Millennial money blogger Laura (aka Thrifty Londoner) knows a thing or two about financial wellness. Over on her blog and Instagram she shares “accessible, jargon-free money chat” to help people feel financially confident, change their money mindset and create new money habits.
We spoke to Laura to find out her top tips on how to find your first job.
When looking for a job, you might come across new or confusing words that you might not have read before. Get your your head around this new language with our list of helpful words below.
Take a look at your post 16 or post 18 options.
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Read the information below.
Getting a job - what you need to know
Apply for a job
To secure a new job, you usually need to write a curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter to let your potential employer know about your skills and experience in your life or career so far.
Discover tips on how to write a CV
Find out how to write a good cover letter.
Apprenticeship
On an apprenticeship, you're employed to do a real job while studying for a formal qualification, usually for one day a week either at a college or training centre. Different apprenticeships last for different amounts of time anything from 1 year to 6 years. You will be paid at least National Minimum Wage.
Find an apprenticeship.
Contracts
When you start any job, you’ll need to sign a contract. There are a few different types:
Permanent contract
Permanent contracts are usually for employees who work regular hours and are paid a salary or hourly rate. They are ongoing until ended by either the employer or the employee. They could be full-time or part-time.
Fixed-term contract
Fixed-term contracts are similar to permanent contracts except they have a ‘fixed’ end date. Contracts can last for any amount of time e.g. one year or six months. You’ll often see Maternity Cover contracts which are fixed-term.
Zero-hour contract
Zero-hour contracts are a form of ‘casual contract’ and are usually paid by the hour. The contract does not guarantee a set number of hours per week. These contracts are not exclusive meaning you can work zero-hour contracts for a number of different employers.
Freelancer
Freelancers can hold multiple contracts at the same time. If you’re a freelancer this means you are self-employed and negotiate contracts each time you agree to a piece of work. This could be anything from construction work to tutoring. Most freelancers are responsible for their own tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs).
Upskilling
Learning new skills or improving a skill you already have.
