Success Story: Truth and Myths about New Image College
The Canadian job market plays by its own rules. Having experience is not enough — you need to be able to prove it. Being talented is not enough — you need a portfolio. And wanting to work is not enough — you need to know exactly where your skills are needed. That is why choosing the right educational institution becomes for an immigrant not simply a matter of education, but a matter of strategy. New Image College understood this long ago, and built its program with one goal in mind: so that students leave not with a piece of paper, but ready to work.
During one of my recent meetings with the director of New Image College, Pavel Ilyashenko, we began discussing reader feedback on our articles about the college. Pavel showed me an interesting link he had found online.
On a women’s forum, someone raised the topic of this school as a promising education option in North America and asked for advice. The responses varied widely, and some people were skeptical about the employment prospects of New Image graduates. “For the sake of advertising, people will write anything! What can a ‘Russian school’ really teach?” they said.
A “Russian school” can teach quite a lot. At first glance, the opportunity to study in your native language sounds like a major advantage — but not everyone sees it that way. Let me quote a comment from that same forum: “I really don’t want to get mixed up in ‘Russian stuff.'”
Caution is part of our mentality, and that’s not a bad thing — it helps us avoid mistakes. But distrust of everything Russian is a sad trend. If someone is American or Canadian, they’re assumed to be honest; if Russian, then potentially dishonest. Is that really fair? Of course not. Still, reputations don’t arise out of nowhere. Someone must have contributed to this perception — but let’s leave that to their conscience.
In reality, New Image College cannot be called exclusively a “Russian school.” English-speaking students study in English, while Russian-speaking students can study in Russian. If you wish, you can even study in Ukrainian.
As for the claim that “anything can be made up for advertising,” I take that personally. All the people featured in our articles are real. I, Bogdan Fadeev, have personally spoken with them. There are no fictional characters here — no imaginary success stories. People truly receive an education, find jobs, and literally start new lives. They sincerely thank the college — I simply record their words with minimal editing.
But is it really possible that graduates of New Image College are in such high demand? Let’s look at Canadian statistics. Did you know that in Canada there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as graphic designers, and eleven times more certified auto mechanics than designers? In other words, skilled graphic designers are genuinely scarce — which is precisely why they’re so sought after.
People often confuse design with the IT industry (which, as we know, has its ups and downs). But just because a designer works on a computer doesn’t make them a programmer. In fact, there are about 70 times more IT professionals than designers in Canada. That’s the real reason for the demand.
Graphic design is genuinely a high-demand profession in the Canadian job market. Open a newspaper or search online — you’ll see countless job postings. But to fill these positions, you need two things: training and work experience. New Image College provides both. That’s the whole secret — no marketing tricks involved.
Let’s take a recent example: Ada Chilikina. In September 2006, she started studying at New Image, and by March 2007, she was already working as a designer for the Russian-language magazine Bonus Magazine.
Yes, it was initially a part-time position — but still! Perhaps those skeptical forum users don’t realize that Bonus is a highly respected publication in Toronto. It’s one of the oldest Russian-language magazines in the city, and getting hired there is not easy.
Again quoting the forum: “Their claims about helping with employment are laughable!” wrote a user named Tania from Brooklyn, NY.
Well, perhaps I should try my hand at comedy — but dear Tania, don’t be so categorical. I’m sure Ada Chilikina would disagree with you. What she received at New Image College was not only knowledge, but also real projects for her portfolio, along with recommendations and testimonials from real client companies.
Of course, there is always an element of luck — Ada found a promising job opportunity quite quickly, before she had even completed the full program. But the key point is that through effort and determination, she secured that job. Believe it or not — these are facts.
Let’s get to know Ada a bit better.
Bogdan: Ada, why did you choose design?
Ada: I was a decorative artist in my former life. I worked in Ukraine and Israel — engraving, outdoor advertising, and more. When I settled in Toronto, I knew I needed to update my skills quickly. So I started looking for a school.
Bogdan: And you chose New Image College?
Ada: Yes. I chose it based on price and quality. Also, the ability to study in Russian — and most importantly, quickly! I’m not at the age to be a perpetual student — I need to earn money. And I have no regrets. I visited other colleges and academies — they were expensive, slow, and came with language barriers. Here, I could even call my instructor in the evening if I couldn’t complete an assignment. Where else is that possible?
Some friends advised me to choose a simpler, more “reliable” profession. But I realized I want to be creative — I can’t and won’t change who I am. And I believed Pavel (Ilyashenko), who always said I would find a job.
Bogdan: Did your previous experience help?
Ada: To some extent. But in our group there are people from completely different backgrounds. For example, one girl had no computer experience at all — and she chose web design! You should see the websites she creates now.
Bogdan: Would you study at New Image College again?
Ada: Absolutely. For me, it was the perfect option: exactly the knowledge you need, with a strong focus on practice. You just need determination and hard work — and success will follow.
I’ll simply remind you that the college’s website is www.newimagecollege.com. Call them and ask for proof — New Image College doesn’t hide its success stories.
Bogdan Fadeev bfadeev@gmail.com
