Herzing Blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Updated January 2024

Eager to play an essential part in helping hospitals and clinics run smoothly? Medical office administration might be the field for you.

Medical office administrators (MOAs) are the friendly faces at the front desk. They do everything from greeting patients, updating files, and scheduling appointments to processing billing, preparing exam rooms, and collecting lab results. It’s vital work that really has an impact.

But every job has both advantages and drawbacks. And it’s important to understand the full picture before committing to a career path.

In this post, we take you through the major pros and cons of becoming a medical office administrator.

Learn what to expect and see if this role is a good fit for you.

Updated December 2023

If you’re technically minded and enjoy the challenge of solving problems and helping people, you might be cut out for a career as an IT support technician.

IT support technicians are the pros who come to the rescue when people’s computers don’t work the way they should. Their job is to find the cause of the issue and take people through the steps needed to get back on track.

Think you’d like to work in this field? Curious about what it takes to launch a career in IT support?

These five straightforward steps can help you reach your goal.

Updated January 2024

Industrial drafters come up with the precise plans necessary to turn an engineering concept into an actual physical object. They play a key role in the production of everything from engine components and HVAC equipment to lighting fixtures and medical devices.

If you’re detail-oriented and enjoy thinking about how things go together, a career as an industrial drafter could be ideal.

But before you jump in, you need some more detailed info about this role. For instance, you should understand what exactly you would do, where you could work, and how much you could earn.

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

Here’s what you need to know to decide if industrial drafting is the right career choice for you.

When Catherine Iaxamana came to Canada from the Philippines, she worked a series of jobs in childcare, food service, and financial services.

But her real interest was design. She had already completed a course in industrial design back in the Philippines, but she knew she needed additional training to start a career here in Toronto.

With two young sons at home, flexibility was important. She did her research and discovered that Herzing’s Building Design Technician program was a perfect fit.

We interviewed Catherine recently to find out what she thought of the program and how it prepared her for career success.

Here’s what she had to say.