Like many, Sean Ellis knew he wanted to make a career change. Sean, who was working for a small landscaping company in North Vancouver, had always been interested in computers and technology.
After some research, he landed on the BCIT Technology Support Professional (TSP) program. He felt it was a great fit.
Blended format and hands-on
“I was drawn to the TSP program due to the hands-on experience and industry training that it offers,” explains Sean. The Technology Support Professional is a 40-week blended program offered through a combination of in-class and online sessions. It trains students with no previous background or education in computing, along with those who need to re-train or upgrade their present skills. In 2017, the program transitioned from a traditional face-to-face classroom program into a blended online model to offer more flexibility to learners.
Through TSP, Sean gained the experience he needed to start working in the IT field immediately upon graduation. He also earned globally recognized industry certifications.
“I am currently employed at a managed service provider and have been here since finishing the TSP program,” says Sean. “Going forward I would like to continue learning whenever possible and collect more industry certifications.”
The year he spent in the TSP program was a great experience for Sean. He not only learned a lot about the industry he was headed into, but made friends with a variety of like-minded individuals and BCIT faculty.
Passion for tech
TSP graduate Jenny Wong has always been passionate about technology, and gets excited when new tech is announced.
“I applied to BCIT as the school is known for their fast-paced programs taught by instructors who have worked in the field,” says Jenny.
“This allows students to begin working and gaining work experience right after they complete the program. Employers today want practical and hands-on skills rather than textbook knowledge and this is what BCIT provides.”
Jenny worked as a Connected Solutions Specialist at Best Buy Canada before enrolling in the program at BCIT. “I started off my 8-week work term as an IT Support Specialist for JOEY Restaurant Group,” she says. “I provided first line technical and desk side user support for head office and restaurant users.”
Skills to land the job
“After the work-term, I landed my first full-time position in the video games industry as IT Helpdesk Support at Relic Entertainment,” Jenny continues. “I provided support for 200+ studio users for issues regarding software, hardware, network, a/v boardrooms, or telecommunication related problems.” She’s seen her career grow at Relic: “After staying in this role for just shy of two years, I was promoted into the Junior Systems Administrator role.”
According to Jenny, enrolling in the TSP program has been one of the best decisions she’s made. “After finishing the TSP program, I had a basic understanding of networking, Windows and Linux operating systems in virtualized environments, and troubleshooting skills with eight weeks of work experience from my practicum. This [gave me an advantage over] many applicants during the job search. It would have been more difficult to get my foot in the door without this program.”
For more information about TSP, please contact Ron Terencio, Program Coordinator at htp@bcit.ca.