There’s one skill that can help you live your best life in everything that you do. If you haven’t started practicing it yet, don’t worry because it’s never really too late to start.

Do you ever find yourself falling behind your responsibilities? Losing motivation? Feeling unorganized? Not seeing results?

That’s okay because it happens. However, there’s one word and answer that can be the solution to any sort of setback you may experience.

This word is goals. Setting goals, to be more specific!

Goals come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Setting goals is not only a skill but also interpreted as a lifestyle or philosophy. There are short goals, long-term goals, hard goals, simple goals, etc., and the best part is that YOU get to make all of them.

Setting goals and achieving goals are what lead to success! Why are setting goals important? Well, it means you’re making a plan for the future, for a better future to achieve whatever you want. It doesn’t matter who you are, everyone can make a difference in their life and it can all start with a goal.

Your future is important, and planning is the first step into taking control of your life. If you’re unsure of what path you want to take, sometimes it’s best to put everything in perspective. Take all of your thoughts, ideas and lay them out in a way that makes sense to you. Don’t worry and remember that there are always solutions to any problem.

Organization is also key. While making any sort of plan, it’s important to make a timeline. What will require more time? When do certain things need to be done? This is where long-term and short-term goals really come to life. Write everything down, keep track of what you can do to achieve each goal and remember that it’s 2018, anything is possible.

Verbally say your goals out loud and believe in yourself. Yes, write it down on paper, on your whiteboard, in notes on your phone. Most importantly, say it loud and make it real. Whether you want to learn a new language, drink more water, start a new career, travel across the world, start to tell yourself or others and keep yourself motivated.

You’re in control of your life, your future, your goals and everything else in between. Build your success in a way that works for you and kill it at everything that you do, whatever that may be.

It’s more than money, corporate companies, suits and ties.

Choosing to study business has become a very popular decision for a lot of students over the past decade. Is there a specific reason why? Maybe, maybe not! All we know is that it is definitely a leading industry with endless opportunities, especially for young talent. It may not look like it from the outside, but if you gave it a bit of your time and a chance, it could actually be for you too.

So what does it mean to study business?

To try and describe the study of business in a few words would be very difficult because there are so many different types and industries within business itself. To name a few; there is finance, marketing, digital marketing, advertising, accounting, business management, economics, human resources, public relations and obviously a lot more. What’s crazy is that there’s even MORE industries within these industries. Do you hear that? Yes, it’s opportunities knocking on your door!

Have you ever heard of entrepreneurship or entrepreneurs? If you haven’t, it is a person who creates, organizes and operates a business (or businesses), usually start-up. In a nut-shell, it is literally taking an idea or vision and turning it into something profitable. They’d manage it and make the right decisions in order execute this, which is essentially how most businesses start(-up). The main skills really needed for business is mostly strategy, communication, and organization. Easy right? Not quite. In order to be successful in business, you really have to master these skills, along with everything else that comes with it. However, everyone must start somewhere. Here is a list of skills that if you have, should definitely consider pursuing a career in the business industry.

You excel in customer service and know how to talk to people.

You are creative.

You are a critical thinker and naturally look for solutions in everyday situations.

You are highly-organized and make use of your time regularly.

You motivate yourself.

You love staying in the know of your city and are usually the go-to person for making plans.

You have a natural knowledge and keen in understanding how companies, brands, and organizations work.

You have a strong presence on digital platforms.

You enjoy writing or create content.

Researching is your thing.

You’re rarely wrong in the decisions that you make.

You have a strong intuition that often doesn’t let you down.

You are a natural presenter.

You enjoy managing money.

Pursuing a business career

The world of business is beautiful because as mentioned, there are opportunities for anyone who is passionate about an idea. It’s no walk in the park, but very rewarding when you’re able to see your idea come to life and make a difference in the industry! This industry is always changing and always welcoming. Interested in pursuing a business career at Trillium College? Explore the Business Management Diploma Program or the Accounting and Payroll Administration Diploma Program. Looking for help in careers? Check our Employment Services to help find the career you want with your diploma!

