All career resources

What to know

• This tool is primarily designed for employers and recruiters. The framing is from an employer perspective, but the underlying data about what candidates value is useful when exploring what to look for in a role
• Data is based on an ongoing survey of 14,000+ candidates, making it more reliable than anecdotal advice
• The Gen Z and Graduate filters make the data directly relevant to school leavers entering the workforce

How to use this resource

• Use the filters to explore what matters most to candidates in a specific industry. Filter by Information & Communication Technology to see what drives people towards tech roles
• Filter by Graduate or Junior seniority alongside Gen Z generation to see data most relevant to school leavers entering the workforce
• Use the findings as a prompt for self-reflection: what matters most to you in a role? The data shows common priorities, but it's worth identifying your own
• The results can also help you prepare for interview questions like "what do you look for in a workplace?" or "what motivates you?" with something more grounded than a generic answer

What to know

• This article is written specifically for people with limited work experience, making it much more relevant for school leavers than most resume guides. It is worth prioritising over more general resume articles for this audience
• The worked example uses an engineering applicant. If you're interested in tech, the same principles apply: lean on education, projects, and skills, and use the additional sections to show initiative and curiosity
• For tech roles, adding a GitHub profile or portfolio link in the contact details section (step 2) can make a strong impression
• Keywords matter: many tech employers use screening tools to filter resumes before a human sees them. Identify the key tools and skills mentioned in a job ad and check that your resume reflects these directly
• The article links to SEEK's free resume template if you want a formatted starting point once you understand the structure

How to use this resource

• Work through the seven steps in order. Steps 1 to 3 (format, contact info, and professional summary) lay the foundation before filling in the rest
• Pay close attention to step 7 (additional sections): for school leavers with limited work history, this is where projects, certifications, extracurriculars, and online courses go. If you're interested in tech, this section is where a resume can really stand out
• For tech and digital roles, use the skills section (step 6) to list specific tools, languages, and platforms you know. Think beyond the obvious: spreadsheets, design tools, collaboration tools (Slack, Notion, Trello), and anything used at school or at home all belong here
• Add a dedicated projects entry for any tech-related work, even if it was a school assignment or personal project. Name the tools used and describe what you built or contributed to
• Use the worked example in the article to see how someone with limited experience structures a resume. Note how they balance education, skills, and experience without much formal work history

What to know

• The tool excludes the Medicare levy, so actual take-home pay will be slightly lower than shown for most people
• Superannuation is paid on top of salary in most cases, not deducted from it. Some job ads quote a package that includes super. The toggle handles this, but the difference is worth understanding
• Salary figures from the explore salaries tool are gross (before tax). Always translate these into take-home amounts before drawing conclusions
• The tool is updated for the current tax year and will change annually

How to use this resource

• Enter a salary figure and select your time period (annual, monthly, fortnightly, or weekly) to see your estimated take-home pay after tax and superannuation
• Use it alongside the explore salaries tool to understand what typical tech salaries actually mean in practice. A $90,000 salary looks very different once tax and super are factored in
• Toggle 'Pay includes superannuation' on or off depending on how the salary is advertised. Job ads handle this differently, which can make comparing offers confusing
• The tax brackets section is worth a quick look: it helps explain why take-home pay does not scale linearly with salary
• Use it to compare two different salary figures and discuss what the real difference is after tax

What to know

• The article was written for people already in the workforce or changing careers.
• Some language (e.g. 'your current role') will need adapting for school leavers, but the skill categories themselves are just as relevant
• It's easy to underestimate how many transferable skills you already have. Think beyond paid work: school projects, leadership roles, team sports, and volunteering all count
• Having a transferable skill isn't enough on its own – you need a specific example to back it up. This is what makes the difference in a resume or interview
• The digital literacy skills listed here (data analysis, software tools, online communication) are foundational for tech careers, even if you don't yet see yourself as a 'tech person'

How to use this resource

• Read through the five skill categories (organisational, communication, people, leadership, and digital literacy) and identify which ones you can back up with a real example from school, sport, volunteering, or part-time work
• Download the checklist PDF to use as a self-assessment tool before writing a resume or preparing for an interview
• For each skill you tick off, note a specific example: where did you use it, and what was the result? Vague claims don't stick – concrete examples do
• The digital literacy section is worth a close look if you're interested in tech. Skills like data analysis, software proficiency, and online collaboration are valued across a wide range of tech and digital roles

