Seneca CNS/CTY graduate survey

1. Did you take cns or cty?
I took CTY, took co-op then transferred to CNS

2. Did you study full time or part time?
I started out as full time, then took my last few courses part time

3. Did you do co-op?
Yes, very valuable for me

4. How much do you make right now?
I’d rather not say but happy at where I'm at and there are paths where I can earn more. Great benefits, my job is stable as a rock even in this unprecedented times. My retirement is secured, I can’t ask for more.

5. Is it worth it taking the program on a part-time basis knowing you cant get co-op?
I would take advantage of the co-op program, I know recent grads who had co-op placements with the Toronto District School Board. Then gotten permanent roles with them straight out of co-op.

6. What are your tips for getting a job without co-op?
I know people who struggled to get entry level IT jobs, then went back to their old industries. They considered their time wasted at CNS/CTY, but those people lack previous IT related experience. Some had entry level experience but also had unrealistic expectations with too much ego. In this ultra competitive environment it will be an up hill battle with just a diploma plus little to no experience.

7. If you have the chance to start all over again, will you still choose this program? Why or why not?
Yes, I had some IT related experience when I started CNS/CTY. The co-op program gave me exposure to even more valuable experience. After graduation with the right combination of co-op experience and certifications, it put me on the right path. From there it got me where I wanted and I am happy with the results.

Don't expect it to get you to where you want from the get go, it may take some navigation on your part but the point is - it got me where I needed to launch my career. Some people are luckier than others, thus there are people who have gotten jobs with the Toronto District School Board straight out of co-op. But always work on the assumption you are not that lucky.

1. Did you take cns or cty?
I took CTY, took co-op then transferred to CNS as do most people

2. Did you study full time or part time?
Full time

3. Did you do co-op?
Yes, co-op is very helpful.

4. How much do you make right now?
Won't disclose specifics but I am very happy with it. PM for details.

5. Is it worth it taking the program on a part-time basis knowing you cant get co-op?
This is a difficult question. Co-op is one of the most valuable parts of the program.

Also, another big issue with part time (assuming you do it at night), is the quality of professors being much lower than the day-time professors. With this specific point, you might be able to limit the downside here by dedicating some time to researching professors before selecting courses. Of course this may require some flexibility in scheduling and may not be an option for every class.

All in all, I would still say yes. A lot career paths stemming from this program can be very rewarding (from the perspective of both finances and job satisfaction). Even if you start off with a bit of an uphill battle, long term it is very worth it, especially if you stay in the Toronto market. With part-time, you will succeed if take your education into your own hands and make up for whatever gaps if the prof is bad. Feel free to PM me on a on-going basis and I can do my best to provide more insight.

6. What are your tips for getting a job without co-op?
Career paths out of CTY/CNS are very broad, however most start out on help desk. I don't really have good advice here but in general, side projects on github (specifically ones that demonstrate scripting skills + other help desk assets) would be a great thing to have. Also, network with people.

7. If you have the chance to start all over again, will you still choose this program? Why or why not?
100%. Assuming you are a citizen, you are paying under 10gs and about 1.5 years of time to break into Toronto tech, which once past entry-level, doesn't discriminate based on education (some very small minorities/specialities being an exception). Industry experience trumps education, so the quicker you can get into the industry (where the real education happens) the better.

I’m also curious on other CNS/CTY Alums. Where are they now and what path have they gone after CNS/CTY?