Current Students

Untitled-6

How To Use Public Transport in Melbourne | Using MYKI

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0

Have you ever wondered how to use Melbourne’s public transport system and that MYKI card, well Internash is going to show you how to ace the Melbourne public transport system for train, buses and trams.
If you want to travel in Melbourne on the public transport all you need is one card, the MYKI card. You can use this to travel on the trams, buses and the trains!
You can purchase these from any 7-eleven, some post offices and at any of the train stations where PTV have either a vending machine (where you also top up) or manned booths (kisok’s) during daylight/opening hours.
Your MYKI card will cost $6.00 AUD and you have two top-up options
 
 
 
 

Difference Between the Top Up Options

1.) MYKI Pass is ideal for those who travel often, with MYKI Pass you can travel unlimited for the amount of days you purchase (from 7 days, 28 days and 365 days). The cost of a 28 day pass is $145.04 (as at February 2018) and if you travel at least 5 days per week the MYKI pass works out a lot cheaper at $5.18 AUD per day over 28 days, where as MYKI Money costs up to $8.60 AUD per return trip.
2.) MYKI Money is for those who don’t travel often. There’s a maximum daily cap of $8.60 AUD no matter how many trams, trains or buses you travel on within that particular day. So, if you travel more than 4 days per week this is going to be a cheaper option than MYKI Pass, however if you travel 5-7 days per week opt for MYKI Pass as MYKI Money could cost you in excess of $172.00 AUD within 28 days travel! Know your schedule and choose accordingly.
One thing to note, if you buy MYKI Money and realise you need to purchase MYKI Pass it’s easy to change by topping up at a MYKI Kiosk or Vending Machine. This won’t cost you anything to change from Money to Pass, and if you’ve still got MYKI Money remaining this will stay on your card until you run out of MYKI Pass or your card expires – which ever comes first.
Fines
Now you’ve got your MYKI card and you’ve topped up it’s time to travel! Don’t forget to touch on every time you enter a train station or when you jump on the tram or the bus because if a PTV officer catches you for not touching on they will fine you on the spot $238.00 AUD and nobody wants that!
 
 
 

Touch Off!

When you are traveling on trains and buses don’t forget to touch off to avoid being charged a “default” fare if you’re using MYKI Money this is the daily cap of $8.60 AUD. However with trams you don’t actually have to touch off and in the city there is a free tram zone which is amazing! You don’t have to touch on or off and you don’t even need your MYKI if you don’t plan on leaving the city.
 

APPS

Another handy tip is to download the PTV app as you can check bus, tram and train timetables. You can also plan your journey and set reminders, personally I use this every single day as sometimes its even more up-to-date than the actual schedules displayed at the stations.
 

Night Services

Now, if you’re going out during the week Sunday through to Thursday just keep in mind that at midnight all the public transport stops running until five o’clock in the morning so you don’t want to get stranded. However, Friday and Saturday night it’s running 24 hours a day (usually a train every hours after midnight depending on your line) so you’ll definitely be able to get home after a big night out.
 
 
 
 

Register

Register your MYKI card on the MYKI website if you’re going to be here for some time because if you lose that MYKI card you lose the money on it. If you register online then  PTV they can just transfer that money over to a new card you buy from their manned kiosks. The website has an option to manually top up or organise automatic top ups when your card reaches a low balance which is really handy if you’re anything like me and constantly forgetting to top up my MYKI money every 28 days.
I hope these tips were helpful! Comment below if you have any questions, or tell us how you’ve found the Melbourne transport system since traveling around the city and surrounds
 
Author: Jocelyn Wardle
Untitled-7

Australians don’t have sex they mate! Know what happens ONLY in Australia

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0

Mate is one of the most commonly used terms to address people formally (depending on the field of work) and informally in Australia. Your boss may use it, your lecturer may use it and even people who do not like you may use it to get your attention! It’s like saying “bro” or “dude”. Let’s hangout for coffee “mate”!
 

Local Music

If you were expecting Ed Sheeran or Beyonce to perform at the St Kilda festival, you would be mistaken. The cultural festivals and events revolve around local acts. They are fun, full of vibrant ideas and talented performers. The local bands and artists are one of a kind. Even if you usually only listen to Top 40 bangers, you’re likely to find an unknown band or artist that makes your night
 
 

Produce

While we’re talking about local artists, the local produce in Australia is also fantastic! It is fresh, aromatic and delicious! The farmers and local growers are highly respected here. Check out the farmer’s bazaars or fresh produce sales to stock up your pantry with some amazing dairy products and wine. The wineries also have fun activities like berry picking, crushing and wine tastings (which are the best!)
 