There are many amazing jobs out there for everyone, but how do you know it’s really for you?

Simple: you will want to choose it and it will change your life. For a lot of people, becoming a PSW has done that for them. There are so many rewarding aspects that come from taking on this role as a career and it’s clear that the people who do are greatly appreciated. Like every career, especially when someone’s care is in your hands, can also be challenging, but nonetheless, a truly rewarding experience.

So what does it really take to be a personal support worker?

You have to be willing to work hard.

You have to be okay with stepping out of your comfort zone.

You have to separate your personal feelings from your work.

You need to have a whole lot of patience.

You have to trust yourself.

You need to have respect.

You need to really and truly care.

If you naturally have all these qualities, then awesome and maybe you want to consider choosing a career as a PSW, but if you do not, that’s totally okay too because all of these qualities are attainable!

As a PSW, you take care of people who physically cannot take care of themselves. This may be done at a retirement home, privately out of home, in a hospice care, long-term care facility, etc. If you haven’t realized by now, being a PSW is no easy job and it might not be for everyone. There is a lot of expectations strict guidelines and it is a big responsibility. However, as scary as it sounds there are some pretty amazing things that also come with being a PSW. You get to build relationships with the people you take care of, commonly senior citizens, as well as their families. When you think about it, the people that you take care of are also people who are loved.

You basically wake up knowing that you get to make a difference in someone’s life. More than often, the people you help and their families will be forever grateful for you. There are good days and bad days, good times and bad times, through it all if there is one thing you should remember it’s that you are the reason why someone is getting the care they need, because if you didn’t, who else would?

To learn more information about the Personal Support Worker Certificate Program, click here. If you want to learn about employment services at Trillium College, click here.

If you chose to pursue a career as an esthetician it’s probably for a few reasons.

Whether you like makeup, have great customer service skills or have always had a passion about making a difference in the beauty world, you have a pretty good idea of why you chose to study esthetics. As many other programs, it is one experience to study and learn about esthetics, but practicing can sometimes even be different from what you expected.

Like any post-secondary program, we learn from our professors’ experiences and the fundamental skills required in order to succeed in the industry we want to be part of. It is what we choose to do with our skillset that determines the way our careers shape out to be. The truth is, everyone will probably have a different path to their own success, which is okay. As long as you are passionate about what you are doing, the rest should come naturally.

There are many different career opportunities in esthetics that range from salon and spa treatment, to at home salon practices. The possibilities and types of employment are quite high, which is yet another great opportunity for young talent. The great part about esthetics, no matter what type, is that you always get to gain experience. There are tons of certificates available to enhance specific skills such as eye-lash extensions, hair removal practices and much more, so that you can basically make a name for yourself in your career.

The world of esthetics is fun, exciting and rewarding, you could even ask an esthetician yourself! Once you are certified, as mentioned, there are various employment positions. Throughout them all, there are definitely some common denominators between them, things that you can probably find no matter what job you take on.

Client and customer service.

Being an esthetician means to provide a service to customers who want to enhance a certain type of beauty feature by using their own knowledge and creativity, all while following safe health practices at the same time. This essentially means that you will always be working with the public and create experiences for them. Whether you’re doing this out of an office, privately, or out of your home, it is a very large part of the job, which means it’s important to master great customer service skills. This could mean; engaging in thoughtful conversations, greeting and smiling, listening to any wants and needs and basically anything else that comes with the skill of customer service.

Schedules and organization.

Providing a service and experience for clients means that you have to literally make the time for it. Some jobs do indeed have receptionists or assistants to sort out these small details, but it’s not always the case. It’s important to know how much time you, the esthetician, needs in order to create the best experience that the client requests. Knowing this in advance, is a huge benefit to you and or a possible team in terms of organization and again providing the best service for the customer/client. The last thing that you want is having an overlapping client or providing an inconvenience.

Your creativity! 

