Q: Where can they find more first job advice?

Our My First Job Page has more information about getting started, what we’re looking for, and what to expect.

Question 1

View a transcript of this video

Accepted Answer

Video 1 - Studying and earning at Coles
Meet Giorgia:

I definitely wanted something where I could improve my communication skills. That was very important to me in high school.

Hi, my name's Georgia. I'm a team member at Coles and I work at Coles The Glen.

I've been working for 5 years at Coles. So, I started back in high school. I was very shy back then, so it was important for me to want to do something that was getting me out of my comfort zone, speak to and connect with a wide variety of people.

I definitely wouldn't have had the opportunity to grow my confidence and people skills as much if I hadn't have worked at Coles.

Working at Coles, everyone really looks out for each other. Especially my manager, she does so much for us.
There's always treats in the tea room. She's always checking in on us, um making sure we're okay, giving us feedback. And she's really good at taking feedback as well. She's always so open with everyone, which makes it really easy to talk to her about anything.

Our team also is so caring. The culture is really bright and fun and uplifting. Very together environment and we all want to have a good time as well. So, it's upbeat and really good and fun. Feels really nice and welcoming and you feel valued.

Okay. Do my bangs look okay? Okay.

In terms of my career goals, currently studying engineering.

Coles has definitely helped me more in my soft skills department, the confidence and communication skills thatevery career needs.

In engineering, you're stressed 100% of the time. You're constantly on the go and I think Coles simulates that and it's very similar to that experience of constantly moving, constantly being on the go. So, I think that's really applicable to what I want to do in the future.

I've also learned how to learn, to learn from other people and learning from other people is such a valuable skill. And following by example and as you keep doing that, your confidence also grows and your ability to learn to learn also grows.

Video 2 - Riley's path to career growth at Coles Local

My name is Riley. I'm currently a Fresh Trade at Cole's Local, Toorak.

I originally come from far North Coast, New South Wales and I've been in Melbourne for just about 3 months now.

I lived in a country town all my life, so I just decided that a change of pace was well needed. I just decided, I might as well take the leap. It's a different lifestyle and more opportunities - see where it takes me.

My move from rural to Melbourne started about 6 months ago when I called Jake looking for a position. And, it was easy as just one phone call and I got a transfer lined up.

I chose to stick with Coles because of the job security. Not only that their workers rights are very fair; but also the transfer allowed me to have a job the moment I moved.

I'd say my career goals are working for corporate Coles eventually in the future, career in IT. And that's part of the growth process working through the store level and making your way up eventually over time. So, I got to learn the small things first and work my way up so to speak.

I was surprised at how many different pathways that they actually provide as well depending on what industry you're studying on there's always a career for you to pursue internally through Coles.

Jake my Store Manager has been very hands-on with furthering my career goals as he's provided a framework for me to achieve those goals with monthly check-ins to make sure that I'm actually following my career path.

Jake: He's striving to be a Fresh Trade Manager so we've created an individual development plan to help him grow and tick some boxes where maybe he hasn't learned the skills before, but now he does.

So, working side-by-side with him monthly catch-ups, just to see where he's at. That's how we've I guess, grown his career so that he's ready to take the next step.

Riley: The best part of working at Coles just interacting with a customer on a day-to-day basis, getting to know your regulars and just talking about life and enjoying the days.

Video 3 - Gaining skills at Coles Local
Meet Oshan:

I used to work in IT in Malaysia. Working at IT kind of made me miserable. I just didn't want to sit in front of a computer all day. I wanted to meet new people. But I got the opportunity to study film in Australia. So when I came here, I was looking for part-time work. Plus, I wanted to place where I could make new friends. And Coles popped up and I decided to take a chance on it. So far, I've been loving it.

I'm Oshan. I'm a Fresh Produce Team Member at Coles Local, Toorak. I've been here for 14 months.

