Building a Professional LinkedIn Profile: A Student’s Guide

In today’s digital age, your online presence can easily become your resume. How well you present yourself online can have a direct impact on the first impressions from employers. For students stepping into the professional world, LinkedIn is a dynamic platform to showcase your background, skills, and achievements. Here’s how you can develop a compelling LinkedIn profile that not only reflects your current accomplishments but also paves the way for future opportunities.  

1. Start with a Professional Profile Photo

As your profile photo tends to make the first impression for recruiters, choose a clear, professional photo with a smart outfit, simple background, and good lighting. If you want to take a step further, you may seek professional photographers to shoot your profile photos. You might be able to find them at photobooths during career events on campus. As your profile picture can speak volumes about your professionalism, invest time and effort in producing a quality photo.  

2. Craft a Compelling Headline

Your headline/ title should express yourself beyond your current student status. To fully deliver how you perceive your professional trajectory, also include your future aspirations. This may address what you hope to achieve, or the field in which you would like to work after finishing your studies. Phrases like “Aspiring Marketing Professional” or “Computer Science Student & Tech Enthusiast” can provide useful insights into your ambitions. If you need ideas for your headline, you can check out the profiles of workers you admire or recent alumni.  

3. Summarise Your Story

The summary section is the key point of your profile. It’s where you can highlight your academic achievements, qualifications, and goals. Be genuine and mention what you’re passionate about, the skills you have, why your chosen field perfectly fits you, and how you aim to impact the field.  

4. Showcase Your Experience

Here you can include your working experience, including part-time jobs, paid/unpaid internships, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Describe your responsibilities and achievements in each role, focusing on what you learned and how you contributed. Don’t worry if you do not have a long work history. You can highlight your volunteer experience or extracurricular activities, and these experiences may also be highly evaluated by recruiters. Use action verbs and clarify your accomplishments with numbers or percentages when possible.  

5. Detail Your Educational Background

Regarding educational background, you should include your college, major, and expected graduation date. To provide more context to your academic dedication and interests, consider listing relevant courses, your GPA (if impressive), and any honours or awards.  

6. Highlight Skills and Endorsements

List skills relevant to your career goals, and encourage classmates, professors, and past employers to endorse the skills. These validations add credibility to your profile. If you’re not sure which skills to mention, have a look at some job descriptions in your field and identify the skills highlighted.

7. Engage with Your Network

After completing your profile, start connecting with peers, alumni, and professionals in your field of interest. Actively participate in discussions, share relevant articles, and congratulate connections on their achievements. Remind yourself that networking is about building relationships, not just increasing your connection count.  

8. Get Recommendations

Aside from endorsements on your skills, you can also get recommendations from professors, supervisors, or colleagues, which provides a personal touch to your profile. They are powerful testimonials of your character and work ethic.  

9. Be an Active Participant

Regularly update your profile with new achievements, projects, or learning experiences. A dynamic profile shows that you are evolving and actively engaged in professional development.  

Conclusion  

Your LinkedIn profile is more than a digital resume; it’s the narrative of your professional journey. For students, it’s a platform to articulate not only where you’ve been but also where you’re headed. By thoughtfully crafting each section, you set the stage for your future career, opening doors to opportunities that align with your aspirations and values.  

Follow GBCA’s social media and blog for regular updates on current student events and useful insights!  

 

References 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-tips-students-new-grads-linkedin-omar-garriott/  

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-optimize-your-linkedin-account-even-youvenever-had-parker-pell/ 

The Job of a Bookkeeper: A Comprehensive Overview 

A bookkeeper plays an important role in managing a business’s financial transactions, such as income, expenses, and liabilities. Hence, bookkeepers are in high demand across all industries. In this blog, we are going to explore the daily tasks of a bookkeeper, salary expectations, and requirements to become one. 

The day-to-day tasks of a bookkeeper  

While the work of a bookkeeper varies depending on the needs of the business, they are commonly expected to handle the following main tasks (according to the Victorian Skill Gateway): 

  • Keeping financial records, and maintaining and balancing accounts using manual and computerised systems 
  • Monitoring cash flow and lines of credit 
  • Producing financial statements, budget and expenditure reports and analyses along with account books, ledgers and accounting software packages 
  • Preparing invoices, purchase orders and bank deposits 
  • Reconciling accounts against monthly bank statements 
  • Verifying recorded transactions and reporting issues to management 

Salary expectations and working arrangement 

The average annual salary for bookkeepers in Australia ranges from $65,000 to $80,000 per year, or $30-40 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $65,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $90,000 per annual. According to the Australian government’s Labour Market Insights, 75% of workers earn more than $1031 per week, and 25% of workers earn more than $1412 per week. 

