Please Note: This is an interview we conducted with Crystal, a fellow that completed the SkillBank program in 2021. This testimonial was transcribed from an interview we conducted with her.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background prior to joining SkillBank.

I worked as a dispatcher for the yellow cab industry for about for over 12 years and then the technology industry took over my job. I also worked at Walgreens for some time but I knew I wanted to switch careers. I decided that going into tech would be my next best step.

What sparked your interest in digital marketing/paid media? Why did you choose to pursue a career in digital marketing?

I didn’t know much about digital marketing/paid media prior to SkillBank. I was listening to a podcast when I heard about SkillBank’s program and it intrigued me. I didn’t have anything to lose since at that time it was no-cost upfront. I went through the application process and didn’t think I was getting in because I didn’t fit the typical customer profile. I thought the people joining the program had to have a previous background in digital marketing. I got accepted to SkillBank and it was one of the best decisions I made for my career.

How would you describe your experience with the Paid Media course?

Coming from zero experience and no connections, I saw SkillBank as a way into a new career. At times, it was a learning curve to absorb all the content such as the certifications, and all of the digital marketing acronyms and terms. When I was in the course, I didn’t miss a single class because I enjoyed being there, and interacting with my classmates and instructors. I think compared to a lot of my other peers, I was learning at a slower pace. I felt supported by everyone around me to learn and ask questions. I never felt judged or criticized for going at my own speed.

How are you applying the skills you’ve learned at SkillBank?

The training that I received on sales funnels is something that I use often in my new role. In addition to the foundational concepts, we learned about landing pages. As a Website Designer, I work with websites daily, so learning how landing pages should be structured is key to my new role. I use SEO and keyword strategy planning frequently in my role as well.

What advice do you have for prospective fellows who want to join SkillBank?

My advice would be to have an end goal and to have a vision for what you want to do after the course is finished. All of my classmates who succeeded were all people who had goals. You can take any digital marketing course online for free or at a low cost, but what makes SkillBank different is that it opens up a network of like-minded people to you. It’s not just about taking a course but networking with people who are already in the industry and understand what it takes to succeed in the digital marketing field.