Getting ready to offer your graphic design skills to the world?

Before you begin applying for jobs or going after clients, it’s good to be aware of common missteps that can derail your efforts and damage your credibility.

After all, everyone makes mistakes—especially when they’re just starting out.

But knowing about the pitfalls you might encounter can help you navigate the field and get your design career off to a smoother start.

In this post, we outline five common blunders new graphic designers make and provide advice on how you can avoid them.

Let’s dive in.

Working with at-risk populations is central to community service work.

CSWs are trained to support people dealing with serious life challenges, which may include addictions, mental health disorders, cases of domestic violence, and other, high-stress situations that sometimes lead to acute crises.

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.

If you’re hoping for an in-demand job in health care but don’t want to spend four-plus years in university, we have some good news.

Many of the fastest-growing roles in Canada’s healthcare system require no more than a college certificate or diploma.

So which ones show the most promise, you ask?

To find out, we looked at data from the Labour Market Information Council (LMIC). That revealed which healthcare jobs had the highest rates of growth during 2021, as measured by the percentage increase in the number of online job postings compared to the previous year.

Then we narrowed the list down to those careers that don’t require a degree.

To help you even more, we collected national and regional salary information for each of those careers, as noted by the Government of Canada Job Bank.

Keep reading to discover five of the hottest healthcare careers in the country right now.

Paralegal training is a massively popular program for Ontario students who want legal careers—but don't want to spend years at university and law school.

Students are attracted to the idea of running their own legal practices, taking on challenging cases, and truly helping clients who would otherwise struggle to afford representation.

Having a range of employment options is also appealing. Graduates find work in government, private practice, in-house legal teams, law firms, lobby groups, and community organizations.

So, given the benefits of becoming a paralegal, it's no surprise that this field has become quite competitive in recent years.

In order to be successful, students need certain core strengths—a natural skillset that will help them excel in training, and build strong careers over the long term.

What skills and traits do we look for in applicants to our paralegal program? Explore the top 5 and see if you're a good fit.

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.

Raymond Nestor had worked in IT for a couple of years before coming to Canada as a live-in caregiver.

Before long, he decided he wanted to do something different with his life. He had always enjoyed sketching and design, so he started looking into graphic design courses.

He wanted quality training that was flexible enough to fit around his work commitments. He enroled in the graphic design certificate at Herzing College and never looked back.

Shortly after graduating, he landed a job as an artist at The Sandbox, a gaming ecosystem that allows users to create and monetize virtual worlds and experiences.

We caught up with Raymond to learn about his experience in Herzing’s program and how it changed the course of his career.

Here’s his full story.

Digital designers and graphic designers are alike in many ways.

Both produce visual images that communicate a message and meet a business objective. Both are paid to increase brand awareness and inspire consumers to action.

So what’s the difference between them?

It basically comes down to this: Graphic designers tend to focus on static images, while digital designers create graphics that incorporate motion and interactivity.

They must each consider different factors, but they rely on many of the same design fundamentals.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of how digital designers and graphic designers compare.

Like the idea of helping newcomers settle in Canada? Don’t want to spend years earning a university degree? Then you may want to become an immigration case manager.

Immigration case managers handle the administrative tasks that go along with securing visas, study permits, and other important documents.

They provide invaluable assistance that helps immigration consultants and lawyers manage their caseload and keeps clients’ applications moving forward.

Here’s the best part: The training is relatively short, and no licensing is required. You can be fully job-ready in only 9 months.

So what do you need to do to become an immigration case manager?

Here are 5 steps that can help position you for success.

It was an experience with a thief that sparked Marsha Swaby’s interest in an immigration career.

Once, while she was on a trip outside of Canada, Marsha had her personal documents stolen. Her ID and other important papers were gone, and she had to find her way through the bureaucratic process of getting them back.

That’s when she decided she wanted to help others facing similar problems.

Marsha signed up for Herzing’s Immigration Case Manager program, completed her internship, and landed a job as a legal services associate even before she graduated.

We spoke to Marsha to get her thoughts on the program and how it has shaped her career path.

Here’s what she had to say.