The Impossible Job Search: Why It's Harder for Teens...

Understanding the Challenge

Have you ever done the whole job search? Countless hours looking through job listings. Hundreds of applications. Practicing for interviews. All with little success?

I've definitely been there. I've seen the struggles and spent a long time trying to find that perfect job that never came, before I turned to entrepreneurship. If you're anything like me, I bet you revised your resume a million times. Constantly updating your professional profiles and probably applied for so many jobs, you've lost count.

I eventually learned a lesson that took me way too long to realize, but it changed my whole perspective. I realized that my resumes, portfolios... even my skill set... weren't the problem. You could be the most highly qualified person in the room, and chances are, you still wouldn't be hired.

Here's why.

To put it simply, you're being disqualified because of your age. Which is completely unfair, but from a business perspective, it makes sense.

When hiring under 18s, government rules and laws are tighter to help keep you safe and prevent abuse. That’s a good thing. The problem is, many businesses aren’t willing to deal with the risk or the extra steps that come with hiring younger workers. So they just avoid it.

It's not personal, it's practical. That’s why most jobs available to under 18s are at fast food chains, cafés, or small service-based places. They’re seen as low-risk and easy to manage.

Which really sucks when you're aiming for better roles and higher pay. Like I was.

My Experience

I had plenty of experiences like that. Most of the time, I wouldn’t hear anything back, or I’d just get automation emails.

Even apprenticeships, which are meant to be easier to get, and offer training, job security, and real qualifications... were hard to land.

I once applied for an apprenticeship in signwriting, and got a call a few months later… but it was for a warehouse job sorting plastic bottles. I hadn’t even applied for that. Apparently, the company I originally applied to passed my details onto one of their clients. No heads-up. No connection to what I wanted to do. (I said no pretty quickly.)

At that point, I had a Cert III in Graphic Design with TAFE Queensland. I also had years of customer service experience, team leadership, and more. And yet I was getting random calls for dirty labor jobs that didn’t pay well and offered zero benefits.

Why was this happening? I knew I had the qualifications. So why were the better jobs being kept out of reach?

What Can I Do?

I can hear you saying, "Ok Zeek, if it's really as simple as that, what can I do if the odds are stacked against me because of things outside of my control? What's the point?"

Don't worry, I'm getting there.

Yes, the odds are stacked against you. But the point isn't to bring you down, it's to inform you. The road is harder for us as teens. But you're not powerless. There are still ways to improve your chances.

Because it’s not just a choice between fighting what you can’t control or settling for whatever’s offered to you. Those weren’t the only options for me.

I decided a long time ago to avoid the typical low-end work teens are expected to do. I didn’t want that to be my life, constantly accepting what was available and settling for less.

What kind of life is that? One where you never want more? Where you stop chasing bigger dreams just because no one expects you to?

If you let others and their rules hold you back, you’ll always stay small.

There’s another option for those who want more.

You don’t follow the path that was chosen for you. You create your own.

Yes, it’ll be harder. But I never said don’t work hard. If you’re going to put in the effort, it should go into something that means something to you. Something you’re proud of.

The Big 5: What You Can Focus On

If the odds are stacked against us, we need to get smart about how we stack things in our favour. You can’t always change the system, but you can change how you show up. These five areas have made a massive difference for me, and they’re what I believe every teen should focus on if they want to actually get somewhere.

1. Communication
You could be the best person for the job, but if you can’t explain that in a clear, confident way, you’ll get overlooked every time. Learning to communicate your value is key. Whether it’s how you write about yourself in a resume or how you speak during an interview, your words shape how people see you. It’s not about being fake or over-the-top. It’s about being real, clear, and confident in what you bring to the table.

2. Skills
You never stop learning. Seriously. The more skills you stack up, the more valuable you become. To future employers, clients, or even your own business. The best part? You don’t need a degree or a full-time course to level up. You can learn graphic design, video editing, marketing, coding, or business basics online. For free! Every new skill you learn is a door you just unlocked. So don’t wait. Start building your toolbox now.

3. Showcase
Don’t just say you’ve got skills, show them. If you know how to design, build a portfolio. If you love writing, start a blog. If you’re into coding, post a project on GitHub or your own site. Whatever you’re into, make it visible. Most teens just say what they can do. You’ll stand out by proving it. That one link or project example could be the difference between being ignored or getting picked.

4. Initiative
Waiting around doesn’t work anymore. The people who succeed are the ones who start without being told. If you want to work in a certain space, don’t wait for the perfect job — create your own version of it. Offer to help a local business. Start a side hustle. Build something small that teaches you something big. The moment you start doing, you stop waiting... and that changes everything.

5. Reputation
This one isn’t talked about enough, but it matters more than you think. Your reputation is what people say about you when you’re not around. And even as a teen, you’re building it every time you show up, follow through, and do what you said you’d do. Be someone others can count on. Be consistent. Be honest. That kind of trust is rare, and once people know you for it, they’ll want to work with you, recommend you, and bring you in on new opportunities.

It’s not about the easy road. It’s about putting in the time and effort into making it happen.

I’d like to leave you with a quote from my Favourite Poem, "The Road Not Taken." - By Robert Frost.

-Ezekiel Paea

The Teenage Entrepreneur