By: Kerline Jules

Almost 20 years ago, I graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. I double majored in Computer Information Systems and Finance and Minored in Business Law. My thoughts then were to secure a job working with financial systems. Before graduation, I secured a job through the tech company I was interning for at the time, and that was the start of my career. I spent most of my corporate time in business systems, business intelligence, and data analytics, working on various system implementation projects, databases, data warehouses, and enterprise data reporting. I was content with my career on the one hand, but on the other hand, I did not feel fulfilled; something was missing, and it would take me years of self-discovery to find what that was. 

In my extracurricular activities, I was very involved with my local Urban League Young Professionals Chapter. The Urban League Young Professionals is a national volunteer auxiliary of the Urban League movement targeting young professionals between the ages of 21-40. Around 2010 /2011, I was elected as the Vice President of Operations for the organization, and in this role, I oversaw public relations, marketing, and membership. I had no experience in marketing and pr, so I undertook a rigorous program of self-study to ensure I could do a great job. In this role, I discovered that I had a hidden talent in branding and digital marketing. I was able to relaunch our chapter newsletter, set the foundation for our initial social media accounts, and launch campaigns to excite our prospective members about the work we were doing as an organization. I was in love with my role and often thought, how can I make this a career? 

My concern was my college education; I studied Computer Information Systems and Finance; how could I transition into a marketing career when I had some of the most left-brain majors? So I decided to continue with my corporate job, unfilled not excited. It would take a series of layoffs and organization restructuring to finally land me into what I believe to be my life’s purpose career. It was 2013 when I walked out of the global office of an iconic brand with my box in hand, heading to the parking garage. I told myself during that long, lonely walk after being told that I was being laid off that I would take control of my career, and this would be the last time I would have to walk out of an office with a box at hand. 

So, I decided to take a leap of faith and get into marketing through my agency. It took me some years to get there. Still, I started watching YouTube videos, reading articles online, and leveraging resources like Hubspot Academy, Content Marketing Institute, and Social Media Examiner, to name a few, to sharpen my skills in digital marketing. Going back to school for a post-degree would not have been ideal then, so this was the best alternative for now. And in September 2016, I launched Jules Management Group. I secured my first two social media clients: a high-end wedding photographer and a black-owned radio show.   

The first couple of years were a struggle as I quickly learned that managing social media on a personal angle for fun and managing a business social media account that is looking for ROI is a whole different level of pressure. However, the pressure was good for me because it forced me to continue to study digital marketing so that I could deliver results that met the business needs. 

This month, I will be celebrating eight years in business. It’s been a rewarding experience but an arduous journey at the same time, but I would not have it any other way. I’ve enjoyed all the clients I’ve worked with over the years. I feel like I was able to grow with some of them and aid them with the launch of their businesses through digital marketing services. 

If you’re currently in a career that you’re not happy with and are interested in switching to a career in marketing, I’m here to tell you that it is possible, and dreams do come true. It will take hard work and self-discipline to learn a new field, but many resources can help you take the first step in the right direction. 

Here are my tips:

• First, trust your gut; you know what makes you happy, so make the switch
• Develop a game plan and timeline to help you transition
• Look into both paid and free resources to get your marketing knowledge up to speed
• Join LinkedIn Groups and Facebook groups of marketers
• Seek a mentor in the field
• Join an organization like the American Marketing Association
• Update your LinkedIn profile
• Volunteer with an organization where you can offer pro bono marketing services if you need some experience to add to your resume

Below, I’ve shared some of my favorite marketing resources. 

• Social Media Examiner
• Digital Marketing Institute
• Content Marketing Institute
• Hubspot Academy