Career goal planning is ‘critical to success’

By Marlon Skyers  »  Tasselled hats fall to the ground while the icing hardens on my half-eaten graduation cake. But even before I can return my grad gown and the smiles from my parents and peers diminish, my mind wrestles with the uneasy question, what will I do next? I was conflicted and confused about my future. My fellow graduates and I all knew what we wanted to be, but did not have the slightest clue where to start. A much too underpaid staffing counsellor suggested I try HBI College. So I had to inquire. Cindy Ryan, Director of College & Business Training Services, granted me the privilege to pick her brain with a little Q & A. Being that I am currently unemployed, are you hiring? HBI continuously accepts applications for employment from creative, dedicated, client focused instructors with at least five years subject matter expertise, for our college or business training services. With little to no experience, how quickly can I get a job after finishing your program? Over 80% of our graduates are working within three months of graduation.   A major hurdle in my job search was that even entry level positions require multiple years of experience. How can I navigate around this problem? HBI College helps our students understand that a resume isn’t just about years of experience – it is a comprehensive assessment of their skills, interests, hobbies and life experiences. Our graduates learn to communicate those transferable attributes into their employment goals.  Experiences such as volunteering, supporting younger siblings, travelling and extra-curricular activities all contribute to an individual’s career portfolio.  HBI College helps our graduates draw on all those attributes to ensure success begins today.  How do you accommodate for changes in the economy, now that employers are looking for more soft skills and years of experience? Our highly motivated faculties with focused research have continued to meet the growing needs of our students and employers for over 25 years. Our placement opportunities and career counselling services ensure positive skill development while students are attending HBI College. Moreover, HBI College is a leading corporate trainer, offering customized business solutions in the areas of IT, professional learning, personal development, executive language coaching, employment and outplacement services. We engage in the latest training methodologies that are specific and measurable to an employer as well as enhance their human capital performance. HBI College will be releasing several new diploma and certificate programs in 2008. Out of the long list of benefits that you just mentioned for choosing HBI College, what would you say is the most important benefit to have when looking for the career of your choice? Career goal planning is critical to success as it supports your passions, skills and interests.  With that in-depth career focus, an individual’s ability to be successful is unlimited.  HBI offers personal career planning throughout our curriculum and it’s a definite asset to our graduates who are passionate about what they want when looking for work. Some college class sizes are literally in the thousands. What differentiates you from other schools? HBI College offers a dedicated faculty and enjoyable learning environment, our 15:1 student to teacher ratio ensures individual attention for all learning objectives.  Thanks! I am finally breathing easier about my future, enough so that I can finally finish my stale graduation cake. • For more information about HBI College, visit www.hbicollege.ca.