TORIARNA Costigan has landed a job where she strides into work with a smile every day, but getting there wasn't a walk in the park.

After moving home to Warwick, 20-year-old Ms Costigan started applying for jobs, but was daunted by

intimidating interviews, stiff competition and the pressure of meeting employers' expectations.

The feeling is one most young people in our region understand all too well, but don't often speak about.

Signing up for every job under the sun to no avail, it would have been easy for Ms Costigan to give up hope.

But that all started to change with a little nudging along from Gateway to Training's Rob Hamilton, who helped Ms Costigan develop the confidence and employability skills she needed to finally land a job she loves.

"If I didn't have (Gateway to Training), I wouldn't have got a job I would not have wanted to work,” she said.

"Going out and trying to get a job in Warwick is very hard but they were reassuring that I was ok, that I had valuable skills and giving me confidence by getting my resume up to date.”

Ms Costigan said the support and perseverance from the Gateway to Training staff, who have been in Warwick since April last year, was exactly what she needed to score an administration job at Downs Heating, Cooling and Outdoors.

"I've been here about three months now and I love it... when I walk in to work every morning it's a good feeling,” she said.

Ms Costigan said a reluctance to apply for work was common among Warwick's youth.

Gateway to Training Transition to Work program manager Rob Hamilton said many young people had fantastic skills which are sometimes overlooked by employers.

"Some workplaces think the young people in this town aren't ready for full time employment when really they just never had the opportunity to have a go,” he said.

"The (young people) sometimes just need that kick start to know how to react in an employment situation or how to present themselves in an interview.”

The Transition to Work program is targeted at job seekers between the ages of 15 and 21.

Mr Hamilton said the program supported young people by giving them skills in resume writing, interview techniques as well as marketing job seekers to Warwick's employers and educating employers about the various wage subsidies that may be available when they hire young workers.

"We've had a really fantastic response from a lot of the employers in this town,” Mr Hamilton said.

"There are some great employers in the region who are taking on young people and supporting them in their work.”

Gateway to Training also runs other programs offering free employment counselling and training for people from 15 years of age right through to retirement age.

For more information pop in to the Gateway to Training office at 74C Fitzroy Street or visit their website.