“I rarely had the chance to innovate or to see the direct impact of my work.”

What work were you doing previously?    

I was employed working in a document control role.

I worked 90 hours per week, which included working on weekends. 

What are you doing now?    

I'm now working as an email marketing specialist. 

Why did you change?

I wanted a career that aligned with my interests, strengths, and long-term goals. 

In document control, I was comfortable and capable, but I realized I wasn’t fully engaged or excited by the work.

Email marketing offered a way to combine creativity, strategy, and measurable impact. Things I enjoy and excel at.

I wanted to work in a field where I could continuously learn, see tangible results from my efforts, and have the flexibility to grow.

Ultimately, the change was about moving toward work that energizes me and allows me to make a meaningful impact.

How did you choose your new career?

I chose my new career by reflecting on what I genuinely enjoy and where my strengths lie. 

I knew I wanted a role that combined creativity, strategy, and tangible results – something that would challenge me, but also energize me every day.

I explored several options, experimented with small projects, and researched growing fields. Email marketing stood out because it allowed me to leverage my attention to detail and organizational skills from my previous role while developing new skills in writing, automation, and strategy.

I chose it because it aligned with both my interests and my long-term goals, giving me the opportunity to grow professionally while doing work I love.

Are you happy with the change?  

Absolutely. 

What do you miss and what don't you miss?

What I miss from my previous role is the sense of structure and predictability. 

Document control was very organized, and there was a clear process for almost everything, which was comforting in its own way.

What I don’t miss is feeling limited in my growth and creativity. In my old role, I rarely had the chance to innovate or see the direct impact of my work.

In email marketing, I get to be creative, experiment, and see measurable results from my efforts something that energizes me every day.

How did you go about making the shift?

I started by taking free courses before switching to paid mentorship. 

The first free course I took was HubSpot Academy Email Marketing certification course. Then I took another from great learning. Digital marketing from Shaw Academy and a whole lot of paid ones.

I took courses, studied successful email campaigns, and practiced writing and designing emails on personal projects.

I also sought feedback from experienced marketers and joined online communities for guidance and accountability.

How did you develop (or transfer) the skills you needed for your new role?

I developed the skills for my new role by intentionally building on what I already had and actively learning what I didn’t. 

My background in document control taught me structure, clarity, attention to detail, and process thinking skills that translate perfectly into writing effective emails and designing systems.

From there, I invested in self-education. I took specialized courses, studied high-performing email campaigns, and practiced writing daily.

I also worked on real projects both personal and client-based which helped me understand strategy, segmentation, automations, and the business side of email marketing.

It was a mix of leveraging my previous strengths, learning in public, seeking feedback, and consistently improving through hands-on experience.

What didn’t go well? What wrong turns did you take?

In the beginning, I made the mistake of thinking skill alone would bring clients. 

I spent too much time learning and perfecting things privately instead of putting myself out there. I also tried to be everything at once designer, copywriter, social media manager until I realized that lack of focus was slowing me down.

Another wrong turn was under-pricing my work because I didn’t feel experienced enough. It led to burnout and reinforced the imposter syndrome I was already battling.

Looking back, those missteps were important. They pushed me to specialize, show up consistently, and build confidence through action rather than waiting to feel ready.

How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible?    

I reduced unnecessary expenses and saved aggressively.

I created a small buffer so I wouldn’t feel pressured to take any job out of desperation.

I also kept my previous role long enough to fund my learning. Most of the courses, tools, and resources I invested in were paid for from my 9–5.

When I finally transitioned, I started with project-based work so I could generate income quickly while still building my skills and portfolio.

It wasn’t easy, but having a simple financial plan and staying disciplined gave me the stability and confidence to fully commit to the switch.

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

It was the mindset shift. 

I had to rebuild my identity from scratch and get comfortable being a beginner again. Leaving a stable, familiar path for something new came with a lot of doubt, especially when people questioned my decision or expected me to play it safe.

There were days when I wondered if I was making a mistake, and pushing through that uncertainty was harder than mastering any technical skill.

What help did you get? 

I got a lot of help from people who were already doing the kind of work I wanted to do. 

I followed their content, took their courses, and learned from their processes. My friends encouraged me and provided me with feedback when I asked them for it. 

What have you learnt in the process?    

I’ve learnt that growth is a combination of courage, consistency, and patience. 

Switching careers taught me that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. Clarity comes from taking action, not waiting for the perfect moment.

I also learnt the value of focusing on one skill deeply instead of trying to do everything at once. 

Most importantly, I’ve learnt to trust myself. Every step, right or wrong built resilience, confidence, and a clearer understanding of the type of work I want to do and the kind of person I want to become.

What do you wish you'd done differently?

If I could do anything differently, I would've started putting myself out there much earlier. 

I spent too much time learning in silence and trying to be perfect before showing my work.

Looking back, sharing my progress sooner would have helped me build confidence, get feedback, and attract opportunities faster.

What would you advise others to do in the same situation? 

My advice is simple: start before you feel fully ready, but start with a plan. 

Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take small, consistent steps and let your progress build your confidence.

Focus on one skill first. Mastery is what creates opportunities, not trying to do everything at the same time. Invest in learning, practice publicly, and don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek help.

Also, give yourself grace. Career switches come with uncertainty, slow days, and self-doubt, but none of that means you’re on the wrong path.

Stay consistent, stay curious, and don’t underestimate the power of showing up even when it feels uncomfortable.

You’ll be surprised by how much momentum you can create when you just keep going.

What resources would you recommend to others?

Invest in specialized courses (HubSpot Academy, Mailchimp Email Marketing Course, Klaviyo etc.)

Join online groups or forums on Facebook and Discord where you can ask questions, get feedback, and stay motivated.

Read widely to understand strategy, mindset, and best practices.

Follow or connect with people already doing the work you want to do they can save you time and help you avoid common mistakes.

To find out more about Jennifer's work, visit https://chukwujennifer.com/email-marketing-specialist/

What lessons could you take from Jennifer's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.