Bookkeeping can be done on a part-time or full-time basis, making this a flexible career option for those who have family or study commitments outside of work. Furthermore, the rise of cloud-based accounting software allows even more locational flexibility for bookkeepers, as they can work from anywhere. With such a significant perk, only 33% of employed bookkeepers are working full-time hours. 

Skill requirements 

As bookkeepers are required to deal with long lists of financial transactions and assist the cash flow of a business, being accurate and responsible are critical attributes. Here are other skill requirements crucial for the job. 

  • Fundamental accounting and business knowledge 
  • Understanding accounting best practices 
  • Being detail-oriented 
  • Strong analytical thinking skills 
  • Technical proficiency in accounting software, such as MYOB, Xero and Quickbooks etc. 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel 
  • Professionalism and organisation skills 

How to become a bookkeeper 

Bookkeepers are in high demand in Australia, particularly in small and medium-sized businesses. With the increasing focus on financial management and record keeping, bookkeepers are an essential part of any organisation. To become a bookkeeper, you should enrol in Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping.  

The Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping course reflects the job roles of contract bookkeepers and employees executing bookkeeping tasks for different organisations.  

GBCA offers a Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping program that covers essential practical skills such as processing financial transactions and extracting interim reports, administering subsidiary accounts and ledgers, and establishing and maintaining payroll systems. Through the course, you acquire the knowledge and skills to manage a variety of situations in financial transactions and become an essential part in business operation.  

If you are interested in starting your career as a bookkeeping professional, enrol in Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping today or reach out to us via enquiries@gbca.edu.au for any further questions. 

 

Recommended reads 

Unlock Your Potential with a Bookkeeper Course at GBCA | GBCA  

Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping: A Course Overview | GBCA 

 

Recent Changes on Australian Migration Strategy and Student Visas Requirements

Australian Immigration, Student Visa

With three Australian universities ranking in the top 20 of QS World Universities Rankings (2023), Australia has become a desirable study destination for students from various countries. In March 2024, the Australian government released its much-anticipated Migration Strategy, which outlines a new vision for Australia’s migration system that aims to strengthen the integrity and quality of international students as well as international education. This article highlights recent important updates from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) including the Student visa and Temporary Graduate visa requirements.  

At a glance 
  • The DHA has issued a package of integrity measures to increase the standards for international students and education providers. 
  • International students and graduates should expect higher English language requirements. 
Introduction to Genuine Student Requirement (GS) 

Effective from 23rd March 2024, the Australian Government is replacing the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement with a Genuine Student (GS) requirement for Student visa applications. This shift aims to identify students genuinely seeking quality education in Australia, independent of any migration intentions. 

As outlined by the DHA, under the GS requirement, prospective students will respond to targeted questions instead of a traditional 300-word statement in the visa application form. These questions will delve into the applicant’s circumstances, course choice rationale, and the benefits envisaged from their education in Australia. Furthermore, the revised Student visa declaration emphasises understanding of visa conditions, compliance commitment, and awareness of limited post-study migration pathways. 

A $19m investment was placed in the Home Affairs student visa unit, indicating the DHA’s determination in raising the scrutiny for high-risk student visas and identifying genuine students. 

For more information regarding the Genuine Student Requirement, visit the DHA’s website here. 

English Language Proficiency Updates 

Aligned with the Migration Strategy released on 11th December 2023, the Australian Government is elevating English language proficiency standards for Student and Temporary Graduate visas. Effective from 23rd March 2024, minimum test scores for various English proficiency requirements are increasing.  

As the minimum IELTS score requirement for Student visa applicants rises from 5.5 to 6.0, the mandatory IELTS score for students who wish to undertake a packaged English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) from a minimum of 4.5 to 5.0 (or equivalent).  

The minimum requirement for Temporary Graduate visa applicants rises from 6.0 to 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 for each test component (reading, writing, listening, speaking); nevertheless, passport holders from Hong Kong and British National Overseas (BNO) enjoy leniency with slightly lower language requirements. The Temporary Graduate visa also faced a reduction in the validity window of English language tests from three years to one year.  

Visit here for more information regarding the upcoming English requirement changes. 

Other Changes and Further Updates 

Alongside changes related to English language requirements, the new conditions of Temporary Graduate visa also include a lower age limit for applicants, shorter post-study stay duration, and a clearer pathway for migration. These changes take place in order to ensure that graduates help meet skills shortages and do not become ‘permanently temporary’. 

As these changes roll out, the Department of Home Affairs pledges to communicate further information through various channels, including their website, social media platforms, and outreach activities. Education providers and prospective applicants can stay informed and prepared for these impending alterations.  

