Photo: Karnig Kazandjian, networking department head and program instructor at Herzing College Montreal

There are a lot of different Interior Design programs out there, from DECs to AECs to university degrees.

Longer programs tend to delve deeper into the theory, philosophy, and history of interior design, while shorter programs focus more on practical design skills.

The interior design students we work with at Herzing are an incredibly diverse group, coming from different backgrounds and all ages. Some are recent high school graduates, others are working parents, and quite a few are international students.

The short answer is yes. You can become a programmer without earning a university degree in computer science or software engineering. 

The longer answer is a bit more complicated. Starting your career without a degree will mean doing quite a bit of self-study and self-training. You need to be a hard worker and highly motivated to succeed. 

The truth is, this field is big (there are hundreds of programming languages!) and it’s changing all the time. Even with a degree, you’ll spend a lot of time studying new tech and teaching yourself new skills. 

So this begs the question: If you don’t want to go to university, what’s the best way to get your programming career off the ground? 

Photo: Chao Zhang at his desk at Jesta, where he was hired as a full-stack software developer after graduating from Herzing's Programmer Analyst program.

When Chao Zhang enrolled in the Programmer Analyst program at Herzing, he had virtually no experience in software development. He had a degree in Electrical Engineering and had worked as a game tester - but that was it.

Looking to get into the industry as fast as possible, Chao signed up for the 15-month accelerated program. He graduated in March, 2019 and landed an impressive job as a full-stack software developer for Jesta I.S.

Jesta is a global software company with a 50 year track record of quality products. They were recently named the #1 software vendor for retail businesses.

We interviewed Chao this week to find out how work is going, and what he thought of Herzing's program. We asked him to rate the quality of the instructor, the skills he learned, and his overall experience at Herzing.

Here's what we found out.

Updated January 2023

As a freshly hired computer network administrator or technician, your top goal is to ensure the network you’re responsible for is secure, optimized, and free from disruptions. 

For businesses, a well-oiled network means improved productivity, increased profit, and more satisfied customers. And with so many daily processes and transactions relying heavily on high-performing networks, talented administrators are in very high demand. 

Updated January 2023

If you're considering a career in tech, you might be veering toward fields like programming, network administration, or technical support.

These are all good options for someone who wants to train quickly for jobs that are in demand and growing fast across the country.

Imagine leaving your home, and travelling across the globe to study in a foreign country, in a foreign language, and build a career from scratch? With no family or professional contacts to help you?

That's exactly what Herzing Interior Design graduate, Sergkei Theocharis, did last year. He travelled all the way to Montreal from Greece, with the dream of starting a design career here in Montreal.

Sergkei just graduated from Herzing last month, and has already landed a pretty amazing interior design job at Primo International.

We interviewed him to learn more about his story, his experience at Herzing, and what he's doing now.

Here are the highlights from that conversation.

Updated December 2022

There's fairly steady demand for CAD technicians in Quebec and across Canada. There's quite a few ways to specialize in this field, salaries are competitive, and the training is quick.

If you're interested in mechanical engineering or architectural design, you could be a perfect fit for this career. But what should you know about becoming a CAD technician before you take the leap and invest in training?

We've been teaching this program for years! Here's our top 10 things every potential student should understand, right from day one. 

By the end of this post, you'll know for sure if a CAD career is right for you—and exactly how to get started.

Updated December 2022

What's the best thing about starting a career in early childhood education (ECE)? It's hard to narrow it down to just 10!

This is such an inspiring field. If you love working with kids and have the heart of a teacher, you can find your true calling as an early childhood educator.

Need a little inspiration to get moving toward your goal? Let this post be your guide.

In our opinion, these are the top 10 reasons to become an early childhood educator—and the absolute best things about the profession.

If you agree, you're definitely on the right track in pursuing this career. So let's dive in!

Design students busy working on projects at the Herzing College Montreal campus

Updated November 2022

You have a natural talent for arranging rooms, choosing furniture, and selecting paint colours. Your Instagram or Pinterest is full of amazing design ideas and inspiration. You're constantly re-organizing your own living space.

It sounds like you'd fit right in at interior design school! But let's take a step back for a minute. There are a few more things to consider before you invest your time and money...