No matter what, this is the one thing that will be timeless and remain the same throughout any jobs. More often than enough, there will be instances where your own judgement, advice and input will be needed with a client. At the end of the day, you are the certified esthetician who knows what is happening in the health and beauty industry, which is why they trust your opinion the most. Whether they ask you what hairstyle looks best or what colour to choose on nails, the great part about the job is that you can always use your creative input.

The world of esthetics definitely has its ups and downs. However, at the end of the day, nothing is better knowing that you get to help make a difference in the beauty world. If you are a student who wants to learn more information about employment services at Trillium College, click here!

You finished your program, congrats! What’s next?

Finishing school is a huge deal; it’s an accomplishment and could be the key to your future. There are many opportunities and career paths out there for everyone.  To some, this could be their first post-secondary education opportunity, for others it could have been their second, third, fourth, etc. You’ve already made it this far and there is something out there for you.

There are many opportunities and career paths out there for everyone.

For some, they could have lots to choose from and for others, maybe they aren’t really sure where to start. However, the important part is that you made it. No matter what program you came from or what field you studied, everybody has one thing in common, which is that you all worked hard and now want a job in your field of course.

It’s important to have an open mind and stay positive.

Feeling inexperienced is normal because you are ‘new’ compared to the people who have been practicing longer than you have. Don’t let that discourage you though because everyone starts off new! You’re credible and have the education you need to practice in your field, which is really exciting to think about. Finishing school may feel like the end of something, but it’s actually just the beginning of your career which is even more exciting.

Get yourself out there.

A tool that often young or beginning career professionals use to get themselves know in their industry is networking. If you’re not familiar with networking, there are many ways to practice it such as through social media platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, when used properly. You can use these platforms to keep up with what is happening in your industry globally and locally.

• Connect with people and follow people in your industry.
• Follow accounts that are relevant to your industry
• Reach out to connections and don’t be afraid to talk to them. 
• Keep an eye out for networking events and attend them.
• Meet with the people you connect with and take some pointers. This is literal in-person networking which is even better.

Even if not everyone makes time to talk to you, communicate with you, engage with you, do not give up. Some professionals are busier than others but that doesn’t mean at least some of them won’t give you the time of day to talk to you.

If your brain wasn’t in sponge mode before, you are definitely going to want to turn it into sponge mode now.

You might have your diploma now, but that definitely doesn’t mean there isn’t more room for learning. This type of learning is calling gaining insights. Hopefully as you start to practice networking, you will want to take this information and make use of it.

• Listen to other people’s stories.
• See what they did to get them where they are now, what mistakes they made along the way, and maybe try avoiding that.
• Learn what worked for them and what did not.
• Ask questions!

Connecting with people and networking gets you the inside look of what a day in the life is like or how a person in your industry thinks and is very beneficial. You have insight for what to expect AND you have connections for future opportunities.

Start to act the role of what you’re going to be.

If you are familiar with what a day in the life of what your job role entails, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start practicing the good habits. If it includes waking up early maybe start practicing sleeping habits or buying specific tools so you can have your own. Maybe it includes wearing a specific wardrobe/a uniform, you could buy your own. Being prepared will not only lead to more success, but give you something to look forward to and give you even more motivation to get yourself out there.

At the end of the day, the power is in your hands and we are always a phone call/e-mail away.  We have absolutely no doubt that our graduated students from Trillium College will reach all of their goals, dreams and success! If you want to learn more about Employment Services at Trillium College, click here.

What should I share and what do people want to know.  So I thought of a couple of things that I wanted to know before I chose my career path as a Medical Office Assistant and this is what I came up with.

The Evolving Career

When you think of a Medical Office Assistant, the first thing that may come to mind is that person who is sitting behind the desk at the doctor’s office.  Well, there is more to it than that. People in this profession work in a wide variety of settings and perform duties that are becoming more and more complex.