Stay tuned for more updates from us to ensure a seamless educational journey in Australia. 

 

Recommended reads

What I can learn from the Diploma of Interpreting and Advanced Diploma of Interpreting

A Comprehensive Guide to Certificate III in Individual Support

What I can learn from the Diploma of Interpreting and Advanced Diploma of Interpreting

There is a growing demand[1] for interpreting as the population who speak a language other than English has also been surging. In Australia, Mandarin Chinese is in high demand for interpreters with the growing economic bonds between Australia and China. At GBCA, we offer practical training for prospective interpreters through the Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English) and the Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English). This blog will look into the overview of the diploma and advanced diploma courses, including course objectives, structure and content, course delivery, and future career paths.

 

The Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English)

The Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English) reflects the role of interpreters, typically in the community and business domains. Our experienced NAATI[2] qualified trainers will organise a range of interpreting exercises and help you develop skills such as:

  • Notes-taking skills for interpreting purposes
  • Short-term memory retention skills
  • Make sense of the briefing and quickly set up your mindset in the dialogue context
  • Pick up idioms/collocations and relay in the other language correctly in the blink of an eye.
  • Build a comprehensive knowledge of Australian community services, and collocations/glossary in both English and Mandarin.

 

What does the curriculum cover?

The Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English) spans a total of 12 units, which consists of 5 core units and 7 electives. This course curriculum takes students through various interpreting tasks such as interpreting in general dialogue and monologue settings, using routine health, legal, and subject area terminologies in two languages, and demonstrating routine language proficiency in different subjects and cultural contexts.

Various assessment methods are incorporated to examine students’ understanding throughout the course, such as observation of students performing a practical interpreting task/s, role play, and written response.

 

The Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English)

Students who have completed a Diploma of Interpreting may want to advance their skills and obtain higher qualifications and licenses. The Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English) aims to cultivate students’ skills and knowledge to interpret from a source language to a target language in complex dialogue and monologue settings. This course provides students training to interpret content that may not easily be predicted, and that may require a high level of subject knowledge or intense assignment-specific preparation.

Students completing this course could work in the community, business, and diplomatic domains such as health and welfare, policing and courts, government and international relations, and professional sectors including law, technology, and science.

 

What does the curriculum cover?

The Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English) spans 16 units, including 9 core units and 7 electives. The course curriculum takes students through a range of interpreting roles, such as interpreting in complex dialogue and monologue settings, using notetaking to recall and reproduce source messages, sight translating, and interpreting through communication media.

There are a variety of assessment methods incorporated, such as observation of students performing a practical interpreting task/s, role play, and written response.

 

Global Business College of Australia offers both Diploma of Interpreting and Advanced Diploma of Interpreting courses. The course is delivered in a hybrid mode between face-to-face and online learning. The course duration is 26 weeks.

Graduates from GBCA’s Diploma of Interpreting courses are eligible to apply for NAATI certification. Initially, passing the generalist interpreting test at the entry-level qualifies one as a Certified Provisional Interpreter. Further study of the Advanced Diploma of Interpreting and passing a more advanced level of the generalist interpreting test elevates one to a Certified Interpreter status. Holding this certification opens up various career opportunities, allowing individuals to pursue work as freelancers, contractors to language service agencies, or positions within both public and private sectors, including hospitals, courts, commercial enterprises, and government departments. For international students, NAATI certification as an interpreter allows one to gain Credentialed Community Language points which is benefited to people who plan to apply for a points-based skilled migration visa in Australia.

 

The Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English) and the Advanced Diploma of Interpreting (Mandarin-English) are great ways to kickstart your interpreting career and broaden the range of opportunities. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at enquiries@gbca.edu.au for any further inquiries.

 

 

Recommended reads:

Why Study a Diploma of Interpreting in Australia? Transforming Language Skills into a Career

[1] Overview of the Translating & Interpreting Sector – NAATI

[2] Home – NAATI

Unleashing AI Revoluation: Insights from the 2024 World Digital Education Conference

The three-day 2024 World Digital Education Conference (WDEC) was succssfully concluded on Wednesday, 31st January, 2024, in Shanghai, China, marking a pivotal moment in the global integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within education. 

Themed “Digital Education: Application, Sharing and Innovation,” the conference unveiled three significant milestones. 

Firstly, the international edition of Smart Education of China, a cutting-edge online platform for educational resources, was officially launched, featuring six official languages, providing the latest information on global digital education. This initiative underscores China’s proactive stance in advocating for open educational resources (OERs), freely accessible materials designed for universal use and sharing. This proactive effort significantly contributes to enhancing the accessibility and affordability of education.  

