The gig economy is gaining momentum in Canada, with more people providing their services on a freelance or as-needed basis rather than a salaried long-term one. Working for yourself instead of being on staff at one company is rapidly becoming the new normal.
But as traditional employment models shift, how can newcomers find their way? What is the gig economy all about, and what does it take to succeed in this new world of work?
Colleges and universities are both part of the landscape of higher education in Canada. While they are alike in some ways, they have several important differences and, in fact, serve distinct purposes.
To help you decide which type of institution is right for you, we put together this detailed comparison. Keep reading to see how colleges and universities stack up in terms of program offerings, career prospects, costs, and suitability for different career goals.
Examples of student work from the Herzing College graphic design program
When most people think "graphic designer," they immediately imagine someone who designs for websites, posters, or advertisements. But the truth is, there's a whole world of diverse graphic design career paths out there.
From film and television to book and album covers to sports gear and video games—talented designers are wanted across industries to communicate ideas in creative and compelling ways.
Wondering where you can work as a graphic designer? Here's a mini-tour of both traditional and emerging graphic design niches. Keep reading to see where design training could take you.
Updated December 2024
Some people are drawn to broadcasting and media communications because they want to get in front of the camera or microphone. Others are passionate about behind-the-scenes work like writing, producing, promoting, editing, and researching. And still others are interested in digital content creation and social media management.
Careers in communications and media encompass a fairly wide range and can be both creative and technical. Keep reading to learn about 10 top examples, divided into categories for easier navigation.
Updated December 2024
With healthcare resources stretched thin and doctors becoming increasingly burdened by administrative tasks, it’s not surprising that the demand for medical office assistants and administrators (MOAs) across Canada has taken off.
MOAs are the front-desk professionals who greet all incoming patients, collect their information, confirm their appointments, and direct them to the correct department or clinician. They also do a lot of work behind the scenes to help the healthcare office run smoothly.
In this post, we explore the increasing importance of and demand for MOAs in the evolving healthcare landscape.
Here’s what you need to know.
In today’s world, if you want to shape your career path and create opportunities for yourself, you need to establish a professional online presence and harness the power of social media.
LinkedIn and other platforms have become essential tools for showcasing your skills, establishing a network of contacts, and building your personal brand—even if you’re a student or recent graduate with little professional experience.
Wondering how to get started? Read on for actionable tips that can help you build a compelling online presence for career growth.
Karmina Nieto had spent years working in odd jobs, eventually ending up in a management role for a cleaning services company. But when the pandemic hit, her job disappeared, and another promising opportunity fell through at the last minute.
Her career needed a reset. She took a pause and did some soul searching to figure out what she wanted to do.
She completed the medical office administration program at Herzing, but found it wasn’t quite the right fit. After working in an office for a while, she realized she really enjoyed the financial aspect—so she took advantage of the Herzing Open Education Program (HOEP) to do an accounting and payroll diploma tuition-free.
She struggled initially, but thanks to hard work and lots of instructor support, she made it through.
Read on to learn more about her remarkable story.
Cheryl Michaud’s original plan was to become a teacher. But when she was partway through her education degree, a change in her personal circumstances made her realize she needed to get job-ready more quickly. So she enrolled in the legal assistant program at Herzing College.
That was back in 2004. Since then, she has supported lawyers in both small and midsize firms, worked as an executive assistant to a couple of chartered accountants, assisted a group of provincial court judges, and played a key role in the legal services department of city government.
Along the way, she kind of fell into office management, developing systems and processes to keep operations running smoothly. That eventually led her to management positions supervising other legal assistants. Today, as part of her position she’s in charge of hiring and training assistants for a firm that offers legal support in more than 20 different areas of law.
We interviewed Cheryl recently to learn more about her career journey and what advice she has for people considering this line of work. Read on for the highlights.
Updated December 2024
Legal assistants are highly skilled administrators who are an important part of the legal team.
In addition to maintaining files and scheduling appointments, they help prepare legal documents like statements of claim, petitions for divorce, wills, and transfers of land and mortgages. They may also assist a lawyer with case research.
In other words, they keep legal offices running smoothly. But it seems there aren’t enough of them to go around.
Considering a career in this field? Below, we explore the factors behind the growing demand for legal assistants and explain what you need to know about training, skills, earnings, and career opportunities.
It’s a classic problem: you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. Internship programs offer the ideal solution.
Internships are the real-world application of what you learn in college. Lasting anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, they are a unique opportunity to work in a professional environment and refine your job-specific skills (like accounting or computer programming) as well as your transferable skills (like communication or teamwork).
If you’re new to a career field, an internship is an excellent way to boost your industry experience and knowledge and get your foot in the door of a company.
Read on to learn how internships provide valuable practical experience, foster professional development, and open doors to future employment opportunities.