 
 

Talking, whispering, I’ve got my ears on you!

Trying to have a private conversation? Well you can’t! The walls are super thin and you can hear almost everything. TV shows, music and sometimes even keyboard clicks. Want to get intimate with your date? One word of advice… Don’t!
Coffee shops shut
If you’re thinking of taking your date to a coffee shop after work instead… Sorry, but that is not an option. The coffee shops generally shut around 5pm. The sun doesn’t even set at 5pm! What is this about Australia!? The amount of times plans will have to be remade because the coffee shop you wanted to go to is shut is ridiculous!
Coffee connoisseurs
People here know their coffee! From the first drop of espresso to the last chocolate sprinkle. There is an oat milk latte, almond latte, sesame latte, purple latte, glitter latte and probably unicorn latte too!
 
 
 

Newspapers

Nobody gets them delivered to their home. You can catch news on the television or podcasts but rarely at your doorstep. Unless you consider gossip about your neighbors news.
 

“Throw another PRAWN on the Barbie!”

Anzac Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day (the most celebrated holidays) and basically every other holiday are an excuse to get your mates together for a good ol’ BBQ! You’d think there would be a “National Barbeque Day” since Australians can always find reason to light up the barbie. Have you been to Bunnings? Well, you should try their charity barbecues. It is a sacred ritual that officially baptizes you as a true blue Aussie.
 
 

Welcome to the future

Australia is ahead of everyone, everywhere! It is 5 and a half ahead hours of India, nearly 10 hours ahead of France., 7 hours ahead of Middle East and… I am not even going to attempt to calculate how far ahead of the United States it is! So next time you’re chatting to your Aussie mates ask them, “How is it living in the future?”
 
Author: Vedant Agarwal
Editor: Bridget Smallwood
 

Untitled-8

How to get a Job in Australia as an International Student or Backpacker

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0

Coming to Australia as an International student or a Backpacker can be extremely exciting but at the same time very challenging. In this post we are going tell you how to find a job part time job in Australia and the best ways to ensure you get a job as an overseas student or backpacker, so you can start making some money while you are studying or travelling abroad.
The easiest jobs to get as a student or a traveler would be in the hospitality or retail industries. In Australia no matter which city you are in, there are various ways you can secure a job.
 

Apply on Job portals

There are various websites/job portals that can help you secure a job within the first couple of days of coming to the country. An important question to ask is what kind of job are you looking to do. Are you looking to find a job which is more professional i.e office or call centre jobs are posted on www.seek.com.au, www.jora.com.au and www.indeed.com.au
Or are you are looking for a casual or part time job in hospitality, fundraising or a door-to-door marketing sales job you’ll find these listed on www.gumtree.com.au
Take note, with any job application be aware of scams! Watch our video about “How NOT to get Scammed in Australia”
 
 
 

Download Mobile Apps

These days almost everyone has a smart phone in their hand and applying for jobs have never been this easy before. You’re able to find a potential date by swiping right, and now you can get a job by swiping right too!
An application called Found is an example of swipe right and find a potential job. Update your CV, upload it to Found and get swiping.
Can applying be more easier?
Apart from Found there are also applications like Airtasker and Gumtree Jobs
 

Facebook groups

In today’s world Facebook has become an integral part of our life. Before most of us brew our morning coffee or brush our teeth we’re likely checking notifications or funny videos on facebook. Why not use it for your advantage?
There are various groups called Jobs in Sydney, Jobs for backpackers in Australia, Jobs for International Students in Australia or Jobs in Melbourne and so on.
Wherein a lot of employers keep posting jobs on regular basis, even if it is for a short term period but it can come very handy if you do not wish to commit for a long period in a job.
 

Hand out CVs

Another easy way to get a job is to print out your updated CV showing your work experience, internships and volunteer work. Hand these out to shops, restaurants and cafes which you’d like to work in. Ask the manager if they have any vacancy’s, it’s best to speak with a manager so you are provided the correct information and you know that when you hand over your CV it’s going into the correct hands.
Generally, in the hospitality industry, due to the high rush of backpackers or students, there is a high employee turnover and due to which they are always in search of good employees who not only they can rely on but also who can work hard and promote the business.
 
