vendredi 20 février 2015

My working experiences

As many backpackers, my biggest fear was to not being able to find QUICKLY a job.


MOTIVATION

You will have some hard times to hang out your resumes at every single café,restaurant,bar but don't give up! 
However how many resumes you give to managers and how many resumes just finish in the bin right away you pass the front door, I find my first job about a month and a half looking for it. 
Resumes must show how motivated you are; mine was empty, i want to be honest with employers and won't lie on my resume writting i got so many experiences in working as barista, barmaid, waitress or whatever; I was just going to it with a big smile, motivated attitude and don't forget to say that you are available any times for a trial.

You can also look on the internet for job add, Gumtree is the popular one. I have been sending a millions of email, CV but i understood lately that is the faster will go through will get the job! 
Emailed on gumtree or others website can help, but the must is to go for it as soon you see this job post. 
There is so many backpackers looking for a full time job in Melbourne, and when i say " so many " , i can't find any word to describe the working market in Melbourne, it's crazy how many resumes and how many travellers i met told me they can't find anything here and just planned to go for farmwork instead. 


CASH IN HAND JOB

I was on my daily search in the CBD (City centre), while i get in this Italian/Greek large avenue named LYGON STREET, this area is such a nice place to hangout with friend, many Italian restaurant, café, drug store and home made french speciality there. 
I give my CV to almost all of them, i was about to going home, i finally saw that big pizzeria restaurant, demotivated i just go inside for this last but not least negative response. 
Well, the manager called the boss, he asked me to came back about 6pm for a trial. 
Before starting my first to be trial, the manager on shift explain to me they will not give any contract, and that just "casual" job, he mean " casual shift", as he explain me they will call me only whenever they want, if i'm good at making pizzas, slouvakis,burgers then they will call me 3 to 4 times a week, if not they just never call me back. Also, the salary rate is $7/hours and give directly after shift.
I never been pizzayolo before, to be honest, i was a bit scare about what they expect me to do, but i ended on the pizza sauce station, was nice for a first shift.
The manager call me back, two day after :"Come tonight 6pm to 3am"
okay, that was not a convenient job at all, at least i have a little money to save, i never refused any shift he give me, i took it as a chance. Shifts going, and i was giving more responsabilities (ex:Pizza dough making,pizza topping, serving customers, making all items on menu,slouvaki,burger,sandwiches...), it was a good things to get the money after shift but we never know when they want you to come in or if they will never call you after, i saw a lot of backpacker working there, all nationalities; so if you have a car you should go and ask the boss to be the deliver guy, this restaurant is right on the Lygon street Corner just front of the train station. (I worked there about 3month)

 MY BACK OF HOUSE EXPERIENCES

In Vietnam or in France i never been kitchen hand or even dish washer, the pizza restaurant experience adding on my CV was a plus because i definitely have at least one working experience "back of house" knowledges. 

ZLAVADIEL FALAFEL SHOP
Learn me how to :
-Make the best falafel in town! ( Chickpea puree with spices/herbes) 
-Being able to handle fries station.
-Some pizza specialities
-Making Pita sandwiches 

Advantages: Free delicious falafel sandwiches
 Salary rate: $15/hours 
Dishwasher for weeding 
 Learn me how to :

-Became the faster hand washer boss would hire (just kidding)
-Manage hundred of plates coming in the same damn time
-Think about dress code for dishwashing job (shoes...)

Advantages :I tasted for the first Kangorou meat ;-)
Salary rate:$16/hours

 

HOW TO START IN MELBOURNE

This article will be for all young travellers who choose to travel in Australia by themself , so, if you are a student,traveller, young, on a budget but excited to travel around : 
 YOU SHOULD STAY HERE!



1- FIND YOUR LOCATION

  My first real self-trip was in Australia, Melbourne for a WHV, early 18 years old i decide to fly for this amazing city, that was hard for my parent to let me go; i really want to share with you guys some tips . Many young travellers get on a Working Holiday Visa, few girls decide to do it by her own, that can be very scary to travel alone for a girl, but the first things you should notice is the place you will stay when landed.

 There is many websites such as couchsurfing , Airbnb to find out and know a little bit more about your future to be host! Couchsurfing can be a good start, I have done couchsurfing for my first month in Melbourne, it was really really helpful as i was on a budget, i was doing housework in exchange. It's not easy for a girl to stay in people's house so i recommend to choose carefully and prefere going to family's house. 

Many girls go for "AU PAIR" job, nice idea for girls who want to learn how culture is in Australia, baby sitting full time and have free accomodation : SUCH A GOOD DEAL!

 Some goes for Help Exchange , is kind like couchsurfing but this way are for thoses want to see wild, farm, and working approx 3 to 4 hours per day in exchange you got free homestay, free meals. 

And the final choice is of course BACKPACKERS hotel, i was feeling like going to backpackers was a good place to start in Melbourne for making friend, meeting others backpacker and listen to them advices/experiences, but i prefere to first staying in local family house to save my money for later. 
I heard a lot of stories about backpacker hotel, my host family was located in Balaclava, St Kilda street, so each times i was going for a little walk i was meeting a lot of travellers booking room in Xbase hostel; St Kilda is a nice place near Lunapark and st Kilda beach. A friend of mine told me that Elizabeth Hostel  was not too bad but not if you are a student need quiet place, this hotel is about $24/night in a dorm room (6 to 8ppl). 

I never been to backpack so if you guys have some great place to recommend, comment below! 


2- GET YOUR MYKI CARD


So, as a good citizen i bought my Myki Card, this one should never ever be out of your bag! 
Melbourne as a lot of public transport control, almost everyday i have been control for my train ticket, so be careful guys and always have your valid ticket.
You can buy your Myki card in a 7/11 or at Flinders station, only the card is $6, you can buy myki pass for a month, a week or even one way. 
You can also top up/charge your myki via internet, on PTV website.
Depends on your daily travel, there is 2 zone in train station, so you must be aware that your myki pass is going through the right one or both. 
Public Transport in Melbourne is very convenient because train station are mostly everywhere and approx every 5 to 10 minutes. 

3- GET YOUR MOBILE CARD

"Alo maman, je vais bien", Yeah that was part of the deal i make with my parent... calling right away when i get a feet in Melbourne! My choice was OPTUS prepaid mobile card, I saw that big mobile store on a Collins Street corner, I goes inside and ask this nice worker advice me to take the $30/month recharge, you got 4G, unlimited text for all Optus phone and calling oversea for 2hours.