What to know

• The tool generates a question list, not sample answers. You still need to prepare and practise your actual responses
• The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is the most effective structure for answering behavioural and situational questions. Apply it to examples from school, volunteering, or personal projects
• Tech employers often use behavioural interviews focused on problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability. These can be practised using the tool's question categories even without tech-specific options
• The downloaded PDF works well as a preparation exercise: write bullet-point answers for each question before your interview
• The tool works on both desktop (drag and drop) and mobile (tap to select)

How to use this resource

• Click 'Get started' and work through the four steps: choose your question categories, arrange the questions you want to practise, add any custom questions, then download your PDF
• For tech and digital roles, focus on the behavioural and situational question categories. Tech employers commonly ask about times you solved a problem, worked in a team, or dealt with something not going to plan
• Add custom questions specific to the role you are applying for. 'Why do you want to work in tech?', 'Tell me about a project you are proud of', and 'How do you approach learning something new?' are all common in tech interviews
• Use the downloaded PDF as a preparation worksheet: write bullet-point answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) before the interview
• Draw on school, volunteering, and personal project experience for your answers, not just paid work

What to know

• This article is written specifically for people with no work experience at all, making it the most directly relevant resume guide for school leavers in the hub
• It overlaps with the beginner resume guide, but goes deeper on alternative sections (projects, extracurriculars, awards). The beginner guide has a clearer step-by-step structure. Both are worth including
• For tech roles, the projects and skills sections are the most important parts of a no-experience resume. Treat these as the centrepiece rather than an afterthought
• The article recommends leaving out grades unless they are impressive. For tech roles, relevant coursework (IT, computer science, maths) is worth naming even if grades are not included

How to use this resource

• Start with your contact information and include any relevant social media or portfolio links. For tech roles, a GitHub profile or LinkedIn link belongs here
• Write a brief objective statement (2 to 3 sentences) explaining what you are looking for and what you bring to the role. For tech roles, mention a specific area of interest (e.g. cybersecurity, UX design, data) and any tools or languages you are learning
• Lean heavily on the projects and coursework section: list any tech-related school assignments, personal projects, or online courses, and name the tools and technologies used. This section can carry as much weight as work experience for entry-level tech roles
• Use the skills section to list specific tools, software, languages, and platforms. Be specific: 'Python (beginner)' or 'Figma (self-taught)' is more useful to a recruiter than 'computer skills'
• Include extracurriculars that show relevant traits: coding clubs, robotics teams, tech events, or any leadership roles are all worth listing

What to know

• This article is written specifically for first-time interviewers and school leavers, making it one of the most directly relevant interview resources in the hub
• The emphasis on attitude over experience is an important message if you feel underqualified. Tech employers actively look for curiosity and willingness to learn in entry-level candidates
• The article recommends using SEEK Company Reviews to research employers before an interview. This is especially useful for tech companies where culture and values are often a key hiring factor
• The thank-you email tip is underused by school leavers and can make a genuine difference. For tech roles, keep it brief and specific rather than generic

How to use this resource

• Read through all five sections before a first interview. The advice on presenting yourself and recognising your existing experience is particularly relevant for school leavers
  Research the company before you go: read their website, check their social media, and use SEEK's company reviews to understand the culture. For tech companies, look at what products or services they build and come prepared with a genuine observation or question about their work
• Use the article's list of non-work experience as a starting point: think about what you have done that shows reliability, initiative, or teamwork. Sports, volunteering, babysitting, tutoring — all of it counts, and these are exactly the traits tech employers look for in entry-level candidates
• For tech interviews specifically, enthusiasm and curiosity about technology matter. Come prepared to talk about something you have been building, learning, or exploring, even if it is a personal project or an online course
• Follow up with a brief thank-you email after the interview. For tech roles, use it to reinforce your interest in the specific work they do

What to know

• The article is short and motivational rather than a practical how-to.
• Use it alongside the transferable skills checklist to identify and articulate what your volunteering actually demonstrates
• The employer statistics come from SEEK's own research.
• They're compelling but worth treating as directional rather than definitive
• The article doesn't cover how to list volunteer work on a resume.
• Pair it with the resume-writing resources in this hub when you're ready to take that step
• Volunteering is most effective when it's relevant to the role, so think about what kinds of community work or projects connect to your career interests.
• For tech-interested roles, things like website support, social media management, or data entry for a community organisation all count

