My Journey as a Student at York University School of Continuing Studies

York University School of Continuing Studies was a great place to personally embark on my return back into the world. I have since graduated with two post-graduate certificates - one in Advanced Professional Accounting and another in Digital & Content Marketing, over the last two years. I learned different skills and gained exposure to varied aspects of businesses through each program, which proved both professionally beneficial and personally enriching. So how did these programs shape my career, and what were my experiences in it?

Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Accounting: Building Financial Skills

A Comprehensive Curriculum

This program at York University provides profound knowledge about accounting principles. Although some of the topics in there included financial reporting, taxation, auditing and management accounting. Their comprehensive curriculum taught us all we needed to know in order to excel as accountants.

Hands-On Learning

This program stood out because of the focus on hands-on learning. We have done a lot of case studies and real practical applications, so everything we learned was applied in practice-solving, not just book theory. For example, one of our projects was a comprehensive financial analysis of Shopify Inc. We studied standard company finance figures like sales growth, profit margins and the return on equity (ROE). Our research found that the revenue from Shopify grew by 12 percent and improved their profit at a net margin of 8 % to 10 %. Furthermore, we identified savings of $2 million per annum through opportunities for cost reduction. Our results included recommendations for improving operational efficiency and balancing the company's capital structure. This practical use of learning not only made studying more enjoyable but also helped me drastically improve my problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Expert Instructors and Networking

The program is taught by experienced professionals and academics who provide valuable insights and guidance. Their mentorship was also so helpful especially since they had been through the whole accounting business. Furthermore, there were so many opportunities to network with various seminars, workshops, and different industry events. These connections provided me with an opportunity to develop relationships with people in the field which could lead to job opportunities.

A Strong Professional Foundation

Completing the Advanced Professional Accounting program gave me a solid professional foundation. The rigorous coursework and practical experience equipped me with the skills needed to excel in various accounting roles. Moreover, the program emphasized ethics and professionalism, essential traits in the accounting profession.

Shifting to Digital and Content Marketing: Embracing Change

Bridging Two Fields

After finishing the accounting program, I still wanted to improve my skills, that is why I decided to take the Digital and Content Marketing certificate. Although accounting and marketing are so different, all the analytical and eye for detail accounting have helped me stay focused on marketing.

A Dynamic and Evolving Field

Digital & Content Marketing is an evolving field. This York University Programme is relevant to current industry trends and new technologies. I studied various topics like SEO, social media marketing, content strategy, and data analytics. This diverse curriculum prepared me to handle the many challenges in digital marketing.

Practical Application Focus

Similar to the accounting program, the marketing certificate is focused on application. Developed marketing campaigns and content strategies and analyzed data to measure the success of these programs. For example, managing a full Google Ads (PPC) campaign-as I did in one project on behalf of The Raw Office to increase brand awareness and generate eco-friendly office supplies sales to Canadian sustainability-focused businesses. During this time, I was also receiving hands-on experience that involved me working part-time in my family's start-up (a mail order company) and using what I learned in the classroom toward real-world business situations.

Collaboration and Creativity

One of my favourite parts about the marketing program was working with such a diverse group of students. That teamwork promoted a creative learning environment where we bounced ideas and learned from each other. This program challenged us to think critically and problem-solve our way through marketing challenges, all the while promoting creative thinking.

Preparing for a Digital Future

The Digital and Content Marketing program trained me for a digital tomorrow. I parlayed the skills and knowledge I gained into opportunities for new roles that better cater to my interests in marketing, technology, etc. This program also provided me with the tools to keep ahead in an increasingly volatile profession, establishing a long-lasting career.

Key Takeaways and Future Goals

Comprehensive Professional Growth

At York University School of Continuing Studies, I was offered a robust developmental journey to bolster my professional gain. Taking both accounting and marketing degrees has molded my skill set to be useful for many options in the job market. The best part is that it helped me achieve excellence in both fields by giving me rigorous academic exposure and opportunities for practical learning.

Lifelong Learning and Adaptability

Of the many important lessons I was taught, one that stands out is to never stop learning and being flexible. As with everything, accounting and marketing evolve constantly, so workers need to update their skills constantly. I am always trying to develop my various skills as a working professional in light of the ever-changing industries because York University taught me that I must be open to ongoing education.

Future Aspirations

In the future, I am looking forward to possibilities. Being someone who is fundamentally strong in accounting and increasingly becoming an expert on digital marketing, I was open to many career prospects. I am especially interested in positions that straddle the two beds, like financial marketing and data-driven marketing analytics. Also, I am thinking of opening a Digital marketing agency where I can use my talents and get into a business mindset that will always give me light on new areas of digital growth.

Conclusion

My time at the York University School of Continuing Studies has been an extraordinary occasion for me. The Post Graduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Accounting gave me the foundation abilities for finances, and my Post Graduate Certificate in Digital & Content Marketing told me the best way to conquer the Digital landscape. All of that, instated during my degrees combined into programs, helped me prepare for a career in one of many cool parts and reinforced the idea that we should keep learning to stay diverse. Carrying on in life with the knowledge, capabilities and experiences that I had developed during my time at York University.