As a person, I'm bit introverted. I had scoliosis when I was young. So because of that, I walked with the limp. And back home, I've always got like side eye from people. I had so much social anxiety. I was pretty reluctant to talk to people because I was kind of shy and scared. But since starting work here, I've broken out of that shell. Coles have helped me make a great bunch of friends. I think it helps because I meet new people from different cultures and different walks of life. And everyone's so nice over here.

Jake - Store Manager: Seeing Oshan grow has been really exciting. He's grown that confidence in Coles and it's helped him to become who he is. He now has confidence because he works side-by- side with other team members going "oh my gosh you've built that display". "That looks amazing". Really nice to see.

Oshan: Not only here like, we hang out outside work as well. We go out for dinners, we hang out at parties. It's amazing how tight we are, how close we are. We have days where we share food from each culture. I've been sharing Sri Lankan food with my manager and supervisor and they kind of hooked on it. So it just made it easier to open up. Which is nice because I felt like home and I just I love coming to work.

Question 2

Minimum age requirements

Accepted Answer

Generally, your child will need to be at least 15 years of age to apply for employment with Coles. For some brands, other minimum age requirements apply. For example, for Coles Services, your child will generally need to be at least 16 years of age to apply for employment. For Liquor, and distribution jobs, job applicants will need to be at least 18 years of age. Minimum age requirements differ by state and territory. For more information, refer to the Minimum working age - Fair Work Ombudsman website.

You will be required to provide your child's date of birth, which will be verified as part of the recruitment process. In some cases, we may need the parent or guardian's written permission to allow your child to start working with us. If so, we will let you know during the recruitment process what we need from you in this regard.

Question 3

Our recruitment process

Accepted Answer

Your child will go through an easy five-step application process, which involves submitting their application, completing an interview and accepting their offer. If they’re unsuccessful, they’ll be notified by email and be invited to keep their profile up to date so they can continue applying for any future roles they might be interested in.&#xa0; Learn more about our recruitment process

Question 4

How will work fit around my child’s school commitments?

Accepted Answer

For Coles team members who are still in school, we roster shifts around school commitments and provide rosters in advance, so work won't interfere with your other commitments.&#xa0;We encourage team members to review their availability regularly to ensure visibility for the store leadership team prior to roster creation.&#xa0; It’s important your child feels safe and comfortable whenever they come into work for us, so we also provide them with extensive training, support and on-going guidance that helps them to understand their job responsibilities, including safety requirements and processes. Learn more about life at Coles&#xa0;

Question 5

Do they need a Tax File Number

Accepted Answer

They don’t need a Tax File Number (TFN) to apply for a role or start working with us. If they don’t have one yet, they can apply for a TFN through the Australian Taxation Office. Applying is free, and it’s a good idea to get started early.

Question 6

What identification will they need?

Accepted Answer

All team members who are employed must have the right to work in Australia. We will request documentation to demonstrate the right to work in Australia during the application process, which may include: an Australian or overseas passport; or an Australian birth certificate and photo ID; or an Australian citizenship certificate and photo ID

Question 7

Can they choose a store close to home?

Accepted Answer

They can search for jobs by distance from their current location, allowing them to&#xa0; choose which opportunities are close enough to home and apply for the ones that suit them. If they submit an Expression of Interest, they can also add their preferred location to help us match them with suitable opportunities. If a match becomes available, we’ll let them know so they can decide if the role and location are right for them.

Question 8

What if they don’t get a role the first time?

Accepted Answer

That’s okay. We receive lots of applications. Their details can remain in our Talent Pool so they can be considered for suitable opportunities in the future.

Question 9

What training will they receive?

Accepted Answer

When they join Coles, your child will complete a structured induction to help them feel confident, work safely and learn the skills they need for their role. Their induction includes: Welcome to Coles Group, introducing them to Coles, our values, safety and compliance. Welcome to Supermarkets, covering important supermarket-specific learning, including safe work practices and eLearning. Welcome to Role, where they’ll learn the practical skills they need on the job, including general supermarket skills and training specific to their department. They’ll also receive hands-on guidance from their manager and team as they learn their role. Training doesn’t stop after induction. Ongoing learning and development opportunities are available as they grow with us. &#xa0;