Herzing Blog

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.

Now, Chika works as a police officer in a special outreach unit focused on crime prevention and community building.

We interviewed her about her experience in community support worker training and how her career path unfolded since graduation.

Find out what to expect in class, learn more about the social services field, and see if this career is right for you.

Updated December 2023

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. Canada saw more than 3,500 opiod-related deaths in the first half of 2022 alone. And a recent report says deaths due to alcohol grew by 18 per cent in Canada between 2020 and 2021--the biggest yearly increase in the last two decades.

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

In this post, we provide a clear breakdown of the training and skills every addiction counsellor needs. Here's what you need to know.

Updated January 2024

If you’re interested in law, good with people, detail-oriented and organized, legal assistant could be an ideal career path.

It’s an excellent time to become a legal assistant. Steady employment growth and waves of retirements are creating jobs in this field in every province. 

You don’t need a university degree, and college legal assistant programs are relatively quick. 

So, how do you get started? What’s involved in becoming a legal assistant?  And most importantly, how do you know if this career is right for you? 

Updated January 2024

Looking for a career in healthcare and think you'd make a good medical office administrator (MOA)?

Your most important first step is to find a good MOA course. You need effective, hands-on training in the computer software, clinical, and health office skills today's employers want.

The quality of your training will determine your ability to get hired after graduation. Obviously, you want to find the best possible course and make a smart investment. But there are so many MOA courses out there. How do you compare them? What key features should you look for? 

This post is here to help. We outline the most important traits of a top-quality MOA program. By the end, you'll know exactly what to notice and what questions to ask admissions.

Let's get started.

Updated December 2023

Are you looking for a career where you can get involved in your community, help people in need, and create a more fair and just social system?

Welcome to the world of social work. Social work is all about human rights, social justice, and making sure everyone has access to opportunities and support.

There are many ways to start a career in this field. If you don't want to spend years in university earning a degree, you can pursue social services training at the college level.

For example, you can become a community services worker (CSW). It takes no more than 12 months to complete a CSW diploma. Many programs include an internship, so you'll get real work experience at a community organization before you graduate.

But short training isn't the only thing to consider. It takes a special skillset to succeed in the social services field. Is it a good fit for you? How can you know for sure?

In this post, we'll guide you through some key questions to ask yourself.

Find out what to expect at work, what is involved in social services training, and whether this career makes sense for you.

Let's get started.

Photo: One of Canada's greenest buildings is the Centre for Sustainable Development in Montreal, Quebec

Like the idea of helping to create the next generation of sustainable buildings? Don't want to invest years in university, training to become a licensed architect?

A career in green building design and drafting could be a perfect fit.

Green building design focuses on creating safe, functional structures that have minimal impact on the environment. The aim is to produce buildings that satisfy human needs and respect the surrounding ecosystem.

But what does that mean in practice? What makes a building "green"?

How is a green building drafter different from a regular draftsperson? And what kind of training do you need to get into this field?

All those answers are in this post. And by the end, you'll be better prepared to decide if a career in sustainable architecture is right for you.

Let's begin.

Updated December 2023

There's never been a better time to become an ethical hacker. Demand for IT security professionals who can root out security flaws and outwit cyber criminals just keeps growing.

Globally, it's estimated that cyber attacks will cause $10.5 trillion in damage by 2025.

Ethical hackers are a company's best defense against costly security breaches. And they are paid very well for their skills. According to PayScale, the average salary for certified ethical hackers in Canada is $90,000.

So how can you launch a career in this field? What training and certifications do you need?

This post provides a clear roadmap. We outline the skills and credentials employers want in ethical hackers and training options for complete beginners.

Here's what you need to know.

Photo: Michael Ledda at his home in Winnipeg

Before Covid-19 wreaked havoc on Winnipeg, Michael Ledda was living life as usual. He was busy working full-time as a chef, happy with his job, and making a steady income to support his three children. 

But when the lockdown started, Michael’s entire world quickly crumbled. Before long, he was out of a job. Things got so tight financially, he had to sell off his possessions just to pay rent. 

Sadly, Michael’s story is not unique. So many Winipeggers lost their jobs during the pandemic, the CBC wrote an article about it, featuring Michael and several others. 

Jenna Boholij (Herzing’s Director of Marketing Communications) read the CBC story and was so moved by Michael’s struggle, she proposed an idea.  

Why not offer him a full scholarship, so he can re-train and get back on his feet? 

The entire Herzing team got on board and reached out to Michael with the offer. He happily accepted and is now enrolled in the Broadcasting and Media Communications program. 

This week, we chatted with Michael to find out how his life has changed since going back to school. Here are the highlights of our conversation.

When Amalia Aplaon immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 2019, she already had a bachelor's degree and a caregiver certificate. But she quickly realized that without Canadian credentials, it would be much harder to find a good job in health care.

So, after spending years as a stay-at-home mom, Amalia took on the challenge of returning to school. She enrolled in medical office assistant (MOA) training, completed her practicum, and graduated just as COVID-19 was sweeping across the country.

The pandemic caused a hiring freeze at many clinics, making finding a job very difficult for new MOA graduates. But Amalia persevered and in just one and half months, she got hired as a primary care assistant.

We interviewed Amalia to learn more about her experience at Herzing and what it's like to transition from full-time mom to full-time healthcare professional.

Read on for the full story.

Photo: Shannon McGrath in her personal support worker uniform

After working at Tim Hortons for 18 years, Shannon McGrath was ready for a change.

She wanted a job with more meaning. She wanted a career that felt challenging, where she could actually make people's lives better.

So, despite deep fears about returning to school, Shannon took a leap of faith and enrolled in the Personal Support Worker program at Herzing College Ottawa.

She struggled with a learning disability and battled with anxiety, but in the end, Shannon made it through.

In fact, she was so successful, she was offered a PSW job after her internship at Cité Parkway Retirement Residence, where she still works today.

We interviewed Shannon to get her review of the PSW program. We asked about her experience in class and how she feels about her new career.

Read on for the full story.