An Interview with Julie David.

Please Note: This is an interview we conducted with Julie, a fellow that completed the SkillBank program in the Summer of 2022. This testimonial was transcribed from an interview we conducted with him.

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

Before SkillBank, I was working as a regional supervisor for food services for Miami Dade County School District. I was responsible for managing almost 400 hundred employees, during the pandemic the stress of the job was tenfold. It caused me to reflect on what I wanted to do because of the stress level. I wanted to do something that I actually enjoy, and not be stuck in a career that has a high burnout rate. Thinking on it some more, digital marketing has always been something that I have done as a hobby, for my entrepreneurial efforts or to support small business owners because I was very knowledgeable about different digital marketing channels based on what I taught myself. Digital marketing just made sense for me all around.

I didn’t know I wanted to pursue paid media, specifically. I thought I wanted to do general digital marketing but after speaking to the admission representative Shiraz, who was very knowledgeable. I did quite a bit of research after that and decided that this was a better fit for me, in terms of the curriculum and support that was being offered, that’s why I decided to go with SkillBank instead of another boot camp.

I also have my doctorate degree in chiropractic care, and I completed my master’s in clinical nutrition and a bachelor’s in biology.

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

I had a mental health breakdown during the pandemic, and I searching for something that I actually enjoyed doing which is what caused me to go back into digital marketing as a career. My entrepreneurial efforts are what sparked my interest initially. Ultimately, I knew I wanted to take digital marketing seriously as a full-time career because I wanted to do something fulfilling.

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

I had a really good experience with the curriculum, and the instructors were very helpful and supportive. It’s not an easy curriculum and I think that’s where the value comes in. I believe you get what you put into the course. I took time off from work, so I can take the course extremely seriously, and I did. The course will keep you engaged and there is so much for you to learn. I’m grateful that I was able to obtain all of the relevant certificates because I really think it made a huge difference in helping me land a job. The certifications can be overwhelming when you’re trying to get them on your own. The course gives you the foundational knowledge to enter the digital marketing field with confidence. I think having instructors who are in the field and who have experience definitely makes a huge difference.

The career coach really supported me throughout my time in the course. She gave me the confidence I needed to truly prepare for the job market and for my interviews. I appreciated the constructed criticism I received from the coach, it really helped me share my unique career journey during interviews.

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

Life is going to happen and a lot of things are going to get in the way. You are investing in yourself and you have to show up for yourself in order to be successful. Be a thousand perfect sure that this is where you’re supposed to be, don’t go into marketing because of the money. Money is a good thing, and it will come with the right opportunity. You have to be intentional about where you’re going to dedicate your time. Whatever you put in is what you’re going to get out of the program. If you’re going to be putting your time and money into this, then you’re going to have to put in the work to get a successful outcome. If you have the approach of one foot in-one foot out approach with this program, it’s going to show all the end of the course and when you have your interviews, you’re not going to be able to answer basic questions.