Seventy years ago, a medical secretary job advertisement would consist of someone with good telephone manners and who is good with people. This sounds easy enough. Today however, the qualifications that an organization or physician is looking for in a Medical Office Assistant is definitely more complex. Some of these qualifications include knowledge of medical terminology, office administration, electronic medical records (EMR), billing, scheduling, medical transcription, typing skills of 50 wpm, various computer software applications, CPR certification, and more, including good telephone manners and being good with people. Sounds like a lot, but when you break it down into smaller pieces, the puzzle can be completed and is achievable.

Your Opportunities

Once you have obtained the knowledge and skills through a Medical Office Assistant program and gained experience, the career path choices are endless.  You may find that the career title may be a little different from office to office or organization to organization, such as medical secretary, unit clerk, medical office administrator, administrative assistant, executive assistant, but the skills you obtain along the way can be applied to any of these positions.

Here is more information on Medical Office Assistant Opportunities.

Examples of organizations that you may find a career in include medical offices, clinics, hospitals, alternative/allied health care facilities, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, provincial or territorial health offices, medical supply companies, medical transcriptions facilities, veterinary practices, dental offices, social services, community agencies and the list goes on…

Being a Medical Office Assistant is quite a rewarding career. Not only do you play an integral part on the health care team, but the satisfaction of being a part of the team that helps those in need of medical care is quite fulfilling.

Find out more about the Medical Office Assistant program at Trillium College.

Which one of these scenarios describe your situation?

• I’m looking for a career that’s both challenging and rewarding
• I want to support my family and create a better future for them
• I can’t imagine working at my current job for another year

No matter why you want a better career, the best way to get it is through the right education.

At Trillium College, we believe that in order to get the career you deserve, you need the right kind of preparation. You need career-focused education that teaches you the skills that employers demand. You need hands-on training in growing fields that will get you a rewarding, fulfilling career. We make it our goal to provide all of our students with the right education for their future career.

Is a Trillium College education the right education for YOU?

“ Through Trillium College I can better my situation permanently, not just for the next few months because I’ll be doing what I want to do.”  Amanda, Massage Therapy program

“My dreams and goals start with attending Trillium College.” Vanessa, Community Service Worker program

“It will give me the chance to earn a higher income and allow me to provide opportunities to my children.” Leah, Medical Laboratory Technician program

• Trillium College has over 20 years’ experience in the private career college industry
• We are registered as a private career college under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.

7 reasons to choose Trillium College today

1. Efficient Learning

Our classes are organized in order to allow students time to work and look after family responsibilities while they study towards their diploma.

• Classes run from Monday to Friday for 4 hours a day (8:30 – 12:30 or 1:00 – 5:00)
• Classes are broken down into modules so there is only one topic covered at a time. This modular approach means that our students do not get overwhelmed with multiple subjects.
• Trillium College offers a number of diploma programs that can be completed in under two years. The sooner you finish, the sooner you can start earning in your chosen field.

2. Nearby Campus Locations

With 3 campus locations, we bring education to your neighbuorhood.

We have in-demand diploma programs at multiple campus locations so you can get cutting edge training without the commute. Contact us to find out which programs are available at your local campus.

• Kingston
• Oshawa
• St Catherine’s

3. Multiple Start Dates

Starting in September is not your only option! Trillium College operates year round, so there is often a start date for each Trillium College diploma program every few months.

4. Qualified Instructors

All of our instructors are experienced and fully qualified. Each instructor has many years’ experience working in their field and has a wealth of knowledge to share with students.

5. Small Classes

The classes are small so there is more personal attention for each individual student. Most classes average between 10-15 students (with some exceptions), so you will never get lost in the crowd.

“The classes are small, so that means more detail in teaching.” Michael, Network Administrator program

6. Invaluable Career Placements

Trillium College offers field placements for diploma programs that require one. This provides students with hands-on experience in their chosen field.

For example, our Community Service Worker program (ADD LINK) includes 288 workplace training hours in the community, where our students learn about family dynamics, client assessment and crisis intervention in real life scenarios.

In addition, we have a dedicated Career Services Team who assists graduates in finding work following graduation.

7. Focus on Quality

All programs at Trillium College are diploma programs and are approved as vocational programs under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.

