Beginner course · 15 lessons · about 90 min total
First Job & Paychecks: Start From the Beginning
Fifteen short lessons that start before your first application and end with your first tax return. Job postings, pay stubs, taxes and what to do with the money — in plain English, with no prior knowledge assumed.
No prior knowledge needed — genuinely.
Course progress
15 lessons · sign in to track progress
Free login required. Sign in to open lessons and save your progress as you go.
Sign in or sign upPart 1 — Getting Your First Job
Working rules, job postings, applying, and the paperwork on day one.
- 1Lesson 1: Before you start workingWorking ages, rules for minors, and the kinds of jobs that exist. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 2Lesson 2: Understanding a job postingLine by line: what a posting is really telling you, and what to watch for. 7 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 3Lesson 3: Applying for your first jobApplications, résumés, references, interviews — and how to stay safe doing it. 7 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 4Lesson 4: You got the job — now what?Offers, start dates, onboarding, and the paperwork you'll be asked to sign. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
Part 2 — Getting Paid
Hourly vs. salary, gross vs. net, pay stubs and direct deposit.
- 5Lesson 5: Hourly pay vs. salaryTwo ways to be paid, and why biweekly and semimonthly are not the same. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 6Lesson 6: Gross pay vs. net payWhy your paycheck is smaller than the number you multiplied. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 7Lesson 7: Understanding your pay stubA sample stub, walked through section by section. 7 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 8Lesson 8: Direct depositHow pay lands in your account, and how to protect those numbers. 5 minBeginner Sign in to read
Part 3 — Taxes & Paperwork
Why taxes come out, what a W-4 and W-2 are, and filing for the first time.
- 9Lesson 9: Why taxes come out of your paycheckWhat each tax line is for, in plain English. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 10Lesson 10: What is a W-4?The form that sets your withholding — and what it isn't. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 11Lesson 11: What is a W-2?The yearly summary you need to file, and how it differs from a W-4. 5 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 12Lesson 12: Filing your first tax returnWhat filing is, when it happens, and what a refund really is. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
Part 4 — Managing Your First Paycheck
Deciding where the money goes, saving automatically, and mistakes to sidestep.
- 13Lesson 13: What should I do with my first paycheck?A flexible way to divide your money that fits your actual life. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 14Lesson 14: Saving automaticallyMake saving happen without deciding every payday. 5 minBeginner Sign in to read
- 15Lesson 15: Common first-job money mistakesThe usual stumbles, described without judgment — and how to sidestep them. 6 minBeginner Sign in to read
How this course is written
Every lesson starts from zero, explains any term the moment it appears, and uses small, realistic dollar amounts. Employment and tax rules vary by state and change over time, so lessons point you to official sources — your state labor department, IRS.gov and your state revenue department — instead of stating one rule as if it applied everywhere. This is general education, not personalized legal or tax advice.