How to Get Your First Job Out of High School

Getting your first job out of high school looks different depending on which direction you want to go. Understanding the two main paths upfront helps you focus your search.

Path 1: Skilled trades and apprenticeships

If you are interested in electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, welding, construction, or automotive technology, an apprenticeship is the direct path. Apprenticeships are paid, structured training programs where you earn while you learn and work toward a journeyman or trade certification.

Key facts about apprenticeships:
- Starting pay is typically $18 to $28 per hour depending on trade and location
- Full journeyman pay after completing the program can be $35 to $65+ per hour
- Programs typically run 4 to 5 years for electrical and plumbing; 2 to 3 years for HVAC and other trades
- No tuition — you earn while you learn and pay nothing for the training
- Demand for licensed tradespeople is structurally high and unlikely to be automated

Where to find apprenticeships: apprenticeship.gov (US Department of Labor database), your local union hall (IBEW for electrical, UA for plumbing and HVAC), local community college trade programs.

Path 2: Entry-level office, retail, customer service, and tech-adjacent roles

If you want to work in an office environment, customer service, sales, admin, IT, or eventually move into a professional career, your first job is more likely to be a stepping stone role that builds experience and references.

Key facts about entry-level non-trade roles:
- Starting pay is typically $15 to $22 per hour for most non-trade entry-level roles
- The path to advancement requires building a track record, which takes time
- Some roles (IT support, customer success, inside sales) can move quickly to $40,000 to $60,000 within 2 to 3 years with strong performance
- A good first employer is one that trains you, gives you real responsibility, and can be a reference for your second job

Where to find these: Indeed, LinkedIn (entry level filter), local employer websites, job fairs, and staffing agencies.

Almost everyone feels like they have nothing to put on a resume for their first job. You have more than you think. Here is how to build a resume from scratch.

What counts as experience:
- Any part-time or summer jobs (babysitting, lawn care, retail, fast food, summer internships) — include these
- Volunteering (at your school, community, sports, church, or nonprofit)
- Sports and extracurriculars in a leadership role (team captain, club president, treasurer)
- School projects that involved real skills (a business plan for economics class, a coding project, an event you organised)
- Caring for a family member on a regular basis (this is real responsibility)

Resume structure for a first job:

1. Contact information (name, phone, email, city/state)
2. Summary (1 to 2 sentences saying what kind of work you are looking for and one thing you bring)
3. Skills (the specific skills you have: software, languages, tools, soft skills with examples)
4. Education (your high school, graduation year, GPA if it is above 3.5)
5. Experience (any paid or unpaid experience as described above)
6. Extracurriculars and activities (leadership roles, sports, volunteering)

Sample summary:
"Motivated high school graduate with experience in customer service from 2 years of weekend retail work. Looking for a full-time entry-level role in [field/area]. Dependable, fast learner, and comfortable working in team environments."

Keep it to one page. Format it cleanly — no fancy columns or graphics. Black text on a white background, readable font (Arial or Calibri, size 11 or 12). Download as a PDF.

What not to include:
Middle school experience, hobbies without a skills connection, a photo, your home address (city is fine), or "references available upon request" (assumed).

The best channels depend on what kind of job you are looking for. Here are the most effective ones by category.

For trade apprenticeships:
- apprenticeship.gov — the official DOL database, searchable by trade and ZIP code
- Your local union hall — walk in or call. IBEW (electrical), UA (plumbing and HVAC), Ironworkers, Carpenters, and others all run apprentice intake programmes
- Community college vocational programs — many have direct employer connections and placement services
- Contractors in your area — many small and mid-size contractors run their own apprentice programs without formal union affiliation; call or visit directly

For office and service jobs:
- Indeed and LinkedIn (filter by "entry level" and "no experience required")
- The employers themselves — go to the careers section of companies you want to work for and apply directly
- Staffing agencies — particularly useful for temporary-to-permanent placements in admin, warehouse, and customer service
- Local job fairs — employers recruiting at high school or community job fairs are specifically looking for entry-level candidates without experience requirements
- Networking through family and community — your parents, relatives, and neighbours may know of openings at their employers. A word from someone inside the company is worth 10 cold applications at the entry level.