How to use this resource

• Read the employer statistics – they make a compelling case that volunteer experience carries real weight with employers
• Think about what volunteer or community work you've done and how it maps to skills employers value
• Explore SEEK Volunteer for 13,000+ opportunities. Tech-related roles do appear here, such as helping community organisations with their websites, social media, IT support, or data management – directly relevant if you're interested in digital or tech careers
• Note the point about relevance: volunteer experience lands best when it connects to the type of role you're interested in

What to know

• The article is written for people with work history to draw on when making a salary case. School leavers should anchor their expectations to market research rather than previous earnings
• The advice to never accept an offer immediately is worth reinforcing: always ask for time to review any written offer before responding

How to use this resource

• Read the research section first: use SEEK's explore salaries tool and the pay calculator to understand what a realistic range looks like before the interview
• The 'provide a range' and 'flip the question' tips are the most practical for school leavers who don't have a salary history to anchor to. Giving a range rather than a specific figure keeps the conversation flexible, and it is entirely acceptable to ask what budget has been set for the role
• For tech roles, salary ranges can vary significantly by specialisation. A junior data analyst and a junior software developer may have quite different typical ranges even at the same experience level

What to know

• This article lists job titles and brief descriptions only. For detail on what a role involves, what it pays, and what qualifications are needed, follow the links to individual career pages
• The article was written for a general adult audience. Some sections (e.g. changing careers, salary negotiation) are more relevant to people already in the workforce than school leavers
• The Technology & Engineering section covers common roles but isn't exhaustive. Tech-adjacent roles like Data Analyst, Digital Marketer, and UX Designer also appear in other sections
• Some roles listed are broad categories (e.g. 'Engineer') rather than specific job titles. Explore sub-specialties to find what fits your interests
• Job titles reflect common roles as of publication (May 2024). Emerging tech roles in particular evolve quickly

How to use this resource

• Scan through the industry sectors to find areas that interest you. You don't need to read every entry, let curiosity guide you
• When a job title catches your eye, click through to SEEK's dedicated career page for that role to learn more about what it involves and what it pays
• The Technology & Engineering section is a useful entry point if you're curious about tech, but also check Science & Research and Finance & Business — many tech-adjacent roles appear in those categories too
• The 'Emerging professions' section is worth a read if you're interested in roles that have emerged in the last decade
• Use the 'How do I decide on a career?' section as a reflection prompt: it walks through the key factors to weigh before committing to a direction

What to know

• The templates are designed for people with work history. School leavers should adapt the structure: lean on education, skills, and any projects or extracurricular activities rather than trying to fill out a full work history section
• For tech roles, a strong skills section often carries more weight than work experience for entry-level applicants. Hiring managers want to know what tools and technologies you are familiar with
• Many tech employers use automated screening tools to scan resumes before a human reads them. The simple or professional templates are safest for this: heavily designed formats can cause text to be misread or missed
• Keep your resume to one page as a school leaver. Tech hiring managers read quickly and prefer concise, scannable documents
• The templates are Microsoft Word files. Always save your final version as a PDF, as the article recommends, to make sure formatting stays intact across different computers

How to use this resource

• Download one of the three templates (modern, professional, or simple), fill in your own details, and save as a PDF before submitting any application to preserve the formatting
• Tailor your resume for each role you apply for: read the job ad, pick out the key skills and tools mentioned, and make sure your resume reflects these directly
• For tech and digital roles, add a dedicated skills section listing any software, tools, or platforms you know, even if you are just starting out. Think spreadsheets, design tools, coding languages, content management systems, or anything you have used at school or at home
• If you have worked on any tech-related projects (school assignments, personal projects, online courses), include a brief projects section. Tech employers value what you have built or contributed to, not just where you have been employed
• Where a job ad asks for a GitHub profile, LinkedIn, or portfolio link, add it to the contact details section at the top of your resume

