She began an office-administration job on Monday and she could not be more excited.

``I decided to be positive and continue to keep on going, and thank God I did. I am so happy I am going to start a new job,'' the 21-year-old said.

Ms Bah migrated to Australia from Sierra Leone in 2006, completed her HSC and hoped to study business administration at university.

But she discovered she could not afford the fees.

``I don't have any experience in office administration but the company said they would train me, so I am very excited and nervous,'' she said.

Ms Bah's failure to find work had not been through lack of trying.

She speaks English well and has completed courses in beauty, responsible service of alcohol, gaming regulations and flight attending.

Ms Bah stayed positive and put her predicament down to bad luck and the economy.

``I thought, you have got to keep on going, the more you go, you will have to get [work] one day,'' she said. Ms Bah said she was grateful to be working and hoped she could still pursue a career as a flight attendant.

Sydney Morning Herald