 

Volunteering

Job experience is one of the top priorities for employers in Australia and many of the international students coming to Australia are freshers and do not have any work experience or very minimal. In this case the easiest and most handy experience would be your work as a volunteer. There are events happening all across the year in all Universities and student body or universities are always in need of volunteers.
There are three main benefits for the same:
1. Improved communication skills
2. Networking – New connections
3. Looks good on CV (read our post about creating the perfect CV)
Also look out for various organisations which are associated with your Universities and keep your eye open to Job portals that almost all Universities have. Other places to search include Seek Volunteers and Indeed.com.
 
 
 

Uber, Uber Eats

A lot of students coming to Australia find Uber Eats as one of the easiest ways to make money quickly. Uber Eats is a food delivery service app where a person has to pickup food from restaurants and deliver it to given address either using their own bicycle, two wheeler or car. Per delivery a delivery driver may get paid anywhere between $6 to $10 dollars depending on the distance covered and value of the order taken. People working for Uber Eats may earn up to $100 to $150 a day depending on your area of work, what times you choose to work and how many  hours you spend working. We recommend checking out the app as it will tell you “high” times and suburbs to deliver for the best monetary outcome. To apply you will need to attend one of their offices, provide photo ID minimum of 100 points and fill out a form. They will run a background verification check, and once you’ve been cleared you can start delivering food.
 
 
If you want to drive with Uber Taxi you need an Australian driving licence which you’ve held for a minimum of one year and your own car which is less than 10 years old. Uber require the same verification as above, you’ll need to organise an appointment with Uber to get verified. Once you are registered with Uber as a driver, you can make a lot of money via that too.
A huge plus of Uber and Uber Eats is that as long as you pass the verification stage there’s no official interview and you can work your own hours so you can fit this around University and other commitments such as internships and social events.
Don’t forget to get a Tax File Number and a bank account!
Once you have these you’re ready to go! Also, keep in mind that working “cash in hand” jobs are highly illegal and you can risk losing your Visa if you choose these types of jobs. We do not recommend this at all as your education and international exposure is the most important thing here. It might take some time to find a job, but you will find one! Stand your ground with employers, don’t let anyone make you do something you feel is incorrect (like working for cash in hand) and focus on your studies first and foremost if you’re a student.
 
Author: Devarshi Desai
 
Untitled-9

How To Write a CV or Resume That Is Perfect For Any Job

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 0

Do you feel that how to write a CV is a daunting task? Do you feel that your mind rambles and you blabber some exaggerated qualities which you cannot often explain on your CV? Are you constantly getting emails and replies which do not make you feel better?
Well, we at Melbourne Vibe have created a simple step by step blueprint for you to follow to get out there and get a job because your CV will speak for you. Or you can watch the full video here How to Write A CV or Resume, Melbourne Vibe
 

K.I.S.S. – Keep it simple, stupid!

While reading articles and journals for your research papers – do you look at it word by word? You would yawn and drop your head. Similarly, recruiters are bombarded with an influx of thousands and thousands of CVs and the simpler, crisp, shorter the CV is, the better. A maximum of three page – catering to a large amount of experience – but a standard two-page resume works best. Highlight the key words that are required for the job and focus on key selection criteria.
 
 

Section 1 – You do not get a second chance to make a first impression.

Recruiters take a glance and absorb as much information as they can about you by looking at this section.
First section contains personal information, your contact details are a must, your DOB and a photo is not necessary on an Australian CV. Make sure you have a professional email address, no ‘mailto:baby123@gmail.com’ here.
 

Section 2 – Personalize and Customize

This is a section where you insert a personal branding line where you tell why you should be hired and for what reason. Highlight briefly your work experience, other skill sets and use key words from the job advertisement. Give them a reason to think “Maybe this candidate will do well in our company”. Get a little ambitious and tell them where you see yourself in a few years’ time.
 

Section 3 – Transcripts and Covering up those Grades

This is the section where education comes into play. Where did you go to high school – those math quizzes you took – all the science projects.
Research papers, thesis, minors and courses you are currently pursuing.
Do not get overwhelmed and start explaining them – just a few bullet points highlighting the basic overview of these educational accomplishments.
 
 

Section 4 – What is your favorite position? CEO!

