Starting your career

Getting a job offer is exciting, and it is natural to want to say yes straight away. But a few careful steps at the offer stage and in your first weeks can save you confusion later. Understanding what you are agreeing to, what your employer must provide and what entitlements apply from your first day helps you start with confidence.

This section covers the transition from applicant to employee. It explains how to read a job offer and contract, what usually happens during onboarding and probation, the core workplace rights that apply to employees in Australia and practical ways to build your skills and reputation in your first year or two.

Guides in this section

• Understanding your job offer: employment type, pay, awards and agreements, superannuation and questions to ask before you sign.
• Your first weeks at work: onboarding, information statements, probation and settling in.
• Workplace rights for new graduates: minimum entitlements, pay slips, safety, bullying and harassment, and where to get help.
• Building your early career: mentoring, feedback, networking, further study and planning your next step.

Before you accept

A job offer may come by phone, email or letter, often followed by a written contract. Take time to read it properly. Check the job title, start date, employment type (full-time, part-time, casual or fixed-term), hours, location, pay and how it is calculated, and any probation period. It is reasonable to ask for a day or two to consider an offer and to ask questions about anything that is unclear.

The Fair Work Ombudsman's website explains minimum pay rates and how to find the award or agreement that applies to a job. Even when a contract offers more than the minimum, knowing the baseline helps you understand your offer.

Your first days

When you start, your employer must give you a Fair Work Information Statement before, or as soon as possible after, you begin. It summarises your minimum entitlements under the National Employment Standards and other workplace rights. Casual employees must also receive the Casual Employment Information Statement, and employees on new fixed-term contracts must receive the Fixed Term Contract Information Statement.

Expect a lot of new information in the first weeks: systems, policies, people and processes. It is normal to feel a little overwhelmed. Write things down, ask questions and give yourself time to learn.

Probation

Many employers use a probation period at the start of employment. The Fair Work Ombudsman says probation often ranges from three to six months and that employees on probation continue to receive their entitlements, including minimum pay and leave accrual for full-time and part-time employees. Use the period to ask for feedback regularly, so there are no surprises at the end.

Rights from day one

Workplace rights in Australia do not depend on how long you have been in a job or how junior you are. Employees are entitled to be paid at least the correct minimum rate, to receive pay slips, to a safe workplace and to be free from unlawful discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment. Our workplace rights guide explains these in plain English and points to the official sources.

Growing in your role

Early career success is less about knowing everything and more about being reliable, curious and easy to work with. Seek feedback, find people who can mentor you, take on new tasks when you can and keep a record of what you achieve. These habits help at review time and when you apply for your next role.

When things go wrong

Most first jobs go smoothly, but if something seems wrong, such as pay that does not match your contract, unsafe conditions or behaviour that makes you uncomfortable, raise it early. Speak to your manager, human resources or a trusted colleague if it is safe to do so. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides free information about pay and conditions, and unions can support members. For certain disputes, the Fair Work Commission may be able to help.

Keep your documents together

Create a folder, paper or digital, for your offer letter, signed contract, information statements, position description, pay slips and any notes from performance conversations. Having everything in one place makes it simple to check your entitlements, prepare for reviews and answer questions if anything is ever unclear.

Ask early, ask often

No question about your contract, pay or conditions is too small to ask. Asking early, before a misunderstanding grows, is far easier for everyone than trying to fix a problem months later, and most employers appreciate new starters who check rather than guess.

Key points

• Read your offer and contract carefully and ask questions before you sign.
• Your employer must give you a Fair Work Information Statement when you start.
• Probation often lasts three to six months, and your entitlements still apply.
• Workplace rights apply from your first day, however junior you are.
• Seek feedback, keep records of achievements and raise concerns early.