What to know

• The article is written for a general workforce audience. Questions like 'describe a challenge at work' need adapting for school leavers to draw on school, sport, or volunteering situations instead
• The STAR method is the most important framework to take from this article. Once you can apply it confidently, most behavioural questions become manageable
• For tech roles, 'why do you want to work here?' and 'what motivates you?' are particularly important. Generic answers won't land well. Research the specific company and connect your answer to something real about the work they do
• The weaknesses question trips up many people. Name a genuine area for improvement with a concrete example of how you are addressing it, rather than giving a non-answer like 'I work too hard'
• The FAQ section at the end covers managing nervousness and handling rejection, which is worth reading if you're anxious about your first interview

How to use this resource

• Read through all eight questions and practise answering each one out loud before an interview. The suggested structure for 'tell me about yourself' (career overview, recent achievement, key skills, interest in the role) is particularly worth memorising
• Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for the 'describe a challenge' question and any other behavioural questions. Draw on school projects, volunteering, or team activities if you don't have formal work experience
• For tech interviews, adapt answers to reflect a tech context: for 'what motivates you?', talk about curiosity, problem-solving, or building things. For 'why do you want to work here?', reference something specific about the company's products, technology, or culture
• For 'what are your strengths?', tech-relevant strengths include analytical thinking, learning new tools quickly, attention to detail, and collaboration. Back each one up with a specific example
• For 'how do you prioritise your work?', describe a real situation from school or a project where you managed competing tasks. Tech employers value structured, clear thinking here

What to know

• Salaries shown are for experienced workers, not starting pay. Entry-level salaries will usually be lower
• Job satisfaction scores come from current workers in those roles, not from people just starting out
• Some niche or newer roles (especially in tech) may have limited data. If a career isn't showing up, try searching a related title
• Not sure where to start with tech? The Information & Communication Technology and Science & Technology sections cover far more roles than just software development

How to use this resource

• Search for a career in the search bar to pull up a full profile. You'll see typical tasks, salary, required skills, and job satisfaction ratings from real workers in that role. Try searching for a role like UX Designer, Data Analyst, or Cybersecurity Analyst to get started

• Not sure where to start? Browse by industry, pick a sector that interests you, and scroll through the roles available
• Click into any role card to read more, including whether demand for that role is growing or shrinking
• Use the salary comparison feature to see how a role's pay stacks up against others in the same industry
• Explore the Information & Communication Technology industry section to see just how many different careers exist in tech

What to know

• Data compares advertised salaries from February–May 2024 to February–May 2025, so it reflects recent market movement rather than long-term averages
• Growth figures are based on advertised roles – a useful directional signal, but individual outcomes will vary
• The article covers all industries; for a tech-specific view, explore the ICT browse page on SEEK

How to use this resource

• Browse the list to see which industries are growing fastest in pay. IT Technician features in the top-growth roles, a useful signal that tech is rewarding to enter right now
• Take note of the key finding: people who changed roles earned 1.6x more than those who stayed in the same job. Career mobility is one of the most effective ways to grow your pay over time
• Use this alongside the SEEK Salary Calculator to compare current pay rates with growth trends for roles you're exploring

What to know

• The article is written for career changers and people returning to work, so some framing won't translate directly to school leavers.
• The core advice about approaching volunteer searching strategically is still very useful
• The skills list is a helpful prompt if you're unsure what you want to develop.
• Use it alongside the transferable skills checklist to connect what you already have with what you want to build
• The case study features someone returning to work at 39 with no prior experience. It's still a useful story, but you may need to reframe it for your own context
• Volunteering works best when approached with intent. Think about what specific skills you want to gain, not just what cause you want to support

How to use this resource

• Read through the skills list to identify which skills you want to develop, then use that as a brief for searching for volunteer roles on SEEK Volunteer
• Follow the 'planning makes perfect' approach in the article: audit existing skills, identify the gaps, then search for roles that address those gaps
• The case study (Shelley, who secured her first paid communications job through a volunteer role) is worth reading if you feel stuck without experience
• If you're interested in tech, look for volunteer roles involving social media management, website updates, data entry, or digital communications for community organisations. These are common on SEEK Volunteer and build directly relevant skills

What to know

• The template is a starting point, not a finished letter. Every cover letter should be rewritten for the specific role and company. A copy-pasted letter is usually obvious to recruiters
• The article is written for people with work experience to draw on. School leavers should draw on examples from school projects, extracurriculars, volunteering, or part-time work instead
• For tech roles, a cover letter that mentions specific technologies, tools, or projects you have worked on is far more compelling than a generic expression of enthusiasm. Be concrete, not vague
• Keep it to one page. Tech hiring managers read quickly, and a long cover letter rarely helps
• The template is a Word file. Save your final version as a PDF before sending to preserve the formatting

