 Thriving on Knowledge
Instructional Designer puts George Brown lessons to good use
While working as a travel agent in a call centre, Marica Cullingham developed a very keen interest in teaching and training. She realized she wanted to pursue a different direction within her organization.
“I applied for a posting in the training department but didn’t get the job,” she says. “At that point, I asked myself if there was something I could do to make sure I got the next job that became available.”
The answer was yes. That something was the Instructing Adults Certificate offered through Continuing Education at George Brown College. The evening classes, its focus on adult learning and the convenient location made the certificate a perfect fit for Marica, who works and lives downtown.
She began her first course in 2006 and was able to make use of what she had learned almost immediately.
“I was just finishing the Foundations of Teaching and Training course when another position became available in the training department,” she says. “With my new set of skills, I felt better prepared for the interview process – and it showed. I got the position.”
Marica continued to take evening courses in order to complete the certificate. In the meantime, she earned a promotion to Instructional Designer, which is her current position with the company.
“Without the courses, I wouldn’t be in my current position,” she says. “They gave me the skills I needed to convince somebody to believe in me. After I became an Instructional Designer, I still had courses to take but knew they would be essential to my success.”
Marica has thrived in her new role. Working for such a large company forces her to draw on the skills she acquired each and every day, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
“We have a large organization that is complex and growing, so my duties run across a wide spectrum. From working with those who help customers to working with those who utilize software in our day-to-day operations, it’s rarely the same thing,” Marica says. “Eventually, I might want to be in a management position, but I know I don’t want to move away completely from getting my hands dirty, so to speak.”
Marica completed the Instructing Adults Certificate in December 2008 and has enjoyed her career shift so much that she is spreading the word about the certificate. She has recommended it to a number of her co-workers, and her son (a recent university graduate) has expressed interest in following in his mother’s footsteps.
“To me, it’s the perfect certificate: not too long, very affordable and easy to complete while still working during the day,” she says. “The classes work together to give you all the skills you need for a career in the training field. I love what I’m doing – and I owe a lot to Continuing Education at George Brown College.”
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