2 science, maths and English credits, so check entry requirements early. Browse trades and services jobs or construction and roading jobs to see what's on offer.

Farms, orchards, nurseries and landscaping crews take on keen people who'll get stuck in and learn on the job. The work is physical and outdoors, and it often starts early, so being reliable counts for a lot. There are apprenticeships in agriculture and horticulture too, including dairy farming, landscaping and tree surgery, so a first job here can lead to a real qualification. Browse farming jobs or horticulture jobs.

Cafés, restaurants, bars and hotels are busy places, and you learn teamwork, speed and customer skills fast. Expect weekends and evenings. There are apprenticeships in cookery and food and beverage, so kitchen-hand mahi can turn into a trade. Browse hospitality jobs.

Shop floors and supermarkets are a good place to prove you're reliable. You'll learn customer service, handling stock and cash, and working as part of a team, and the roles can lead to team leader positions. Browse retail jobs or search supermarket jobs.

The work is practical and team-based, from picking and packing orders to loading trucks and running machines, and employers often train you on the equipment. Ask whether they'll support extra tickets or certificates down the track, because those can lead to machine operator or team leader roles. Browse warehouse and distribution jobs or manufacturing and operations jobs.

Care roles suit patient, reliable people who are good with others. A New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing can get you a job as a health care assistant or lead on to study for a nursing degree. Browse aged care and caregiving jobs or search healthcare assistant jobs.

If you'd rather work indoors, customer service, reception and admin roles build communication, organisation and computer skills that every industry needs. They're also a good place to try different parts of a business before you pick a direction. Browse customer service jobs or office and administration jobs.

Plenty of entry level jobs don't ask for one and employers often train you on the job. Some pathways want specific school subjects, like the electrician example above, so it pays to check. Gateway and Trades Academy programmes at school might help you get an apprenticeship when you leave.

If you want more credits after school, Te Kura offers free distance learning for 16 to 19 year olds. The Youth Guarantee programme also offers free courses for 16 to 24 year olds that can get you started in an apprenticeship or ready for work in industries like hospitality, health care or computing. The government's guide to upskilling after school has the details.

You can start an apprenticeship from age 16 and the steps boil down to this:

• Pick a trade or industry and find the training organisation that covers it.
• Register your interest and ask whether they can help match you with an employer.
• Apply for jobs in that industry, including entry-level roles, and be ready to approach employers directly.
• When your employer thinks you're ready, sign up for a New Zealand Apprenticeship and get a training plan.

Our list of 15 types of apprenticeships in NZ shows what's out there beyond plumbing, building and electrical.

Employment New Zealand says there are three minimum wage rates, which are the adult, starting-out and training rates. Most 16 and 17 year olds are on the starting-out rate for their first six months with an employer, then move to the adult rate. If you change employer before you turn 18, the six months can start again. A 16 to 19 year old whose employment agreement requires at least 40 credits a year of industry training can also be on the starting-out rate. Apprentices earn the training or adult minimum wage or more and pay can rise as you pick up skills.

Rates change every year, so check the current ones with Employment New Zealand before you accept an offer.

Keep your CV short and use what you've got, like school, sport, volunteering and casual work. Our guide to writing a CV with no experience has a template. Browse jobs in the industries you like and apply widely. For hands-on roles, it's fine to approach a local business directly. If you're not sure what suits you, Tahatū's interest quiz can point you towards career ideas.

Turn up on time, ask what training your employer supports and say yes to new tasks. Collect any tickets, certificates or credits along the way, and keep a list of what you've achieved so you can show it when you ask for more responsibility. A first job isn't a life sentence either. If it's not for you, you've still got skills and a reference to take to the next one.