First job tips

Tips on starting your first job

Your first job is a big deal - check out our short video for 4 tips on starting a new job.

Your first job is a big deal - check out our short video for 4 tips on starting a new job.

First things first – check you have your parent/legal guardian’s permission. Then, check with your state or territory to find out how old you need to be to start working and how many hours you can work:

- Tax File Number. To avoid overpaying tax, you’ll need to share your tax file number (TFN) with your employer and your bank. You can apply for a TFN through the Australian Taxation office.
- Bank account: You’ll need to have a bank account and give your employer your bank account details to get paid. Everyday Account Smart Access (with no monthly account fees for under 30s)
- Superannuation account: Generally, if you’re working in Australia your employer must contribute at least 12% of your pay into your super account. Find out more about how super works.

Got that job? Congrats! It’s a good idea to make sure you understand what you’re entitled to, how tax works, and other important things now that you’re earning money:
- Check the rate of pay for your job, role and industry using the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay and conditions tool
- Find out if you should submit a tax return
- Learn how to lodge your first tax return
- Discover 4 ways to save money so you can save up for the things you want