How SkillBank Eases Your Transition to a Digital Marketing Career

If you’re reading this, you might be at a crossroads in your life. Perhaps you’re a self-starter, a motivated individual looking for the right way to channel your ambition. Maybe you’re finishing community college, trying to decide whether or not to pursue further education. 

You might also be itching to get your feet wet in the workforce. Or maybe you’re simply curious about all the options that await a driven young person who is ready to put the pedal to the metal on their career.

Does any of this sound like you? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, a similar predicament was what prompted Mehak Vohra, founder of digital marketing bootcamp SkillBank, to take charge and pave the way for many others looking for a solid career path.

How Skillbank Bootcamp Began

Mehak Vohra started SkillBank because she felt that there wasn’t a pipeline or guiding force set up to get her from where she was at 18–eager, motivated, and open to possibilities–to where she wanted to be, which is exploring an exciting and dynamic career in marketing.

“I’ve never been the type of person who thrives in a classroom. I’m a kinesthetic learner, and I’ve found that the best way for me to pick up a new skill is by jumping in and doing it,” Mehak said. “This is why I wanted to create a launchpad for people looking to learn and understand the world of growth and startups.”

So, she made that pipeline herself, and SkillBank was born. Mehak and SkillBank believe that there are many young people with immense potential that lack the resources or accessibility to channel that potential into a career opportunity. 

That’s why SkillBank strives for accessibility—evident in its no-upfront-payment policy, among others. Now with diverse and passionate investors and staff, SkillBank is embarking on its mission to empower people by unlocking an entryway into digital marketing careers.

Why Skillbank? The Last Mile of Education

There are many people with the talent and drive to succeed, but not the opportunity. 

As reported in a study by Georgetown University, the number of students in the US that are earning associate degrees is about the same as those earning undergraduate bachelor’s degrees. A prime reason for this is the skyrocketing costs of a bachelor’s degree as well as the time it takes to earn one. With the time and cost that bachelor’s degrees demand, associate degrees have become a great alternative to many.

But in Mehak’s experience, many people come out of their associate degree programs feeling a bit lost. How can you translate that degree into the kind of work you want to do? How can you go from a degree in English or Communications, for example, to a fulfilling job in marketing and paid media with high-growth potential?

This is where SkillBank comes in. SkillBank offers a 15-week, part-time course which requires a weekly commitment of between 15 to 20 hours. This flexibility allows students to take the program on its own or as complementary training in their final months of associate or bachelor’s degree program. 

It also allows them to simultaneously attend to other commitments while picking up new digital marketing knowledge. Essentially, SkillBank is designed to help students transition into the workforce.

How Can SkillBank Help You Land a Job by the End of Semester?

The first step you can take to land the job you want in marketing is by enrolling in SkillBank’s program, which focuses on paid media. The school believes that paid media is a great starting point to get your foot in the door, especially for those looking to break into technical marketing at a later stage in their career.

“A lot of agencies are hiring for this role right now, and it’s the easiest role to showcase your marketing talent in since the results are so immediate,” said Mehak. The demand, she said, could be attributed to the shortage of talent in the industry along with how easy it is to grow in your role.

This makes paid media roles a prime opportunity to get into by anyone—whether you’re coming out of college or looking to jumpstart your marketing career. And if you opt for SkillBank’s program in the final leg of college, you’d graduate with two feathers in your cap: a degree and a new set of skills applicable to the job market.

Think of SkillBank as an avenue for you to gain experience in paid media. Its program teaches students how to navigate and tackle crucial tools used in paid media roles Facebook Ads and Google Ads platforms. At the end of the program, SkillBank can also help you obtain certificates that would bring you one step closer to your dream job.

If you feel like SkillBank is not a good match for your career goals, you have the option to withdraw from its program with no questions asked, thanks to its no-risk guarantee. Note that this offer is only available up to seven days from the date of enrollment. 

Learning the Ropes Before Striking Out On Your Own

SkillBank’s training is designed to be an all-rounder so learners can use the skills to explore a multitude of roles or even start their own companies. 

Many students who come to SkillBank are aspiring entrepreneurs who want to eventually start their own business. While the school encourages and supports them in this process, it recommends starting by working for a company similar to the kind the students would want to start. 

Even though Mehak is now a successful growth hacker and sits at the helm of SkillBank, she recognizes the value that working experience could bring to an aspiring entrepreneur. And this is a piece of advice that she constantly passes on to SkillBank students.

Joel Reeside is a recent graduate with an ambition to start his own marketing agency. During the pandemic, he decided to make a career change and pursue his longtime passion, going from the service industry to digital marketing. Upon recommendation from venture capitalists he admires, Joel joined SkillBank. 

His decision was anchored in his goal to transition into a digital marketing job, which would eventually open doors for him in the industry. In his time at SkillBank, he learned industry knowledge from co-workers who have been in the game for a long time, gained a better understanding of how successful agencies function, and grasped the general framework of a digital marketing agency before creating his own. 

What he liked most about the course was how hands-on and practical it was. “It’s very project-based,” he said. “Everyone in your cohort does a presentation each week, and those presentations can be used as a portfolio to show off to potential employers.” Indeed, the presentations allow students to learn how to pitch themselves and their skills to an audience, which as Joel noted, includes potential hiring managers. 

He also loved that the classes were live, allowing room for discussion and real-time feedback. As someone who had previously taken asynchronous programs, Joel found that it was difficult to feel connected to the program and the material, as well as the peer group. 

At SkillBank, classes are held live three days a week, with each class lasting two hours. Before the week ends, fellows pitch their weekly projects to the class. This allows students to connect with and learn from each other throughout the program. To provide further support, SkillBank instructors are available on Slack at any time. 

Put this all together, and you get a program that advances learning engagement, ample support, and hands-on training that encourages independent thinking. “Working in tech, you’re expected to be able to solve problems when they arise. You’ve got to take responsibility,” he said. “At SkillBank, what you put in is what you get out of it.”

How SkillBank Helps with Career Transition 

Before he came across SkillBank, Joel was searching for the right approach to a career transition. He knew that to successfully launch a digital marketing career, he would have to know the technical skills. But, there was another crucial piece of skill he had to learn: the ability to market yourself.

“The process through which you get a job in the service industry as opposed to marketing is very different,” he said. “Before SkillBank, I felt unprepared as far as the job search is concerned, since the interview process is so different. The fact that SkillBank has an employment coach was a huge benefit.”

“They do a good job teaching you everything from how to write a resume, to how to write your LinkedIn, to interview preparation. They go over everything employment-wise.” Before their job interviews, graduates can also schedule mock interviews with SkillBank to keep them fresh and ready as they take on the job hunt. 

Right out of the gate, Joel landed interviews with SkillBank’s help—an opportunity he never thought would be accessible to him. 

Take Charge of Your Future with SkillBank

SkillBank’s 15-week training is created to help fill your skills gap in marketing, allowing you to fast-track your career growth. And with a part-time model, SkillBank ensures that the program is accessible to any career-seeker, regardless of background.

Are you ready to take your transition period and turn it into a period of career development? SkillBank is waiting for you. Apply to Skillbank’s next cohort today.