A Scholarship Offers Access to the Skills to Succeed in Today’s Workforce And a Path Forward.
Guillermo Ruiz was at a crossroads. After graduating from college, he aspired to be a chef. But after years of battling injuries, demanding hours and burnout, it was time for a change. He stumbled upon a job in marketing, and while Guillermo hadn’t envisioned himself in the field, he discovered he had a knack for telling companies’ stories.
When it seemed like he had found his footing, Guillermo’s employer went through a round of layoffs, and he lost his job. Lacking the technical marketing skills he needed to be a viable candidate, he struggled to get interviews, let alone jobs. As one month of unemployment stretched into eight, Guillermo’s career uncertainty weighed on him. Guillermo toyed with going back into cooking but knew what he wanted was to find a path back to marketing.
I moved into an entirely different financial bracket because of this job and scholarship. I have access to so many more opportunities than I did previously.
— Guillermo Ruiz, UW Certificate in Digital Marketing
He found it through the UW Certificate in Digital Marketing program. Now, Guillermo is following his passion. As a marketing generalist, he’s using the skills from the program to manage the digital presence for a cyber security compliance company — thanks in part to financial support from a scholarship.
“If I didn't have the scholarship, affording the certificate would’ve been financially difficult and I would’ve been gambling on myself to learn things and transform them into marketable skills,” Guillermo says. “I moved into an entirely different financial bracket because of this job and scholarship. I have access to so many more opportunities than I did previously.”
THE SUPPORT TO THRIVE
After struggling with what career path to choose and battling doubts about his future, Guillermo knew having structured content and an educational program to follow would be critical to moving forward and could also help shift his perspective about the possibilities available. A friend mentioned a UW program had helped advance their career, and having spent time wading through numerous options, having a reputable educational institution to turn to made enrolling in the UW Certificate in Digital Marketing program a clear choice.
Through his certificate, Guillermo Ruiz found mentors and resources to grow his career in digital marketing.
“Certificate programs can be tough space to navigate; you can get preyed on a bit by organizations that don't necessarily have your best interests at heart because you're desperate to have a piece of paper that says you have skills,” Guillermo says. “What’s nice about this program is the University of Washington’s name is behind it, which carries significant weight. People know it and recognize it's legitimate.”
However, a little help covering the cost would go a long way. Guillermo discovered UW Professional & Continuing Education’s (UWPCE) scholarship programs, applied and UWPCE recognized his potential with an award that covered most of his tuition and fees.
“I don’t know if I would have enrolled in the certificate program if I hadn't gotten the scholarship, it would have made things pretty difficult financially,” he says. “But it made it an easy decision when I received the scholarship. I appreciated I could participate in the program with minimal financial strain.”
TURNING POSSIBILITY INTO REALITY
Guillermo appreciated the program’s flexibility and diverse classmates, but for him, the opportunity to gain experience and learn from professionals in the field was unmatched. Hungry for work, he constantly applied for jobs while in school. Less than a third of the way into the program, Guillermo’s persistence paid off. He landed a marketing interview and aced it — a feat made possible through his instructors’ marketing expertise.
“This certificate gave me the technical know-how and the vocabulary to go into a marketing interview and act like I knew what I was doing,” he says. “I used some of the articles my instructors sent me in an interview to explain how people are approaching work today. I was grateful that this opportunity came up since it allowed me to showcase what I had learned. That's been the best part.”
I’m grateful for the scholarship in combination with the certificate program because they're directly transferable to the job market. And that’s something that can’t be beaten.
— Guillermo Ruiz, UW Certificate in Digital Marketing
Guillermo loves his current work as a marketing generalist, where he’s part of the revenue operations team responsible for demand generation and ensuring their salespeople have pre-qualified leads. He manages the organization’s digital presence, search engine marketing and paid ads, and ensures they’re ranked for the right keywords and produce optimal advertising.
When Guillermo thinks about his future now, it’s with a fresh perspective. The doubts and uncertainty over whether he was qualified to work in marketing and if he’d be able to land a role in the field are gone and have been replaced with excitement.
“I'm most looking forward to taking these concepts and immediately applying them into my life,” he explains. “It’s like I’m getting extra job training. I'm creating an entire marketing plan around a rebrand within my first couple weeks of starting this job, and I definitely wouldn’t have been capable of doing that without this program.”
Looking beyond his own personal growth, Guillermo hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams and change their lives. “I’m grateful for the scholarship in combination with the certificate program because they're directly transferable to the job market. And that’s something that can’t be beaten,” says Guillermo. “I would tell somebody you absolutely should take a certificate program if you want to advance your career or skill set in any regard.”
You can help open the door to opportunity for other students like Guillermo.