Author: Citi College

Starting your education at a private career college (like Citi College) can be daunting. It’s a big step in your life and can feel a little overwhelming. At Citi College, ensuring our students are comfortable and confident is at the heart of all we do. We want to help you get the best out of your course.

Whether you’re attending Citi College or another private career college, your first day of college may feel overwhelming, but there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself. Below, we’ve gathered some recommendations for having a great first day at college.

Grab All Your Supplies

Whether you’re joining a business course or pursuing a healthcare diploma, you should come prepared with all of your supplies. You’ll need items like writing equipment, such as pens, pencils and paper, and you could need technological devices like your laptop or tablet.

There may also be handy apps you can download at your private career college, like your timetable app or a campus map. Make sure you have all this sorted out the night before so that you’re not scrambling for your things on the morning of your first day.

Become Familiar With The Most Important Locations On Campus

Find out what building your classrooms are in so that you can be on time for your classes each day. You should also locate the library in case you need somewhere to study and check out books. Other places you should look out for include the lunchroom, cafeteria, medical centre or common room, and you could seek out student services just in case you ever need their help.

Head To Class Early

We recommend heading to your classes early every day, especially on your first day. For starters, you will make a good impression if you arrive on time. Being late won’t be acceptable in your job, so you should get into the habit of being on time now. Second, if you’re late, you may miss important information, especially at the beginning of your course.

Start Developing A Routine

Falling into a routine can make college feel easier. If you develop healthy habits, like ensuring you’re up in time to eat breakfast and getting to class on time, you will have a better time at college.

Building healthy habits while attending a private career college can set you up for a good work/life balance. If you’ve gotten into the routines that make life easier during college, you’ll find it easier to implement them when you start work.

Get To Know Everyone

It can feel overwhelming on the first day to meet so many new people, but it is important that you build relationships with your teachers at college. Building a good relationship with them will ensure that you get the help you need and they could help you get a job when you leave.

Making friends with your coursemates can make college life more fun and manageable. It will mean having others know what you’re going through, creating a support system for yourself and your fellow coursemates. You’ll also be able to work with one another to get the best out of your course.

Though you may find it difficult, make an effort to speak to other people on your first day at college to start building bridges now.

Looking For A Great College To Study At? Call Citi College Now!

Are you thinking of attending a private career college? Get in touch with Citi College today to find an extensive range of courses for you to try! We’re dedicated to making the transition to a career college as easy as possible, and we’ll have you industry-ready in no time!

Whether you’re just graduating from college or university or taking the leap and making a career change, thinking about the soft skills employers want is integral to good job applications.

Your soft skills are personal, developed over time, and may come naturally to you. They are different from industry-specific technical skills and can help to set you apart from other applicants. Here at Citi College, we’re committed to helping our students to develop their soft skills, as well as career-related skills, when they study with us.

Keep reading to learn more about the soft skills employers look for.

Communication Skills

Communication is key to all roles, no matter your field of work. Good communication can be the difference between a smooth-running operation and an absolute disaster. In your career, you’ll likely need to communicate with various people, including clients, customers, vendors, employers, and more.

Precise, polite communication is integral to a working environment, so you’ll need excellent written and oral communication skills. Good communication means being a good listener, presenting, and having the social skills to work with others.

Teamwork

Teamwork means working with others and is a valuable skill in your career. Good teamwork creates the happy and productive environments employers are looking for.

Teamwork includes a range of aspects, including accepting feedback, having the skills to collaborate with others, dealing with office politics, and having the emotional intelligence to work well with your colleagues.

Having A Strong Work Ethic

A strong work ethic is exceptionally desirable to employers. It means you’re more likely to arrive to work on time, complete tasks promptly, and be focused and organized in your work. Following instructions and meeting deadlines are valuable skills in any job.

A strong work ethic means being attentive to details, being dedicated, having good organizational skills, being a reliable employee, and being able to self-supervise.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a valuable skill for employers. It means that their employees can problem solve and make informed and effective decisions. Critical thinking means taking the time to analyze a situation, understand a problem, and come up with a solution.