How to use this resource

• Download the Word template and use it as your starting structure. Fill in your details, then rewrite the content specifically for each role you apply for
• Research the company and the specific role before you write. Mention something concrete about why this organisation interests you. Generic letters are easy for recruiters to spot
• For tech and digital roles, use your cover letter to tell the 'why tech' story: what draws you to this field, what you have built or worked on, and what you are keen to learn. Hiring managers in tech value genuine curiosity and initiative
• If you have limited work experience, your cover letter is the place to highlight relevant projects, online courses, or self-directed learning. Name specific tools or technologies you have been working with
• Close with a clear call to action: express enthusiasm for the role and invite them to review your resume or portfolio

What to know

• This tool is time-sensitive: the data reflects a specific point in time and will become outdated. Always check the publish date before relying on the data
• Job market trends shift regularly. Use this as a starting point for discussion rather than a definitive guide to where to focus

How to use this resource

• Use as a conversation starter about which industries are growing and what that means for career planning
• Browse the interactive data tool on the page for a fuller picture beyond the six highlighted roles. Tech and digital roles may appear with different growth patterns depending on when the page is viewed
• The job market context (job ads trending down year-on-year but applications remaining steady) is useful background if you find the job market more competitive than expected
• Use the state and territory filters to check whether roles you're interested in are growing in your area. Demand isn't evenly spread across Australia, and this tool makes that visible
• Cross-reference what you find here with the Explore Careers tool for a fuller picture. Job Trends shows where demand is moving; Explore Careers shows what those roles actually involve and what they pay

What to know

• This article goes deeper on behavioural questions than the common interview questions guide. Use it as a follow-up once you're comfortable with the STAR basics
• Tech employers use behavioural interviews extensively because they reveal problem-solving style, attitude to failure, and adaptability – all core traits in tech workplaces
• The article is written for a workforce audience. School leavers will need to adapt most examples to non-work situations, but the STAR structure and question types are directly applicable
• The 'adapting to change' and 'handling failure' questions are particularly common in tech interviews. Think of examples where things didn't go to plan and what you learned – this signals a growth mindset that tech employers value

How to use this resource

• Read through the STAR method section first, then work through the ten example questions and practise applying STAR to each one using your own experiences
• For tech interviews, pay particular attention to: problem-solving, adapting to change, taking initiative, and handling failure. These come up constantly in tech hiring because they reveal how someone approaches ambiguity and learning
• As a school leaver, draw on school projects, group work, sport, or personal tech projects rather than formal work situations. The STAR structure works just as well for any of these
• Quantify your results where possible: 'reduced the time it took to complete the task by half' or 'the project was delivered two weeks early' makes answers noticeably more compelling

What to know

• This is an introductory overview, not a how-to guide. Use it as a starting point and pair it with the beginner resume guide or the no-experience template when you're ready to start writing
• The article is written for a general audience including experienced workers. Some sections (e.g. 10+ years experience, professional memberships) won't apply to school leavers yet

How to use this resource

• Read this before diving into resume templates. It gives a clear picture of what a resume is for and what each section should do
• Use the 'what to leave out' section to avoid common mistakes (personal details like age or address, irrelevant experience, salary history)
• For tech roles, the skills section should list specific tools and technologies, not just soft skills

What to know

• Asking questions at the end of an interview is a genuinely underused skill for school leavers, who often say 'no' when given the opportunity. This article can help change that habit
• The article is written for a general workforce audience. Some questions about long-term career progression may feel less relevant for school leavers, but questions about the team, training, and learning opportunities are directly applicable
• For tech roles, showing curiosity about how the team works, what they are building, and how they approach challenges is a strong signal. Tech employers value candidates who think beyond just 'getting the job'
• Avoid asking about salary or conditions in a first interview – the article flags this, but it is worth keeping in mind

How to use this resource

• Pick two or three questions from the article to prepare before every interview. Avoid saying 'no' when asked if you have questions — it signals disinterest
• The article groups questions into useful categories: the role, the team, leadership style, culture, and training and development. Choose from different categories to show breadth of interest
• For tech roles, the 'unique questions' section is particularly valuable. Asking about how AI is affecting the team's work, what the biggest technical challenges are, or how the role contributes to the company's long-term goals signals genuine industry awareness
• Other strong questions for tech interviews: 'What does the tech stack look like, and are there plans to evolve it?', 'What does learning and development look like for someone in this role?', or 'How does the team approach mistakes or failed experiments?'
• Prepare your questions in advance but stay flexible — some may already be answered during the conversation

