Changing careers is a big decision, and the idea of going back to school can feel daunting. But at Centennial College, it doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. If you already have an education, a graduate certificate program can help you quickly pivot into a new field so you can get back out into the job market faster.
Take Centennial’s Human Resources Management Graduate Certificate Program, for example. Designed for learners who already have an education, this program teaches you the skills needed to build a successful workforce. And after working in the medical field, Kamar Bowen was able to leverage this human resources certificate to transition into a government role with the Province of Ontario’s Treasury Board Secretariat, where he now works as a Finance and Administrative Coordinator.
Kamar’s journey is proof that education can open unexpected doors. And as you’ll read, he’s full of advice on how to make the most of your education and career opportunities. But first, let’s have a look at how he got to where he is today.
Changing tracks
It was a long and winding path before Kamar found his current career. In fact, he initially started in medicine.
“Before I came here, I had a background in medical technology,” he says. “I did a bachelor's in medical technology, which was a four-year program. Then I went on to work as a medical technologist for a little bit over a year, and then I transitioned from there.”
Initially, he thought he’d have to restart his education from scratch. But after researching his options at Centennial, he discovered the College’s postgraduate programs. A graduate certificate in human resources would allow him to build on his existing experience, preparing him for an entirely new field.
“Initially, I applied for a two-year diploma program,” Kamar explains. “But then someone from the College reached out to me and said, because I already have a bachelors, it doesn't make sense to do a full diploma. So, I was brainstorming, and a cousin of mine said to me, why don't you do human resources?”
“I went back on the website, applied for postgraduate human resources, and I just got in,” he says. “I didn't even apply to any other college. Something just pulled me here.” And once he did get here, he found a graduate certificate program rich in real-world, practical experience.
“I did a lot of hands-on learning in our courses, like in Industrial Relations, where we had mock arbitration and mediation,” Kamar says. “We also did Staffing and Organizations, where we did practical interviews where our peers would interview us as though they were a company that was hiring, and we would interview peers as potential hires, and vice versa.” But it was the most practical kind of learning, a co-op position, that would get his post-college career going.
How he went from college to career
“One of the things I appreciated in the program was that it had the option to do a co-op,” Kamar says. “The co-op would give me an opportunity to be exposed to the Canadian workforce, give me the experience that I need, and would also look good on my resume. I did a co-op with the Cabinet Office from May to August, because while working in the Government of Ontario, you can apply to all the different jobs they post internally.”
“It’s funny,” he says about his current human resources job. “The position I have now, wasn’t the position I initially applied for, despite being successful during the interview. It was all thanks to the accounting courses in my HR program that gave me a leg up, and ultimately allowed me to be the successful candidate for this role.”
What a finance and administrative coordinator does
Kamar’s been working with the Province of Ontario since October 2023, under the Associate Deputy Minister of the Centre for Public Sector Labor Relations and Compensation.
“Every month, or every other month, we do a financial forecast to track money spent based on salaries and wages, benefits, employment, employees travelling, monies given for miscellaneous things like equipment, IT, storage, all these things. We have to forecast finances to see how much of it is spent, how much is remaining, so we can give an idea to the directors of their spending and tell them best practices moving forward.”
In simpler terms, Kamar helps track and manage government spending. Alongside finance, his role also includes human resources responsibilities, like onboarding and offboarding employees, working with external vendors, and managing procurement.
The most valuable skills he gained at Centennial
When asked what skills from his human resources courses helped him the most, Kamar doesn’t hesitate.
“The most useful skills are the computer skills,” he says. “We worked with SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products), Excel and Microsoft Word, all of which are transferable to any job.” But technical skills weren’t the only takeaways.
“Communication skills were huge,” he says. “Doing interviews with other students, working in groups, teamwork exercises, they all helped me become a better communicator.”
He also gained a strong understanding of employment law, which he now applies to his day-to-day work.
“I had never been exposed to employment law before, so learning about the Human Rights Code and workplace regulations was very helpful.”
Looking to the future
Despite having secured a government job, Kamar sees his path changing again, as he considers what’s next in his career.
“Even though I'm doing finance, I would love to get back to more human resource work, maybe onboarding, offboarding, or recruitment,” he says. “Also, one of the things that I'm passionate about is education, so in the future, I do plan on doing a master’s in education.”
“I can navigate wherever I want to go,” he says, “because I already have financial skills, and the human resource experience, it makes me more marketable and more valuable.”
Kamar’s advice for success
On succeeding in school
“One of the greatest pieces of advice I can give students is to remain focused and find balance” he says. “If you are working while studying, manage your time wisely. Don’t let work take priority over school.”
“Do your assignments and get them in on time. Don’t procrastinate.”
“For group projects, designate a leader to keep things organized.”
“Communicate with your professors. If you have questions, ask.”
On jumpstarting your career
“Networking is everything,” Kamar emphasizes. “And not just within Centennial College. Network with people on LinkedIn in from a variety of organizations and industries – even those you don’t think you’re interested in. Because knowledge is key, and people can give you knowledge and information that you don't have.”
“And don't just think for the next year or two. Think long term. Where do you want to be in five years? What steps can you take to get yourself there? It’s up to you to make it happen.”
Final thoughts
Kamar’s journey proves that education isn’t about starting over, it’s about moving forward. With the right program, real-world experience, and a proactive mindset, a career change is absolutely possible.
Are you ready to take the next step?
By Anthony Geremia