Zoom interview with Chris Mickinnis, Zero To Engineer Alumni
Chris Mickinnis is a father and a husband who is committed to his family’s well-being. Chris was content to stay in his safe, predictable, but unrewarding job as an IT specialist. Uncertainties for the future resulted from a “jack of all trades” job.
What if he were to be injured? What if he needed to find another job? Chris would have a hard time finding another job that would provide the same security to his family.
Chris had been working in customer service at a call center and did not have any additional certifications or awards. He knew he needed to be more successful in his career but didn’t know where or how to go about it.
He was finally ready to end the cycle after more than ten years. He began to believe that he was stuck. He felt frozen in the moment.
Then, a series of persistent Zero to Engineer outreach email chains drew his attention.
He answered the call to change. After attending one of our seminars, “pulled out his credit card” and was ready to go. The light at the end the tunnel, the flag that represents possibility in the fog. He grasped NexGenT’s opportunity and hope, and he flew to heights that he thought he missed.
Chris grinned when he was asked about his motivation and excitement during the program. He had made the decision to enroll and it was only a matter of time before he realized that “… I could see why they were going through a lot of what they were and it was a great refresher. I was excited and that excitement was sustained throughout the network plus videos.
He was motivated enough to try other platforms, but he “keeps coming home to NexGenT material.”
Chris’ Quick Tip
Don’t burn out! You might be tempted to work for 8-10 hours a day on the material. But, you must set a sustainable pace that will allow you to continue to be effective over the long-term. It doesn’t have to be the same for everyone. As long as it is helping you, it can look different.
Chris’s decision to change his course was a major life-changing event. There will be some adjustment, as with all new developments in life.
How did you get the job?
Through running cables, Chris met his manager at Kirby Corp and had a great conversation about future plans. He was impressed with Chris’s determination and motivation with NexGenT and put Chris on his radar.
After a few months of follow up, Chris received the call: Kirby Corp had a spot for Chris and wanted him to join their team. They loved Chris’s enthusiasm for solving problems and recognized the strong signal sent by NexGenT when someone enrolls.
Related: Interview Tips from an Amazon Cybersecurity Solutions Architect
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