4 Popular Health and Safety Certifications for People Without Degrees

Jan 24, 2022 9:15:06 AM

Updated January 2024

In the occupational health and safety (OHS) field, getting certified by a respected organization proves your skills and opens up more job opportunities.

But navigating all the different credentials available in Canada can be really challenging.

If you’re considering alternatives to a four-year health and safety degree, you may be looking into college-level health and safety programs. In this case, understanding your path to certification is crucial. 

Thinking About a Career Change? What to Consider

Jan 21, 2022 9:05:09 AM

Updated January 2024

If you feel like it may be time to pursue a new career path, you’re hardly alone. A report from the summer of 2023 found that two in five Canadians were toying with the idea of changing jobs.

In the post-pandemic workplace, many people are reassessing what they want from their career. But switching to an entirely new path can be intimidating.

So should you take the leap?

Before you make any big decisions, ask yourself these important questions.

5 Mistakes New Graphic Designers Often Make (& How to Avoid Them)

Jan 14, 2022 10:32:10 AM

Getting ready to offer your graphic design skills to the world?

Before you begin applying for jobs or going after clients, it’s good to be aware of common missteps that can derail your efforts and damage your credibility.

After all, everyone makes mistakes—especially when they’re just starting out.

But knowing about the pitfalls you might encounter can help you navigate the field and get your design career off to a smoother start.

In this post, we outline five common blunders new graphic designers make and provide advice on how you can avoid them.

Let’s dive in.

How Community Services Workers Handle a Crisis: 7 Key Steps

Jan 13, 2022 1:36:21 PM

Updated December 2023

Working with at-risk populations is central to community service work.

CSWs are trained to support people dealing with serious life challenges, which may include addictions, mental health disorders, cases of domestic violence, and other, high-stress situations that sometimes lead to acute crises.

When we experience a crisis, our ability to cope and make decisions is seriously impaired. We need specialized support to regain control and find an effective solution to the problem at hand.

CSWs are trained to provide that support, and stop individuals in crisis from harming themselves or others. No easy task!

Non-violent crisis intervention training typically introduces students to a step-by-step model—a guide they can follow to help others get through traumatic experiences in the safest, most effective way possible.

In this post, we walk current (and prospective) CSW students through the seven-step approach many social workers use.

The Truth About Freelancing After Graphic Design School

Jan 13, 2022 9:40:40 AM

Many students start off by working freelance after graphic design school. They're attracted to the idea of being their own boss, having control over their own work schedule, and pocketing profits directly.

But it's crucial for new grads to understand some of the drawbacks and challenges that come along with these (legitimately awesome) benefits. And how to set themselves up for freelancing success right from day one. 

So, let's walk through some of the typical pros and cons of freelance design work—plus a few important tips for students considering this career path after graphic design school.

Meet Amanda: How the CSW Program Helped Me Find My Calling

Jan 12, 2022 10:27:18 AM

After years of working various retail jobs and then staying home to raise her three kids, Amanda Gauthier decided it was time to get some career training.

She had no post-secondary education and was nervous about going back to school in her 30s. She also struggled with “mom guilt” for taking on this new challenge while her children were still very little. Her youngest was not even school age yet.

But she was passionate about helping people and ready to pursue a new path. So she took the plunge and enrolled in the Community Services Worker program at Herzing College.

It was a decision that changed her life.

We spoke with Amanda recently to learn about her experience with the course, the instructor, and the internship.

Here are the highlights of our conversation.

Meet Kierstin: My Experience in the OHS Program at Herzing

Jan 4, 2022 9:25:27 AM

Kierstin Whitney didn’t always have a clear focus for her career path. She just knew that she wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

After high school, she worked a bunch of different jobs, taking note of what she enjoyed and looking for new opportunities to grow and learn. She finally realized her true passion was health and safety.

It was intimidating to go back to school, but she knew she needed some specialized training. She took the leap, enrolled in the online OHS program through Herzing College—and never looked back.

We caught up with Kierstin to find out how she found the whole experience.

Here’s how that conversation went.

Meet Kris: My Review of Herzing’s Computer Networking Tech Program

Dec 23, 2021 9:26:56 AM

When Kris Wattie was finishing high school, he didn’t really know what he wanted to do with his life.

He did know that he enjoyed gaming. He got very involved in the gaming community, and a game server owner gave him a chance to start learning about the administration aspect.

That inspired him to pursue a career in network administration. But first he needed some quality training.

Kris looked around for a course that reflected his learning style. He wanted a program that would let him explore one topic fully before moving on to the next.

He found it in the computer networking technology program at Herzing College.

Kris successfully completed the program—and landed a job as an IT administrator at Novotech!

We caught up with him recently to get his take on the course, the staff, and his experiences during training. Here’s his story.

Meet Ashley: My Experience in the Accounting and Payroll Program

Dec 22, 2021 9:39:06 AM

Ashley Benish first developed an interest in accounting while working in customer service at a bank.

She really enjoyed working with numbers, solving problems, and helping clients with their banking needs.

When she became a mom, she stepped away from the work world for a few years to focus on raising her children. But she always intended to get back into the accounting field.

And when her kids got a little older and the time was right to upgrade her skills, Ashley chose the Accounting and Payroll Administrator program at Herzing College.

We spoke with her recently to see how she found the whole experience.

Here’s her story.

Meet Marina: My Experience in the Community Services Worker Program

Dec 21, 2021 9:16:44 AM

Marina Denisova always knew she wanted to help people change their lives for the better.

She completed graduate studies in social work in her native Russia. But when she came to Canada, she knew she needed additional training.

She needed to build on her English language skills and learn about the social programs and systems that were in place in this country.

That’s what led her to enrol in the Community Services Worker (CSW) program at Herzing.

Marina graduated from the program and is now an ECE assistant with the Ottawa Catholic School Board.

We spoke with her recently to get her thoughts on the CSW course, the instructor, and the overall Herzing experience.

Here’s what she had to say.

hard hat icon

Herzing Skilled Trades Training

SKILLED TRADES BLOG

Most Read