Web Design - a Creative Career

Lucas Andersen

My education started at BCIT. I first took a PC hardware course. I quickly learned that was not the field of work I wanted to pursue. I looked at other options and found web development as something I wanted to devote my time to. I already had personal experience with web design so it fit perfect. I had mixed feelings with my time at BCIT and the web development program. The teachers were good, but some of the technologies were out of date. Every course was separate from the next. Nothing was tied in together with how to use everything as a whole. To get the needed credits some of the courses I had to take were not related to what I wanted to do. Also if I were to graduate from the program there would be no guidance after to help me start my career.

I gladly quit the BCIT program and looked for other options. I searched for "Vancouver web design school" in Google and found IAM Training. I was excited to find a school that had the same outlook as mine for what I wanted to accomplish. As time went by I found myself in term one at IAM Training. The structure of the courses were better integrated together. I found myself having fun learning in a new way. All the teachers have real world experience and bring knowledge of technical expertise as well. As with all the three terms I was given a real client to work with to develop a web site from the ground up. This provided essential experience of time management, communication, and practicing the class teachings. After the final third term I was quickly entered in an internship given to me by IAM. After with my diploma I started getting jobs which was the goal from day one. I am now building experience with good paying jobs. I have more content for my professional portfolio, and always looking for more opportunities in the future.

I have great memories and I have made great friends with both students and faculty. Thanks IAM!

Jolene Hassard - Successful Home Business!

My name is Jolene Hassard and I graduated from CanScribe in October 2008. I wanted to give you an update, as my career as a Medical Transcriptionist has recently really taken off in a way that I was not expecting it to.
 
When I graduated, I really wanted to work from home. I applied like crazy to various online companies (around 75, I think) along with follow-ups every week or so but did not have any luck. So, I headed out into the community for work, hoping to get experience that would make me a more desirable applicant for online companies.

I was hired on as an MT/MOA at the urologist's office in town. They had previously contracted their typing out and had one MOA on staff, but wanted an MT and a back-up for their MOA. At my three-month review, they decided that they did not need the second person in the office and asked if I would mind doing the transcription from home.

I was thrilled, as this was just what I wanted to do all along. However, going from being paid a secure hourly rate in the office to a per-line rate was a significant downgrade in terms of salary. Having said that, they did not know what to pay me and asked me to research it. I did just that, on your forum, and came back with a rate which they accepted.

This still was not enough money to live on, so I went around with my resume to all of the specialist's offices in town (I live in Nanaimo, BC, which has a population of about 80,000) and managed to pick up work with an orthopedic surgeon as well. Next, I went around to all the psychologists in town and have nailed down another client for neuropsychology reports. The money now is very decent and as I get to be a faster typist, I will probably pick up one more client. So, I now work from home with my own little business - Crystal Clear Transcription. The urologist's office hooked me up with line-counting software as well, so invoicing is so easy.
 
I wanted to let you know how extremely surprised and pleased my clients are with my reports. They absolutely rave about my work, and I know it is really due to your excellent program. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your training and how impressed and surprised people are with the quality of the work from someone who has not worked in human medicine before (I am also a veterinary technologist). Thank you all so much for all the help and for making my dream of working from home come true (a little cheesy, yes, but true nonetheless!).
 
Thanks again,
 
Jolene Hassard
Crystal Clear Transcription