Why now is the best time to be a tech student

It’s September and it seems like everyone’s gone back to school.

So if you feel like you’re missing out, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s not too late for you to do the same thing. There’s still time to sign up for a program or course, meaning you can further your career or start an entirely new one.

With the tech industry booming, Daily Hive decided to find out more about RED Academy’s programs in UX, web development, digital marketing, UI, and app development. The tech school’s director of operations, Sean Eikerman, filled us in.

Why is now the best time to go back to school for tech?

Now is the best time to go back to school. Why? Because the tech job market continues to rise and lead the country. Talent managers are in need of skilled professionals, which means you’ll have a much better chance of finding a job immediately after graduation if you enrol in a skills-focused tech school.

What does the job market in Vancouver look like?

Vancouver has the hottest job market in the country right now. Don’t believe me? Check out the 2016 Express Employment Professionals survey that names the top 50 Labour Day Hot Job Markets in Canada. 

But what do employment rates in BC look like?

I think most people would be pleasantly surprised to find out that according to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate in British Columbia continues to decline, and at 5.6%, is the lowest in the country.

What does the outlook for tech opportunities look like?

About 15,500 tech jobs in Vancouver will need to be filled by 2019 – this according to the Information and Communications Technology Council. What’s also a great sign is that according to the Financial Post, high-tech employment in Vancouver has increased by 19.7% since 2011, 12 times the rate of total employment. 

 What’s new for full-time tech courses at RED Academy?

We have tons of new full-time courses starting September 26. These include:

• Full-Stack Marketer Professional (6 month program)
• Full-Stack Designer Professional (6 month program)
• Full-Stack Developer Professional (6 month program)
• App Developer Professional (12 weeks)
• User Interface & Communication Design Professional (12 weeks)

What about people looking for part-time programs?

We have courses that work for all schedules. To accommodate working professionals or recent university grads, we offer part-time programs. These courses start on October 3 and 4, so there’s lots of time to prepare. Right now we offer 10 week courses – the UX Designer Foundation, Digital Marketing Foundation, and Web Developer Foundation. Courses take place on weekends or evenings so it’s easy to work around your busy lifestyle. 

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Moral of the story? It’s not too late to revamp your career or start it over entirely. For more information on pursuing either part-time or full-time courses at RED Academy, call 778-379-7175. Send any questions online by filling out the form at the bottom of this page. Make sure you stay in the know via Facebook and Twitter.