Changing Careers. Changing Lives.
Certificates Offer Flexibility and Career Options
Remember the days when people followed one consistent career path from education to retirement? Today, those paths are less structured with more people wanting to pursue a different interest or career multiple times throughout their working lives.
One of those people was Talitha McCloskey who was working full-time but contemplating a career change. “I had finished my original degree in International Studies, had started my Master's and was working as a receptionist. I was completely uninspired. I also knew I couldn’t quit my job to go back to school.”
Our professors worked in journalism, communications and the media so they have very applicable knowledge about how the media works and what kind of story will sell.—Talitha McCloskey, Public Relations Certificate
With a love of writing and connecting with people, McCloskey discovered a stepping stone at CCE. “I found the Certificate in Public Relations. It was a combination of online and in-person evening classes which worked perfectly for my life plus it was a subject I was really interested in.” Robin Markel, Head of Career & Professional Development at CCE, says that certificate programs like this one are an ideal choice for someone looking to add on to a degree, specialize their expertise or launch a new career. “With only five courses, the Certificate in Public Relations can be taken part-time but can still be completed in as little as one year. Because of its online format, length and flexibility, this certificate is great for those already working.”
One of the things that impressed McCloskey about the program was the quality of the instructors. “Our professors worked in journalism, communications and the media so they have very applicable knowledge about how the media works and what kind of story will sell.”
To ensure instruction and course content is of the highest calibre, CCE works closely with professional associations. “We consult with the International Association of Business Communicators and the Canadian Public Relations Society and rely on them for their expertise when we’re drafting our programs,” says Markel. “We’ve also recruited some of our instructors through those same organizations so students benefit from real-world experience.”
After McCloskey completed her certificate, she did an internship and was offered a job at a PR firm in Toronto. But her heart remained on the prairies, and she returned to Saskatchewan to start her own marketing agency.
“Part of what surprised me in my job was how applicable every part of the certificate was. To this day I still use the outlines from some of my projects.”
The relevance and popularity of certificate programs is one reason why CCE recently introduced the Advanced Certificate in Public Relations and Communications Management. “This program is an extension of the certificate that Talitha took,” notes Markel. “It’s primarily online and can be taken part-time or full-time and it allows students to specialize in areas such as non-profits, sports and events.”
One of the other benefits of a certificate is that it can be used to ladder up to or fulfill some of the requirements of a degree program such as the new Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News Media and Communication, the Bachelor of Business Administration and more. “For example, students can take one of the PR certificates first or even at the same time as they’re pursuing a degree,” says Markel.
“I definitely would be interested in taking the Advanced Certificate,” says McCloskey. “I’m kind of a serial education seeker and like to continuously learn and grow because I know I don’t know everything.” What she does know is that following her passion has paid off.
McCloskey launched RaiseHer Co, a Saskatchewan based leadership development and advocacy organization to empower women and girls. Her work as co-founder of the organization was recognized with a CBC SK Future 40 award given to individuals under the age of 40 who have made an impact in their community. “It was a huge honour because they received hundreds of applications, and it was amazing to be selected among that group.”
As her career continues to blossom, so too does the number of certificate programs. CCE currently offers 25 different certificates, many in partnership with other faculties and organizations. “The ability to learn and work at the same time is a huge advantage and well-suited to so many individuals looking to develop new skills or even start a new career,” says Markel. “We believe this trend will continue to grow.”
Learn more about the Public Relations Certificate.
For McCloskey, taking that leap of faith provided the launch pad she needed. “Life is way too short to feel stuck and unhappy. If someone is looking to make a change, I’d suggest talking to one of the CCE advisors. They were really supportive and, at the end of the day, taking this certificate over one year was all it took to put me on a career path I’m really excited about.”
Banner Photo Credit: Connor Chow