The glitter and glimmer starts here. All your internships, volunteering work, positions you have held and tasks you have completed come under this section. Try to again push the most recent ones on it and as discussed earlier if you have large amount of experiences let them run a little longer. This section helps recruiters gauge – how well would you fit in and will they need to train you for anything.
 

Section 5 – Qualities and skills

If you’re applying for technical roles these include abilities and knowledge you’ve gained to perform specific technical tasks or programs you’re fluent in. If you’re applying for business, marketing or sales roles these include things like communication skills, marketing and administration skills and research skills.
 

Section 6 – Well Joey said “You know those hobbies on my resume? I’d like some of them to be true!”

Extracurricular activities – interests and hobbies – be true to yourself. Recruiters may ask you a question on these too. So, if you do not remember the last book you read or if you do not have a favourite quote – do not add something random! Make sure to include your passions, languages spoken, soft skills, extra trainings, software you’re skilled in, or specialised and unusual skills.
References and networking should comply with your resume – highlight important people with their contact details in bold, who can verify your work and give validation to your achievement – now all of our Mums love us, but they have a biased opinion – teachers, mentors, seniors who are professionally working, give volume to your CV.
Here’s Sample CV for you to download and make your own ! DOWNLOAD Sample CV
We hope this makes writing a CV or Resume a little easier for the Australian job market! Leave a comment below if you have any questions about the Australian job market.
Happy Job Hunting!
 
(Author: Vedant Agarwal)
 
Untitled-8

8 steps to study in Australia (HOW TO)

, , 0

How to study in Australia is the first question to ask yourself in order to fulfill your dream of becoming an international student in Australia. Fortunately, the whole process of studying abroad is extremely simple and we have broken it down in 9 simple steps to help you understand.

Step 1. Decide which course do you want to study 

Once you have decided to study in Australia, it is important to decide which course do you want to study. We would highly recommend asking yourself these two questions before deciding which course do you want to study abroad.

1. What are you passionate about?

It is important to study something that you are passionate about or highly interested in as you are most likely to find a job in that sector.

2. Do you want to keep an option of permanent residency open?

A lot of international students come to Australia to study a course and later change their course because they get to know that either it is impossible or extremely difficult to obtain permanent residency through the course they are studying. So always consult a registered migration agent to understand your pathways or do the required research.

Step 2. Shortlist University 

Once you have decided what you want to study, the next step is to decide where do you study that course from. Courses like Business and IT are offered by almost all universities so research is the key here. We would recommend asking these two questions before shortlisting the university.

1. University ranking and course structure

A simple google search might help you find the ranking of various Australian universities. We also recommend QS ranking(link) as they are one of the most trusted sources of information when it comes to University ranking.

2. How much can you afford?

Another thing to consider is the fees of a specific university. Group of 8 (link) universities are considered the best 8 universities in Australia but they come with a cost. Compared to other universities Go8 universities are quite expensive.

Step 3. Apply to shortlisted universities

Applying to universities can be quite tedious. Fortunately, education agents can come handy in this situation. Usually, education consultants do not charge from students for the application as they have an agreement with the universities. We recommend doing in-depth research before consulting an education consultant. If you are applying by yourself, university websites have a detailed list of the documents required. In case of any confusion, always reach out to university support and they would be happy to help.

Step 4. Receiving Offer Letter 

Once you have applied to multiple universities, you are most likely to receive an unconditional offer letter or a conditional offer letter. If you receive a conditional offer letter, it is important to fulfill the required conditions and the university would issue an unconditional offer letter. It is important to have an unconditional offer letter in order to pay the fees and get Confirmation of enrolment.

Step 5. Accept the offer by paying fees for the first semester 

One of the most important documents to get your Australian visa is confirmation of enrolment from the university. Once you have decided which university you want to study in, t is time to pay the first semester/year tuition fees. The university should issue CoE soon after paying the fees.

Step 6. Visa application 

There are multiple documents that are very important to submit while applying for your Australian student visa. We have listed some of the documents required.

  • Valid Passport
  • Confirmation of Enrolment(CoE)
  • Medical Insurance
  • HAP ID (Health checkup document)

If you have appointed an education consultant for your admission, usually they should help you with your visa application.

Step 7. – Pack your bags and fly away 

Once you have got your student visa, all you need to do is pack your bag, book your tickets and fly away. Good Luck!

Copryright © Internash. All Right Reserved.