For tech-adjacent entry roles (IT help desk, customer support at tech companies):
- Indeed with "no experience required" and "entry level" filters
- Directly on the careers pages of software companies (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, ServiceNow all hire entry-level support roles)
- Get a free Google IT Support Certificate from Coursera (6 months, widely recognised) and then apply — this adds a credential that opens more doors than a high school diploma alone

For retail and food service (if you want a bridging job while you plan your next step):
- Walk in and ask — retail and food service managers hire based on attitude more than credentials
- Indeed, Snagajob, and the company's own website
- Your local area — restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops, and retailers are typically the fastest employers to respond

If you want to work in an office environment, there are legitimate entry-level roles available to high school graduates, particularly at companies that have dropped degree requirements. Here are the categories most likely to hire someone with a diploma and no degree:

IT Help Desk and Technical Support
One of the best entry points for high school graduates interested in technology. The role involves troubleshooting computers and software for employees. Starting pay is typically $18 to $25 per hour. Google and CompTIA IT certifications (available free or low cost) significantly improve your chances. Many companies that need these roles (hospitals, schools, government agencies) actively hire candidates without degrees.

Customer Success and Support
Large software companies hire hundreds of entry-level support agents annually. These roles involve helping customers use a software product, troubleshooting issues, and answering questions. Starting pay is $16 to $22 per hour. Companies like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and Shopify frequently hire entry-level candidates for these roles with no degree requirement.

Inside Sales and Sales Development Rep (SDR)
Sales organisations hire on personality, persistence, and communication skills — not degrees. The SDR role (calling and emailing potential customers to schedule demos) is a common entry point. Starting pay is $40,000 to $55,000 base plus commission. Promotional paths are fast for strong performers.

Administrative Assistant and Office Coordinator
Office admin roles require organisation, communication, and software skills. Microsoft Office and Google Workspace proficiency, phone etiquette, and a professional manner are the main qualifications. Starting pay is $16 to $22 per hour. Healthcare systems, law firms, and real estate companies hire large numbers of these roles.

Data Entry and Operations
Warehouses, healthcare systems, and logistics companies hire entry-level data entry and operations coordinators. Starting pay is $15 to $20 per hour. These roles often have paths to analyst and coordinator positions with 1 to 2 years of experience.

Retail and Customer Service at corporate chains
Costco, Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Starbucks are known for relatively strong wages and promotion paths at the entry level. Costco and Amazon in particular have starting wages of $18 to $22 per hour for entry-level roles and clear progression paths.

Not getting a response to your first 20 applications is normal and does not mean anything is wrong with you. Here is how to understand what is happening and what to adjust.

No responses at all?

Your resume is most likely the issue. Ask a parent, teacher, or career counsellor to review it. Look at whether your contact information is correct, whether you have listed any relevant experience, and whether your email address looks professional (firstname.lastname@gmail.com is fine; funnyusername99@gmail.com is not). Make sure your resume is a clean PDF, not a Word document or Google Docs link.

Getting interviews but no offers?

Interview preparation is the gap. Common mistakes for first-time interviewees: arriving late or without preparation, not researching the company at all, giving very short answers, or not asking any questions at the end. Practice answering the 5 most common entry-level interview questions (see below) out loud before your next one.

Getting rejections after interviews?

Ask for feedback. Most companies will not give it, but some will. If you have had 3 or more interviews without an offer, the issue is usually either presentation (punctuality, professionalism, communication) or a specific answer that raised a concern. A mock interview with a school counsellor, parent, or mentor can surface the issue.

The 5 most common entry-level interview questions to practice:
1. "Tell me about yourself" — 60 seconds, education + one experience + why this job
2. "Why do you want to work here?" — research the company and give a specific reason
3. "What is your greatest strength?" — one concrete example, not just a trait
4. "What is your greatest weakness?" — pick a real one and add what you are doing about it
5. "Why should we hire you?" — connect your skills to their specific needs

The volume reality: at a 2 to 5% response rate for entry-level roles, 20 applications produces 1 callback. 50 applications produces 2 to 3 callbacks. 100 applications produces 4 to 5 callbacks. If you are not hearing back, the first fix is applying to more roles, not fewer.