Raise your hand if you’ve ever been rejected from a job application because you “didn’t have enough experience.” (Raises hand to the sky.) Career paths are not always linear, and moving from one career path to a totally different one is not unusual, but without “enough experience” to be considered for that new role, how do you actually gain the experience?
I sat down with Ari Del Rosario, Growth Advertising Sales Manager at Taboola, who, over some laughs and shared experiences about career transitions, shared his pivot from ten years teaching in the public education sector to beginning his sales career at Taboola.
You spent ten years building your career in education. Why the change to sales?
It wasn’t until I became a father in 2019 that I had the chance to spend more time with my daughter as a silver lining to the pandemic. It was then that I really started thinking about a career change. My new dad status made me realize how precious the time with my daughter was and how important it was to conserve my energy for my family, especially given the emotional weight that came with working in education that I often carried home with me. It became increasingly important that my job allowed me to be more present at home, so when my second daughter was born in 2022, I knew I needed something that offered more flexibility to be more available for my family.
My first move was from public education to becoming the autism and inclusion program director at the YM & YWHA, but it was through a local WhatsApp group for dads that I had organized, where a friend pointed out my networking skills and suggested I try sales. That planted the seed and made me think about how I grew up working in my dad’s bodega, which taught me a lot about connecting with people and building relationships. After some research, I took a six-month sales boot camp to learn the ropes, and shortly after, I landed my current role at Taboola, a company that has offered the flexibility and balance I had been craving. Taboola saw my relatable experience and potential despite not having a ton of traditional sales experience.
What skills from your education background have you applied to your sales role here?
There are so many skills I find myself using from my education days that I now apply in my sales role at Taboola. As a teacher, I always had to prep for my classes, which were a mix of neurodivergent students, and I had to be able to listen to them and assess their needs. Working in sales is quite similar, but instead of students, I’m listening to and assessing the needs of my clients. Having worked with kids from different backgrounds and skill levels and with varying needs, I’ve learned there is no standardized approach to any interaction. The personalization I had to apply to teaching was key–just like working in sales.
How has Taboola supported your career transition & development?
After one year in my role as Sales Development Rep (SDR), I’m proud to share my recent promotion to Sales Manager! When I first started at Taboola, I remember hearing our CEO, Adam, say how this is a company that hires people, not resumes. He talked about how everyone’s unique experiences contribute to our culture, and how many of our senior leaders didn’t take a traditional route to get to where they are. That’s been my experience. My experience here has been an evolution of learning and momentum. I’ve been fortunate to receive immense support, guidance, and validation from my coworkers for the work I’ve done. With this promotion, I can already see how the interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills I developed in my education career will become even more valuable as I continue to grow and contribute here.
What advice would you give to someone else considering making a career transition?
You are not defined by the lines on your resume! You bring a lot more to the table than you probably realize–experiences as a human being, your goals, your aspirations, and, of course, your professional experiences. If you’ve been thinking about making a change, it’s worth going for it and seeing where it goes.
Ari’s story is a great reminder that career paths don’t always follow a straight line and that the skills you already have from former positions can be just as valuable—if not more—than specific experience. If you’re thinking about switching careers, Ari’s advice is simple: trust your instincts, take the leap, and stay open to what might come next–achieving professional growth, job satisfaction, and experiencing work-life balance all at once is possible.
To learn more about why we are consistently ranked as a great place to work, check out the Taboola Life Blog. Visit our careers page and discover your moment with #TaboolaLife.
