Young people
Traditional methods of job advertising like the situations vacant pages may not reach those aged 16–24 years. Young people are likely to find out about jobs from friends, school careers’ advisers, community notice boards and internet websites.
In a recently developed resource the Upper Hutt City Council, www.uhcc.govt.nz, suggests that employers:
- ask young people working for them if they know of others interested
- contact careers’ advisers at local schools
- ask young people which websites they use for job-hunting
- ensure applications are a helpful introduction to job-hunting for younger and less-experienced applicants
- make sure younger applicants are fully briefed about the job interview and the essential skills and competencies sought.
Can an employer reject a 17-year-old person on the basis of inexperience?
Yes, an employer can reject an applicant on the basis of inexperience if experience is a core competency for the job. No employee aged 16 or more can be rejected on the basis of age.
All new job applicants, regardless of age, need time to become familiar with their role. Good performance at work is not age dependent.