What to know

• Salaries shown are for experienced workers, not entry-level. Starting pay is usually lower, sometimes significantly so
• Figures come from advertised job listings, not actual offers. They're a useful guide, not a guarantee
• High-salary roles at the top of the list (e.g. $250K+) typically require years of experience or senior leadership. They're not realistic benchmarks for someone just starting out
• Job satisfaction scores reflect current workers' experiences, not those of people just starting out
• Tech roles appear across multiple industry categories. Searching a specific job title (e.g. 'Cybersecurity Analyst') gives more accurate results than browsing by industry alone

How to use this resource

• Search for a role you're curious about to see its typical salary range, job satisfaction rating, and whether the field is growing or declining
• Browse by industry to compare earning potential across sectors, and explore the Information & Communication Technology section to see how varied tech salaries can be – 303 roles listed, from Helpdesk Technician to Chief Technology Officer
• Use the 'highest paying careers' and 'highest job satisfaction' lists as conversation starters if you're not sure where to start

• Pair salary figures with job growth indicators to weigh up both earning potential and long-term opportunities for a role you're considering

What to know

• The article is primarily written for people with work history. The 'fresh graduate' example is the most relevant section for school leavers
• The core advice (action verbs, quantifiable results, tailoring to the role) applies equally to non-work experience. Apply these principles to projects, volunteering, and extracurriculars
• For tech roles, describing what you built or contributed to is more compelling than listing duties. Specifics matter: name the tools used, the problem solved, and the outcome
• This article overlaps with other resume guides in the hub. It is most useful if you already have a draft and want to strengthen how your experience is written

How to use this resource

• Start with the 'fresh graduate' example in the article – it is the most relevant for school leavers and shows how to present limited experience effectively
• Apply the same principles to non-work experience: if you're applying for tech roles, the work experience section can include school projects, volunteering, or personal projects, formatted and written the same way as paid work
• Use action verbs and quantifiable results for everything, not just paid jobs. 'Built a website used by 200+ people' or 'Led a team of 4 to complete a school data analysis project' is far stronger than describing duties
• Match your language to the job ad: identify the key skills and tools mentioned and reflect these in how you describe your experience
• For tech roles with thin work history, the article's combination format (skills first, then experience) is worth considering

What to know

• This article overlaps with the common interview questions guide already in the hub. Its main added value is the expert explanations of why each question is asked, not the sample answers
• Written for a workforce audience; school leavers will need to adapt examples to non-work contexts as with the other interview guides

How to use this resource

• Focus on the 'why employers ask this' sections – understanding the intent behind each question helps you answer more strategically rather than just reciting a prepared response
• Use the advice on linking your skills to the company's goals and framing mistakes as learning opportunities. Both resonate particularly well in tech cultures
• Pair with the common interview questions guide rather than replacing it – this article adds expert rationale where the other gives more structured answer frameworks

What to know

• Reviews reflect individual employees' personal experiences. One negative review doesn't define a company, and one glowing review isn't a guarantee
• Smaller companies and startups may have very few reviews, making it harder to draw conclusions. This is especially true in tech, where many employers are young or fast-growing
• Culture can vary between teams, offices, and managers. Reviews give a useful overview but not the full picture
• Some profiles include information provided by the employer themselves. Cross-reference with other sources for a balanced view
• Curious about tech workplaces specifically? Use the Information & Communication Technology industry filter on the page to find employers across software development, cybersecurity, data, cloud, and digital roles

How to use this resource

• Search for a specific company you're interested in to read employee reviews and see ratings across culture, management, and benefits
• Browse by industry to discover top-rated employers in a sector you're curious about. If you're interested in tech, filter by Information & Communication Technology to explore employers like Atlassian, Canva, Telstra, and others across software, cloud, and digital roles
• Read a mix of positive and critical reviews to get a balanced picture. Look for patterns across multiple reviews rather than fixating on one
• Check the 'perks and benefits' section to understand what a company offers beyond base salary
• Use company profiles as interview prep: knowing what employees say about a workplace helps you ask more informed questions

