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Fresh graduate jobs in Indonesia: first steps, apprenticeships and avoiding fake jobs

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

Practical steps for new graduates in Indonesia: a CV with no experience, official job channels, MagangHub and free training, and how to spot fake jobs.

Summary

  • Diploma and degree graduates within one year of graduating can join MagangHub; the current batch schedule is on our MagangHub guide.
  • SMA and SMK graduates aged 17 or older can join free National Vocational Training through Skillhub.
  • School and campus job centres (BKK) and job-fair organisers may not charge job seekers (Ministry of Manpower Regulation 18/2024).
  • Creating a SIAPkerja account, used for Karirhub, Skillhub and MagangHub, is free.
  • The Ministry of Manpower lists requests for money and unrealistic pay for entry-level posts as signs of a fake job.
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On this page
  1. What should a new graduate do first when looking for work?
  2. What jobs can SMA or SMK school leavers do, and what do they pay?
  3. Where should new graduates look for vacancies?
  4. How does MagangHub help new graduates?
  5. What free training can SMA or SMK graduates take?
  6. What should you check in your first employment contract?
  7. How can new graduates recognise a fake job (loker bodong)?
  8. Which official channels can new graduates use?

What should a new graduate do first when looking for work?

Prepare three things before applying: a one-column CV that an ATS can read, a SIAPkerja account for Ministry of Manpower services, and a list of the positions and cities you want. Make sure your study record is correct in PDDikti, because some programmes check your campus status. Then set a weekly application routine and log each application, so you can recognise genuine interview calls.

What jobs can SMA or SMK school leavers do, and what do they pay?

SMA or SMK school leavers can apply for many entry-level jobs, such as administrative assistant, cashier, retail crew, warehouse administrator, production operator and customer service agent; each KarirAman role guide states the education usually asked for. For workers with less than 1 year of service, pay may not be below the minimum wage (the provincial UMP or district UMK) where you work (Law 13/2003 Article 88E as amended by Law 6/2023). The Ministry of Manpower lists pay or benefits that are far too high for an entry-level post as one sign of a fake job.

Where should new graduates look for vacancies?

Prioritise channels you can check: companies' official careers sites, the Ministry of Manpower's Karirhub, the job centre (BKK) at your school or campus, and official job fairs. Ministry of Manpower Regulation 18/2024 prohibits BKKs and job-fair organisers from charging job seekers, and prohibits licensed job portals from charging job seekers. Creating a SIAPkerja account is free too. Anyone asking for money to register is a warning sign.

How does MagangHub help new graduates?

MagangHub is the Ministry of Manpower's National Apprenticeship Programme platform for diploma, degree and professional graduates within one year of graduating. Apprenticeships last six months, with an allowance equal to the local minimum wage (UMK) and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan cover paid by the government. We keep the current batch registration dates updated on our MagangHub guide, and they are announced officially only on maganghub.kemnaker.go.id.

What free training can SMA or SMK graduates take?

Graduates of SMA, SMK, MA or equivalent aged at least 17 can join the National Vocational Training Programme on the Ministry of Manpower's Skillhub, which is free and government-funded. Courses last one to four months, and participants who pass the test receive a BNSP competence certificate. According to Skillhub (read 7 October 2026), Batch 6 registration was open until 14 October 2026, with the programme starting on 28 October 2026.

What should you check in your first employment contract?

Read the contract before signing and ask for a copy. Check the contract type (PKWT or PKWTT), position, workplace, the amount and method of pay, and the contract length; Government Regulation 35/2021 Article 13 requires these in a PKWT. A time-based PKWT lasts at most five years including extensions (Article 8) and may not include probation (Article 12). Pay may not be below your area's minimum wage.

How can new graduates recognise a fake job (loker bodong)?

New graduates are frequent targets because they urgently need work. The Ministry of Manpower lists signs of fake jobs including unrealistic pay or benefits for entry-level posts, free e-mail domains, instant chat interviews, requests for money for administration, training or uniforms, and requests for your ID card, bank account or a selfie with your ID. Paste a doubtful ad into the job checker before sending any data.

Checklist for your first job search

  • Your one-column CV is ready as a PDF.
  • You created your own SIAPkerja account and never share the password.
  • Vacancies come from official channels or companies you can check.
  • Nobody asks for money to register, test, train or buy a uniform.
  • You read the contract before signing and keep a copy.

Which official channels can new graduates use?

Career Interest Explorer

Frequently asked questions

I have no experience yet. Which jobs are realistic to apply for?

Start with entry-level positions, official apprenticeships such as MagangHub, and training that gives a certificate. List internships, organisations, projects and certificates on your CV. Be wary of entry-level vacancies with unrealistic pay or benefits, which the Ministry of Manpower lists as a sign of a fake job.

Can my first contract include a probation period?

It depends on the contract type. A fixed-term (PKWT) contract may not require probation, and if it does, that probation is void (Government Regulation 35/2021 Article 12). Probation applies only to permanent workers (PKWTT) and lasts at most three months.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. Persyaratan Program Pemagangan Nasional (MagangHub) Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan (MagangHub) · accessed
  2. MagangHub: jadwal Program Pemagangan Batch 3 Tahun 2026 Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan (MagangHub) · accessed
  3. Skillhub Kemnaker: Program Pelatihan Vokasi Nasional (FAQ dan jadwal) Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan (Skillhub) · accessed
  4. Karirhub Kemnaker Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan (Karirhub) · accessed
  5. Peraturan Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor 18 Tahun 2024 tentang Penempatan Tenaga Kerja Dalam Negeri JDIH BPK RI · Permenaker 18/2024 · accessed
  6. PDDikti: Pangkalan Data Pendidikan Tinggi Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, Sains, dan Teknologi · accessed
  7. 6 Ciri Lowongan Kerja Bodong yang Perlu Diwaspadai Kompas TV · official statement via media · accessed
  8. Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 35 Tahun 2021 tentang PKWT, Alih Daya, Waktu Kerja dan Waktu Istirahat, dan PHK Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 35/2021 · accessed
  9. Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2023 tentang Penetapan Perppu Nomor 2 Tahun 2022 tentang Cipta Kerja menjadi Undang-Undang Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 6/2023 · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Fresh graduate jobs in Indonesia: first steps, apprenticeships and avoiding fake jobs. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/guides/fresh-graduate-jobs/

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CariTalent and PanduanHewan are Kode Nirlaba projects; Panduan Warga and The Cast Index are independent publications with the same founder. CourseToJob is a study-guide site with the same owner, run by Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd.

Change log
  • : Added jobs and the pay floor for SMA and SMK school leavers, moved MagangHub dates to the MagangHub guide, and added a CourseToJob link.