Want a career that involves installing, optimizing, and repairing a company's computer network, while helping users with technical issues?

That's the network technician job description in a nutshell.

Essentially, this role is about ensuring all the parts of a computer network (hardware, software, servers, printers, individual workstations, etc.) run smoothly and efficiently.

But what does that mean in terms of tasks? What exactly would you be doing each day?

In this post, we walk you through some typical network technician duties and responsibilities.

We also outline the key skills you need to get hired, the salary you can expect, and how to get started with training.

Get a snapshot of life at work and see if becoming a network technician is right for you.

Occupational health and safety (OHS) professionals are in hot demand these days. In the age of COVID, keeping people safe at work has never been so important.

So you're smart to be thinking about getting into the OHS field.

But before you sign up for a program, you need to understand some basic details about this training and career path.

That means things like what skills you need, what kinds of jobs you could get, and how much money you could make.

You should also understand your training options and how to choose a quality OHS program.

In this post, we cover all of that and more.

Here are 7 things you need to know before enrolling in health and safety training.

Thinking about starting a career in the fast-growing field of computer networking? Your first step is to understand what a network technician's job is all about.

Network technicians have one of the most important roles in IT. They install, optimize, maintain, and protect the computer networks that all kinds of businesses use for daily operations.

Ultimately, the technician's job is to keep the network running smoothly, efficiently, and securely.

But what does that involve? If you take on this role, what exactly will you be doing each day?

Network technician responsibilities vary a bit from company to company. But no matter where you work, there are 5 main tasks you'll be expected to perform.

Let's go through them one by one. Find out if becoming a network technician is right for you and what to expect at work.

Looking to break into the field of computer networking? Wise choice. The industry is growing fast and offers a broad range of job possibilities.

Networking professionals work in schools, hospitals, government agencies, IT services firms, banks, businesses, and more.

Any organization big enough to use a computer network needs experts to mange, optimize, and protect it.

The Government of Canada Job Bank predicts steady-to-good employment growth for network technicians and user support technicians in Winnipeg. So it's a good time to begin your career.

But how can you get into the field if you're a total beginner? What kind of training and skills do you need to get hired if you've never worked in computer networking before?

This post will guide you through the process. Follow these steps to land a computer networking job even if you have no prior IT experience.

Cybersecurity is a hot field. We're seeing a massive skills gap in this industry with huge demand for trained professionals all over the world.

Some experts say there are over 3 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs worldwide. The shortage of talent is making it easier for newcomers to land their first job - and giving salaries a good boost, too.

Hoping to ride this wave and break into the industry? One way to begin is by earning globally recognized cybersecurity certifications

Certifications can make a big difference for beginners. In a survey by ESG and ISSA, 44 percent of cybersecurity pros said certifications were just as important as hands-on experience when it came to finding a job.

But there are so many options at so many skill levels. Which ones are best if you're just starting out?

In this post, we take you through 5 of the best cybersecurity certifications for beginners plus tips on how to prepare for exams.

Let's dive in.

There's huge demand for 2D animators in Ottawa. Studios like Atomic Cartoons, Mercury Filmworks, and Big Jump Entertainment are constantly looking for new talent in the city.

In fact, some studios are having to send work overseas because they can't find enough qualified local animators.

"We're starving for talent" says Cory Morrison, co-founder of Big Jump. "And we're not the only ones. Several leading companies are having trouble filling positions."

The upside? Breaking into the animation industry has never been easier, particularly for newcomers with no experience.

The only catch is you need a specific set of skills to really capitalize on these job opportunities. Studios want new hires who don't need much training and can hit the ground running.

In this post, we'll walk you through the core skills and traits every Ottawa animation studio is looking for right now.

With these skills, you can get hired straight out of training, even if you don't have industry experience.

Thinking about a career in programming? Before you decide if this path is right for you, take some time to understand where you can work and how much you can earn.

You've probably heard there's strong demand for programmers and a lot of different job options out there.

But exactly what kinds of programmer jobs can you get as a total beginner? And what salary will you make just starting out?

It can be tricky to get a clear picture of entry-level programming jobs. Employers have very different ideas about what skills a beginner should have, depending on the clients they serve and the projects they work on.

To make things easier, we analyzed dozens of programmer job postings on sites like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn. From there, we identified the 4 most common entry-level programmer careers.

In this post, we describe each role, including the average salary for candidates with little-to-no experience (based on data from sites like PayScale and Glassdoor).

Here's everything you need to know about starting a career in programming.

This week, we talked with the creator of Herzing's 2D Animation program, the amazingly talented (and generally awesome) A.J. Cote.

We wanted to learn about the alleged "job boom" for animators in Ottawa, and find out what's driving this trend.

A.J. has worked as an animator in Ottawa for decades, so he definitely has his finger on the pulse of hiring trends and the industry as a whole.

He also helped develop Herzing's animation program, which he says was designed to produce grads for local studios to hire.

In this interview, A.J. explains what's going on with Ottawa's animation scene, why there's a shortage of talent, and how Herzing is filling that gap.

Considering a career in animation? Here's what you need to know.

Photo: Chika Modozie (far left) standing with local community members (Source: cbc.ca)

Chika Modozie started out with a degree in Business Administration, but she always knew business wasn’t her true calling. She wanted a career where she could help people in need.

After immigrating to Canada almost 10 years ago, Chika found herself looking at new training options. She landed in Herzing’s Community Support Worker (CSW) program, which completely changed the course of her life.

Looking to become an addiction counsellor? Improving the lives of people battling problems with drugs or alcohol can be immensely rewarding.

And the need for these professionals is higher than ever. CTV News reported that the number of opioid overdoses in Winnipeg was twice as high in the first half of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Plus, the Manitoba government estimates there will be 300 new job openings for family, marriage, and other related counsellors throughout the province over the next few years.

But what does it take to become an addiction counsellor? How can you get started in this field?

The answers are in this post.

We provide a clear breakdown of the training and skills every addiction counsellor needs. 

Here's what you need to know.