• Trillium College has over 20 years’ experience in the private career college industry
• We are registered as a private career college under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.

The right career starts with the right education… and you can find that education today at Trillium College. Contact us now to get started on your dream career.

It’s a typical day at the Trillium College Kingston Campus

I’ve arrived early for my 8:30 am class and Stephanie, the administrative assistant, who doubles as the first smiling face most of us see every day, has arrived even before me to open the campus. I have the option of taking the elevator up to our second floor campus, but most days I take the stairs.

Our campus is freshly renovated with bright colours that are easy on the eyes and good for lifting one’s spirits on a snowy day.

I stop at my locker to change out of my winter boots, then proceed to the student lounge to pick up the assignment I sent from home last night to the dedicated student printer. I make a tea and check on the fish. Some days I stay here for a bit to study or visit with friends.

Fresh tea in hand, I head to class. On my way, I am greeted with a friendly smile and a “How Are You?” by both faculty and other students. My classes are small; right now we are between four to 10 students, so there is lots of one-one time with our instructors and very open in-class discussions about what we are learning.

The Trillium College Services

From the day I first met with a Career Coach to discuss the application process, this campus has felt like home. It’s not huge, but it offers everything a student needs. The Financial Aid team made the process of applying for O.S.A.P. easy and worry-free. From day one, a faculty member will always make sure we find our classrooms and have all the support we need.

That support is very diverse. We have an Employment Services Coordinator who does so much more than her job title would lead you to believe. She is there to help with resume-writing, job searching and even facilitating our placements; not to mention being warm and approachable. We also have a Student Resource Coordinator who is here to help us with our own mental health and any struggles we may be experiencing in either our personal or professional lives. She is easy to talk to, confidential, and a great listener, no matter what we need to talk about.

“Coming to Trillium College in Kingston was the best decision I have made.”

Now that our class is over, it’s time for a Student Council meeting. I have been a part of the council since I first started classes in August and we have a lot of fun. So far we’ve fed our students lunches, given them treats, arranged fun theme days, been a part of the Santa Claus Parade, and provided gifts for all of the students’ children during our Holiday Party. Participating in the council has given me the opportunity to meet people in other programs that will remain life-long friends and connections.

Coming to Trillium College in Kingston was the best decision I have made. I have already made connections in the area I wish to work and I’m continuing to expand my network, even though it’s still 10 months from graduation.

My name is Tracy and I am a student in the Community Developmental Service Worker program at Trillium College, Kingston. When you get here, come find me and I would be happy to extend the same warm welcome I have received.

Working as a Video Game Designer

If you love playing video games, then designing video games may be your dream job. As a video game designer, you’ll have the opportunity to create new mobile apps and console games.

What does a Video Game Designer do?

Your main objective as a video game designer is to:

• Plan video games
• Create video games
• Design video games

Game Designer vs Game Developer

What’s the difference between game design and game development? The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two distinct career paths.

The role of a video game designer is more artistic and focused on how the frontend looks. A video game developer usually work on the more technical side, known as the backend.

While the two roles are distinct career paths, they are interlinked. A designer gives input and direction to a developer, which the developer then uses to create the game and gives suggestions back to the designer. A designer and developer work together to develop the best game possible.

These terms are similar to ones used in other industries. For example, a web designers handle the front-end graphics (how the site looks and feels), while a web developer works in the backend or on the ‘brains’ of the site.

Working for a Small Design Company

Video game designers who work for an “indie” or small design company usually juggle many responsibilities. Smaller gaming companies take a different approach to production than larger companies and require designers to do a large variety of different tasks over the course of production.

To excel at a small company requires an assortment of skills, including:

• Technical skills
• Artistic skills
• Analytical skills

Finding Your Niche in a Big Company

Video game designers working for a big mainstream company will generally have a highly specialized role. Specializations can be narrowed down to cover almost every aspect of the game creation process. Highly specialized teams usually allow for faster turnaround of error-free games. The number of employees assigned to each specialty can vary from a few individuals to a few hundred individuals.