Employers are looking for people who can adapt and be flexible, have a sense of curiosity, a desire to learn, and are resourceful.

Having A Positive Attitude In The Workplace

A positive attitude is desirable to employers because it means you will come to work in a good mood, be friendly to others, and be eager to work. It means having the confidence to do well in your work, the enthusiasm to progress, and the energy to meet deadlines.

Time Management

Time management is one of the most in-demand soft skills employers will look for. In the fast-paced, digital age we live in, being able to work productively, meet deadlines, and manage your time effectively will set you apart from other candidates.

At the end of the day, employers are looking to make money, so if you can get your work done on time, you will be a desirable employee.

Become Job Ready With Citi College! Contact Us Today!

Citi College is a private career college committed to producing career-ready individuals. We offer multiple quality programs where you will learn technical, industry-specific skills, as well as the soft skills employers look for. And when you leave us, you will still have access to our services, which help with resume building and interview preparation.

If you’re looking for a private career college to get you ready for your choice of career in the GTA, get in touch with Citi College today!

Society seems to be moving faster than ever, and with it, many opportunities for new careers are arising. Ever-shifting economies and brand-new industries mean that the job market simply isn’t what it was twenty or thirty years ago.

With new professions on the rise, and old ones requiring more workers than ever, it’s the perfect time for people to go back to school and pick up new skills and qualifications to turn their lives around. Unfortunately, self-doubts and preconceived notions of being too old for these opportunities result in many people staying put and not chasing their dreams.

So, it begs the question: can somebody be too old to go back to school? The answer to that question is no! You are never too old to go back to school! In fact, today’s blog suggests that if you’re interested in going back to school, then consider attending a private career college such as Citi College!

The Benefits Of Attending A Ontario Career College

If you’re doubtful about whether returning to school is for you, or if you’ve decided to do it but are unsure where to start, then private career colleges may be among your best options. There are numerous benefits that private career colleges offer that other educational facilities simply do not. Here are just a few of them.

Flexible Learning Opportunities

With age and experience comes additional responsibilities. Two of the most frequent excuses people give for not going back to school are that they don’t have time or they don’t have the money. With the flexible learning opportunities that private career colleges offer however, these worries can become a thing of the past.

Unlike the stereotypical school experience of sitting in a classroom for six hours a day from Monday to Friday, career colleges allow you to do part-time learning or attend lectures whenever you can, making going back to school as flexible as possible.

Relationships, children, and even a current job shouldn’t be reasons for you not to go back to school. Career colleges understand that their mature students may have more responsibilities and time constraints than their younger counterparts.

Small Class Sizes

Private career colleges focus on a higher number of specific courses, which means there are fewer people in each classroom. Unlike in giant lecture halls, you’ll get a chance to know your fellow students and potentially, more importantly, your teacher. Smaller class sizes lead to increased participation all around, ensuring a better learning experience for everyone.

If you feel daunted by the idea of dozens of people silently staring at you when you offer an answer, a private career college may be precisely what you need.

Hands-On Learning

Smaller classes mean that there are more options for hands-on learning. Implementing practical sessions for fifty students is unrealistic and impractical but the possibility of implementing practical sessions with ten students is much more realistic.

Additionally, your learning activities are not as limited to the classroom as they would be with traditional colleges, thus allowing for a variety of experiences.

Teachers With Experience In Their Respective Industries

Private career colleges hire some of the greatest teachers from a pool of specialists in various industries. Not only will the smaller class sizes allow you to have more one-on-one time with these industry experts, but you can assure that they’ll always know what they’re talking about.

Many of these teachers are often still working, or just retired in their field, so you can be assured their years of wisdom will be both recent and relevant.

Diverse Classroom

Private career college is for everyone, meaning many people in your class will likely be at different stages in life. The chances are that even if you think you’re too old to go back to school, there’ll probably be someone in your class older than you. Even if there isn’t, the diversity of your class will only lead to a more positive learning experience full of diverse views.

Apply At Citi College Today To Start Your New Career!

There are many private career colleges in Canada, however, if you are in the Toronto or Mississauga area, then Citi College may be the right choice for you. Check out our full list of programs, and take your first steps towards a great career today!