My original career
Before I became the Mat Lipe of legend, I was in commercial cleaning. I know what you’re thinking, “janitor” right. Well basically yes with the difference being scale. A janitor has a large range of duties covering a small building of complex, while I commercial cleaner has the specific duty of cleaning an entire large building or complex with a crew all in one night.
I loved being a commercial cleaner. No really, I loved it. In many ways it was the best job I have ever had. I often fantasize about retiring from engineering to go back. Each night I found satisfaction in making the buildings look new again.
I worked my way up to building supervisor. Basically the same thing as area manager but you don’t drive between buildings. I had a good account and a good crew. I was content.
But then something happened. The company I cleaned for started cutting shifts for their employees. Whole areas of the building which were filled with people I knew were now empty at night. It was 2008 and the world was being laid off. Eventually the company cut our contract stating they needed to use a minority owned company for the tax breaks. I know I’m supposed to apologize for being white but let me tell you, sometimes it sucks.
There was nowhere else in the company for me because other accounts had been closing their doors so I lost my job.
I had been laid off for several months now while taking any job interview I would find. Everything from insurance storm chasing to furniture sales, really anyone who would talk to me about work, I went. As there were millions or other people in my situation I had a lot of competition and did not get hired anywhere.
I was about to run out of unemployment benefits when I discovered a dislocated work program providing funds for laid off workers to go to school. I immediately signed up with the primary goal to keep my benefits going so I could eat. The prospect of a near career was also enticing but at the time there was no hope of work for anyone so that felt more like a future wish.
A near future ending situation
A couple weeks before school started an individual from my past called me as asked me to come to their apartment to visit. Upon entering their apartment they immediately verbally and physically attacked me. I tried to leave and they blocked my exit. I fought my way out.
It was that quick. My entire future was nearly lost in a few seconds of violence. A few days later I was arrested and convicted of assault.
My time at school
I originally enrolled in a Computer Technician program at a community college. I had no idea of how many classes I should take so my first semester I registered for 22 credits. After the first semester I realized I would run out of credits before my 2 years was up so I added a Network Systems Engineer program as well. My advisor thought it was a bad idea. His exact words were, “I think you are drinking.” After showing him I had a 4.0 GPA with 22 credits last semester he agreed to let me do it. I continued the remainder of the 2 years taking 23 credits a semester plus 13 credits over the summer.
While going to school I was fixing computers out of my house for $50 a piece so I could literally keep the lights on. I was also working as a tutor for the school for $8 an hour.
One of the my fondest memories of this period of time was taking furniture from an abandoned house to burn in my wood stove to keep my house warm. Needless to say funds were very limited.
I graduated college with 2 degrees and 2 diplomas in 2 years; with a 3.86 GPA. Ready to take on the world with my IT skills and strong confidence. Or so I thought…..
Difficult with background checks
Using my transcripts and a professional looking resume I was able to easily get job interviews. In fact, I received an interview on every job I applied for. Talking in interviews came easy for me and I was immediately liked by all who interviewed me. I made it through all 3 levels of interviews and was offered every position I applied for.
Due to my desperation for a paycheck, I accepted every offer regardless of location and salary. Let me tell you some were in rough areas of Minneapolis offering unlivable wages. Every since one of the companies ran a background check and resigned the offer as soon as they saw I had a recent assault on my record. There is no room for criminals in IT.