For example, a video game designer might work exclusively on the pre-production team, setting production schedule with clear goals and deadlines. A different designer working for the same company may be assigned to a team that handles writing aspects of the project. Another designer might work exclusively on sound effects.

What Role Suits You Best?

With so many specialities available, how can you decide which one to pursue? All aspects of video game design are exciting, but they each require a different skill set. Some require greater creativity and imagination, while others require sharp analytical and mathematical skills.

Content Design & Writing Team

Requirement: High levels of creativity

If you’re excited by the idea of conceptualizing a theme, backstory and settings for video games, this could be a great fit for you. This is a highly imaginative role that is all about vision and creativity. The content design team is responsible for creating the overall theme, dreaming up missions, designing obstacles and conceptualizing weapons.

Audio & Sound Design

Requirement: Good sense of hearing

If you have an especially good sense of hearing, you may be interested in working on the audio design and manipulation team. The audio team uses utilizes industry standard audio software and highly sophisticated computer programs- also called a digital audio workstations (DAW)- to create game sounds.

User Experience

Requirement: Math & computer programming

If you have have a passion for user interface design (menus and displays) or system design (rules and models that dictate game behaviour), then this might be a great fit. The User Experience team designs and implements features, while trying to avoid creating bugs in the game.

How to Get Started:

The best way get started in the video game design industry is by getting the right education. Game design is a competitive business, and in order to secure a position as a junior designer you’ll need to put yourself above the rest. With the right edge you’ll have no problem outshining the competition.

At Trillium College, our Video Game Design diploma program focuses on the artistic and transmedia skills required in this highly creative industry. You will learn how to take your graphics further and you’ll also learn the computer programming and problem-solving skills this industry requires.

Find out more:

Reasons You Should Become a Community Service Worker NOW

Trillium College’s Community Service Worker diploma program gives you the knowledge and confidence to help change people’s lives for the better.

The Good News

According to Government of Canada Job Bank Job Market report, employment as a Community Service Worker occupation “has experienced fairly strong growth in Ontario over the last decade.”

According to the report, these workers are “mostly employed in the health care and social assistance sector, mainly with individual and family services, and residential care facilities such as group homes. Public administration, largely local governments, and elementary and secondary schools are also key employers.”

The Better News

Government funding for social programs is the main factor driving job creation for community service workers. Over the next few years, a fair amount of job openings in this field are expected due to increased government investments in social initiatives.

An Upward Trend

Government funding has recently been delegated for developmental services systems to expand existing programs, provide more residential supports and improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. This translates into a bigger demand for community service workers.

Some of the factors driving employment for the services of these workers are:

• The province of Ontario has developed a long-term Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, which means more mental health support for children and youth.
• There’s been a significant increase in investments in Indigenous communities
• More funding has been provided for the homelessness strategy generally in Ontario.

Ontario Facts

Here are some key facts, according to Government of Canada Job Bank Job Market report, about social and community service workers in Ontario:

• Approximately 48,300 people work in this occupation.
• Social and community service workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 42%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 26%
  • Religious, grant-making, civic, and professional and similar organizations (NAICS 813): 6%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 6%

Exciting Employment Opportunities

As a graduate of Trillium College’s CSW program, you may find rewarding employment as an addictions support worker, group home support worker, community service worker or shelter support worker in a variety of community facilities and settings.

Within this occupation, individuals working under the title, ‘social service workers,’ are regulated by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), which also approves related educational programs.

Career Options

There are many job options open to community service workers. Here’s just a few:

• Addictions services worker
• Community health worker
• Intake worker
• Rehabilitation care worker
• Residential counsellor

Make a Real Difference

Want to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life? As a community service worker, you can do that every day. Start now!

Our Community Service Worker diploma program gives you the knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to create, implement and oversee a variety of social and community-based programs. You will develop skills to assist in client assessment, proper referral procedures, assisting in monitoring clients’ treatments and evaluating treatment effectiveness to help change people’s lives for the better.