Personal Advancement
Education, training gives you an edgeThe National Job Fair & Training Expo is not just about finding employment -- it's also about making yourself more employable. LAUREN BRESLIN |
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 [ 2006-04-19 ] |
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A regular feature of this twice-yearly event is the Training and Education Pavilion, designed for people looking to upgrade themselves and land a job in a specialized field. The exhibitors in this area will be stocked with information about the types of credentials you'll need to succeed.
Among them is the Art Institute of Toronto, a career college that offers diploma programs in everything from fashion design and interior design, to web design and game art and design. Kristy Wieber, managing associate director of admissions, says designers with the right credentials have a competitive edge. "If you asked anyone in this industry, they would say they're looking for people with training," she says. "You need to have a portfolio, and you need to be able to show your skills."
Wieber says the Art Institute equips students with the skills they need and -- equally as important -- with detailed knowledge of their chosen field. "We go beyond teaching specific skills," Wieber says. "Our students learn about how the industry works, the types of jobs that are out there and how to network. There's even a class called Career Development, where students get a chance to learn how to start an effective job search."
The school also works with a program advisory committee, made up of industry professionals, who scrutinize the Institute's curriculum twice a year to ensure it's on par with current demands. "The goal is to have a student leave here with the skills ready to go into the industry," Wieber says.
The same philosophy applies to the DaVinci Institute, another art-related school with a focus on courses in 3D animation.
The DaVinci Institute will also be onsite at The National Job Fair & Training Expo, offering a complete array of program information. Alex MacLean, director of admissions, agrees that the chances of "making it" in the industry without formal education are negligible. "You need the professional training -- the industry will not look at a novice," he says. "You need to know the techniques, and obviously you need to learn the proper software. It's very demanding and specialized work."
If accepted into the DaVinci Institute, students would become part of an organization that supplies Toronto's 3D animation industry with fresh talent. "We're tied in with the professional industry," MacLean says. "If the student has been successful and graduates with a diploma, they are immediately put into one of our network industry companies, and that's a fully paid placement at the time of graduation."
The Medix School, a health- care training facility focusing on auxiliary health-care workers, will also be onsite at the show. They offer a practical placement component in every program they offer, from pharmacy technicians to personal support workers. "We don't just spend the time lecturing in the classroom," says Peter Dykstra, director of admissions. "We want to make sure you can go out there and do it, so we use that placement as a validation of skills."
Dykstra advises prospective students and employees to make a personal relationship with one of their admissions advisors at the show. "Be open with what your goals are with our representatives there," he says. "They spend their days looking at each individual and trying to find the best plan for them. If the student comes to us with an open mind, and spends a couple minutes just finding out what we offer, they're going to benefit the most from that."
In the end, passion and drive may get you a foot in the door; but skills and knowledge will take you further. Stop by the Training and Education Pavilion to see what opportunities lie in store for you.
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