What to know

• This is a supplementary section: hobbies should never crowd out skills, projects, or education on a resume
• For school leavers, the most valuable hobby to include is self-directed learning in tech: personal projects, online courses, or tools you have been exploring in your own time
• Avoid vague entries like 'reading' or 'interest in computers.' 'Building a Raspberry Pi home server' or 'learning Python through freeCodeCamp' is far more useful to a recruiter
• The article is written for a general audience. For school leavers, this section can help compensate for a thin work history, but skills and projects should always come first

How to use this resource

• Use the article's five hobby categories as a checklist: identify which of your hobbies fit and whether they are worth including
• For tech roles, personal tech projects, open-source contributions, robotics, game development, or 3D printing are genuinely relevant hobbies. They signal curiosity and self-directed learning, which tech employers value highly
• The professional development category (online courses, certifications) is particularly strong for tech applicants. Any relevant platforms you have used (Coursera, freeCodeCamp, Khan Academy) belong here
• Keep it to two or three entries at the bottom of the resume. One specific, relevant line is better than a vague list

What to know

• This is a broad overview rather than a deep dive on any one topic. Use it as a pre-interview checklist alongside the more focused guides in the hub
• Overlaps with several other resources (first-time interview tips, common questions, behavioural questions). Its main value is as a consolidated pre-interview rundown
• Most advice applies directly to school leavers, though some language assumes existing work experience

How to use this resource

• Use as a pre-interview checklist: work through each section in the days before an interview to make sure nothing is missed
• The company research section is particularly useful for tech roles: check the company's products, engineering blog, and SEEK company reviews to understand their culture and what they are building
• The three-part personal narrative (background, current skills, career aspirations) is worth practising out loud — it maps directly onto the 'tell me about yourself' question
• For tech interviews, note the attire advice: many tech workplaces are smart casual rather than formal. When in doubt, dress slightly up rather than down

What to know

• Overlaps with the motivation sections in the common interview questions and first-time interview tips guides. Its value is the deeper focus on authentic alignment rather than performed enthusiasm
• School leavers can adapt the advice to draw on what genuinely interests them about tech careers rather than prior work experience
• The expert view that motivation predicts job satisfaction is worth noting if you're unsure whether to be 'strategic' or genuine in your answers. Genuine is almost always better

How to use this resource

• Focus on the 'why do you want to work here?' section. It is one of the most important questions in any interview, and the advice to connect your values and skills to what the company does applies directly to any role
• For tech roles, authentic motivation matters more than polished answers. Being specific about what interests you in the company's products, mission, or technology is far more compelling than generic enthusiasm
• The 'what work environment makes you most productive?' question is worth thinking through carefully for tech roles, where culture varies widely between companies. Reflecting honestly on whether you prefer collaborative or independent work, fast-paced or methodical environments, gives a stronger answer than a vague 'I am flexible'

What to know

• Broad overview that overlaps with several other interview guides in the hub. Its main distinctive value is the coverage of different interview formats and the common mistakes list
• Most advice applies directly to school leavers. The section on multiple interview rounds is less relevant as entry-level roles rarely involve more than one or two stages

How to use this resource

• Use the interview formats section to make sure you know what to expect. Virtual and panel interviews are common in tech; some tech employers also use case challenges or technical assessments not covered in depth elsewhere in the hub
• The common mistakes section is particularly worth reading: lacking company knowledge and being unfamiliar with your own resume are the most avoidable errors, and both trip up first-time interviewees regularly
• For virtual interviews, which are very common in tech hiring, the advice on testing technology, lighting, and background is worth reviewing before any online interview

What to know

• Overlaps significantly with other interview guides in the hub. Its main distinctive value is the salary question section, which other guides don't cover
• Most advice is applicable to school leavers, though the salary question guidance is more relevant once they have an offer or are in later interview stages

How to use this resource

• Use the five question categories as a preparation framework: behavioural, situational, competency, communication/cultural, and salary. Make sure you have practised at least one answer for each type
• The salary questions section is the most distinctive part of this article. The general advice is to avoid committing to a number early. Use SEEK's explore salaries tool to research typical rates for the role beforehand
• Situational questions ('how would you approach X?') are worth particular attention for tech interviews, where this question type is commonly used alongside behavioural questions