Napier teenager’s two-year search for a first job: ‘We can’t get experience if they don’t let us have experience’

Napier's Kaitlin Elsworth, 18, is volunteering in an op shop after two years of unsuccessful job applications. Photo / Rafaella Melo

At 18, Kaitlin Elsworth has already spent two years searching for her first paid job.

Since the age of 16, she has applied for countless roles.

“Cafes, retail stores, any and all I feel qualified for.”

But the Hawke’s Bay teen’s inbox has been filled with rejection letters or, worse, silence.

“When they respond to my application, usually they say that I’m not experienced enough, or they found someone else that will fit the role better,” Elsworth said.

“I feel disappointed. There is a demand for experience, but we can’t get experience if they don’t let us have experience.”

Elsworth is volunteering in an op-shop to broaden her CV.

She says her situation isn’t unique and many of her peers are facing employment challenges.

“For those of us just starting out, it feels almost impossible.”

Andrew Lebita, manager of Unite Recruit in Napier, says the lack of opportunities for first-time job seekers has been compounded by a tough job market, economic uncertainty, and employers prioritising experienced candidates.

“Businesses aren’t hiring as much because the market is down. If they’re not hiring experienced workers, it’s even harder for people with no experience,” he said.

Lebita says many young jobseekers also lack basic preparation for entry-level positions.

“They have no experience or many skills to offer, so their attitude and presentation have to be of the right mindset.”

Employers are looking for enthusiasm, reliability, and a willingness to work, he says.

“In an era of online submissions, if you make the effort to present yourself in the workplace with your CV on hand, showing that you are willing to do the work with conviction in your voice, you are going to stand out straight away.”

Lebita recommends that young job seekers keep their resume simple and direct, include any volunteer work or casual jobs, highlight soft skills such as communication and time management, and tailor their CV for the role they are applying for.

References are also very important, he says.

“If they can get someone from the community instead of family members or friends, that adds more weight to the reference,” Lebita says.

He also advises young jobseekers to widen their horizons and consider jobs outside their preferred industries.

Programmes such as Building Futures in Hawke’s Bay aim to bridge the gap.

The initiative provides pre-employment training for young adults interested in the timber processing or building supplies industries.

“We offer life skills, budgeting, trade basics, and also job interview preparation,” programme manager Kirsten Newton says.

According to her, the demand has doubled in the past 18 months, but limited spaces mean not everyone can participate.

“That’s why we have a selection process with interviews and drug tests,” Newton says.

The programme is a free pre-employment course, open to school leavers and job seekers aged between 18 to 24.

Newton says while there’s no cost for employers to hire through the programme, the demand from businesses has been low recently due to the tight economy and challenging market conditions.

For Elsworth, the challenge feels all too familiar.

In an effort to break the cycle, she’s gained hands-on retail experience in the op-shop, but says even with that in her back pocket, she is still facing rejections.

“I’m hoping that at some point, a place will need someone enough to look past the little experience I have and give me a chance.”