First Jobs

What to say when you have no formal work experience

Turn something you have already done at school, at home or in your community into a clear answer for your first job interview.

An interviewer may ask what experience you would bring to the role. If you have never had a paid job, think about a time when someone depended on you. It might be a school project, helping at a community event, keeping score for a sports club or managing stock at a family stall. Choose an example that shows something useful for the vacancy.

Look for a match with the job

If you are applying for a retail role, the advert might mention helping customers and keeping shelves organised. Think about a time you answered questions, kept track of supplies or helped people find what they needed. For an admin role, an example about keeping a register or arranging a group activity may be more relevant. Pick one clear story for each of two skills mentioned in the advert.

Explain what you did

Start with the situation, describe your part, and end with the result. For example: “I helped register players at a community football tournament. I checked names against the list and kept a separate note of any missing forms. When a team arrived late, the organiser could see straight away who still needed to sign in.” Only use details you can explain if the interviewer asks a follow-up question.

Practise the answer out loud

Keep your example to about a minute. Ask a friend to listen and tell you what skill they heard. If the answer sounds like a list of tasks, add one detail about a decision you made or a problem you noticed. Finish by explaining how you would use that same skill in the role. Take two examples to your next interview so you have a second story if the conversation moves in another direction.