Your first job: a plain guide from applying to week one
A first job is a big deal, and a good one. Here's how to apply, put together a simple résumé, get ready for an interview, and handle the paperwork and nerves of your first week. One piece at a time.
No perfect résumé required. Some rules vary by state, and we'll say when they do.Applying and a simple first résumé
You don't need a long work history to get hired. You need to show you're reliable, willing to learn, and easy to reach.
Where to look
Job sites, company websites, "now hiring" signs, and people you know. Tell friends, family and teachers you're looking. Lots of jobs are found that way.
Get your details ready
Applications ask for the same things again and again: contact info, when you can work, past jobs or activities with dates, and references. Keep them in one note so you can copy them in.
What goes on a first résumé
Your name, phone and email at the top. Then any work, volunteering, school projects, sports or clubs, and a few skills. Babysitting, mowing lawns and helping at a family business count too.
Keep it short and clean
One page is plenty. Use a simple layout, check the spelling, and save it as a PDF with your name in the file name.
Pick your references
Two or three adults who know you're reliable, like a teacher, coach, past boss or volunteer leader. Ask them first, so they're ready for the call.
Be easy to reach
Use a simple email address with your name in it, set up your voicemail, and check both often. Employers move on if they can't reach you.
No work history yet? That's normal. Showing up, following through and being kind to people are what a first employer is really looking for.
Getting ready for an interview
Interviews feel less scary when you've thought about them ahead of time. You don't need perfect answers, just honest ones you've practiced a little.
- Spend ten minutes learning what the place does and who its customers are.
- Practice a short introduction out loud: who you are, what you're good at, why this job.
- Think of a time you worked hard, solved a problem, or helped a team.
- Have two questions ready to ask them, like "What does a normal shift look like?"
- Plan your route, aim to arrive ten minutes early, and dress a step neater than the job's everyday clothes.
- Afterward, send a short thank-you message. It's easy, and it gets noticed.
First-week paperwork: what you'll be asked for
Once you're hired, there's some paperwork. It's normal, and HR or your manager will walk you through it. Here's what to expect so you can bring the right things.
Form I-9 and your documents
Every US employer checks your identity and that you can work here. You'll show original documents, like a US passport, or a driver's license or state ID plus your Social Security card or birth certificate. It's usually due by your third day of work, so ask what to bring.
Form W-4
This tells your employer how much federal income tax to take out of each paycheck. If you're unsure what to put, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator can help.
State tax form
Many states have their own withholding form, and a few have no state income tax at all. It varies by state, so your employer will tell you which one applies.
Direct deposit
To get paid straight into your bank account, you'll need your account and routing numbers. New to bank accounts? See Make money make sense.
Emergency contact
Someone your job can call if something happens to you at work. Ask that person first, and have their phone number handy.
Under 18? A work permit
Some states require a work permit for workers under 18, often through your school. Rules vary by state, so ask your employer or school counselor.
Only share your Social Security number and bank details through your employer's official hiring process, after you've been hired. A real job won't ask for them in a first message or ask you to pay to start.
Your first week: asking for help and handling nerves
Nobody expects you to know everything yet.
Feeling nervous at a new job is normal, even for people who've had lots of jobs. Asking questions is how you learn, and it shows you care about getting it right.
Check things off as you go. This list resets when you leave the page.
Where to get help
with work questions
Visit an American Job Center
These free centers help with job searches, résumés and training. Find one near you through CareerOneStop, from the US Department of Labor.
Know your rights about pay
Questions about minimum wage, overtime or getting paid on time? The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division explains the rules. Many states have their own, so check your state's labor office too.
Speak up about safety
If something at work feels unsafe, OSHA explains your rights and how to raise a concern, including confidentially.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your situation, check with your state's labor office or a legal aid office.
You don't need a perfect résumé.
Just a good start.
Write a short introduction and two questions you'd ask an employer. Practice them out loud, or with someone you trust.
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