In addition, the Global Digital Education Development Index, an evaluation on the general level of digital education was released, where China’s rankings improved from 24th to 9th over the last three years.  

Finally, a new seasonal English Journal, “Frontiers of Digital Education”, was released, aiming to unveil the policy trend of digital education and analyze crucial problems such as the application of Artificial Intelligence in education.  

   

Led by China‘s Ministry of Education, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, this collaborative initiative brought together 800 delegates from government agencies, education providers, enterprises, and diverse stakeholders across 70 countries and regions. Esteemed attendees included Wu Yan, Deputy Minister of China’s Ministry of Education, Isabel, Director of UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, Madam Camélia NTOUTOUME-LECLERCQ, Minister of National Education and Civic Training of Gabon, along with Erica, Minister of Education and Immigration of New Zealand. 

The conference facilitated robust discussion on the theoretical and practical challenges of fostering a learning society in the digital age. Participants generally acknowledged the transformative potential of digital technology in education, emphasizing the imperative for global collaboration and enhanced governance to address the profound challenges posed by AI and digitalization. 

As the event concluded, delegates reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering cooperation and jointly establishing an all-encompassing digital learning platform. This platform aims to provide continuous, uninterrupted learning support worldwide and envision a future of comprehensive digital learning spaces accessible with a single click, irrespective of geographical constraints. 

The theme and trends communicated on the conference are highly aligned with the Global Business College of Australia (GBCA)’s strategy. We are dedicated to enriching educational resources and breaking down learning barriers. GBCA pledges ongoing dedication to these trends, continually innovating and introducing new digital learning platforms to empower students and learners in different stages of their education journey.  

For more information, please check out 2024 World Digital Education Conference’s official website: https://wdec.smartedu.cn/en/

A Comprehensive Guide to Certificate III in Individual Support

In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, individuals seeking to make a difference in the lives of others often find their calling through programmes like Certificate III in Individual Support. This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on the significance of this qualification and explore the various dimensions it encompasses.

Understanding Certificate III in Individual Support

Certificate III in Individual Support is a nationally recognized qualification designed to equip individuals with the essential skills and knowledge to provide person-centered support. This programme offers specialisations in areas such as aged care, disability care, and home and community care. It serves as a foundational step for those aspiring to become compassionate carers and contribute to the well-being of vulnerable individuals within the community.

The Core Modules: Where It All Begins

At the heart of Certificate III in Individual Support are its core modules, which lay the groundwork for a fulfilling career in healthcare. These modules cover a range of topics, including communication skills, supporting independence and well-being, and recognising healthy body systems. The programme emphasises the importance of understanding and catering to the unique needs of individuals, fostering a holistic approach to care.

Navigating the Path to Empathy

One of the key aspects highlighted in Certificate III in Individual Support is the development of empathy. Aspiring carers learn to step into the shoes of those they support, understand their challenges, and provide care with compassion. This emphasis on empathy is crucial in creating meaningful connections with individuals receiving support and fostering a sense of trust and understanding.

Practical Insights from Certificate III Graduates

As individuals progress through the programme, they gain practical insights that prepare them for real-world scenarios. From hands-on training to simulated exercises, Certificate III in Individual Support ensures that graduates are well-equipped to handle diverse situations in the field. The emphasis on practical skills sets this qualification apart, providing a robust foundation for a successful career in healthcare.

Aged Care in Certificate III in Individual Support

A significant component of this qualification is its focus on aged care. In an ageing population, the demand for skilled professionals in this sector is on the rise. Certificate III graduates specialising in aged care become instrumental in providing quality support to the elderly, promoting their well-being, and maintaining their independence.

Career Opportunities and Beyond

Upon successful completion of Certificate III in Individual Support, graduates open doors to a myriad of career opportunities. From working in residential aged care facilities to providing in-home support, the possibilities are vast. The qualification acts as a passport to a fulfilling career where making a positive impact on people’s lives becomes a daily reality.

In conclusion, Certificate III in Individual Support serves as the heartbeat of compassionate healthcare. If you’re considering a career in healthcare, this certificate might just be the key to unlocking your potential and becoming a vital part of the heart of healthcare.

As we conclude this exploration of Certificate III in Individual Support, consider this your invitation to embark on a transformative journey towards a fulfilling career in healthcare. The demand for skilled carers is ever-growing, and with our online courses, you can acquire the essential knowledge and practical skills from the comfort of your own space.

Are you ready? Take the first step towards making a positive impact on lives by enrolling in our Certificate III in Individual Support online courses today. Your path to becoming a compassionate career and contributing to the well-being of individuals in need awaits. Click here to explore the opportunities and unlock your potential in the world of healthcare.