A Jack Of All Trades

For some people, a direct path to a career may seem simple: go into a trade, become a nurse, work in social justice, open a business, etc. Do the time and land the job. Have a long and bountiful career. That is amazing—that is the dream. Have that clear goal, put in the monumental amount of work, and strive to achieve it. However, there is a population of the workforce whose path may not be as straightforward.

Let me tell you, it can be a scary and disorienting position to be in. I graduated from school with an IT degree in the spring of 2020. At that time, the entire world was changing. Employment looked very different from what I imagined in my four years at school. Companies were acting fast to move their workforces to remote settings. Time-tested industries were facing major setbacks. New industries were blossoming. It was a confusing time to be jumping into “the real world.” But I kept a steady mind and jumped into IT. I landed a job that required twelve-hour night shifts behind my computer. I learned a lot about myself in that job.

At 23 years old, I decided to do something I never thought I would: I stepped away from my path in IT and decided to use my early twenties to see the world in a different light. Over the next four years, I explored other career paths. You could call it career exploration, a career break, a vision quest, self-mental rehabilitation, coping, whatever fits. I wanted nothing to do with the 12-hour shifts, analyzing thousands of system logs in the dark attic of my home. So, I took a step back.

As any 23-year-old without a fully developed prefrontal cortex would, I moved to a national forest in Colorado and worked on a dude ranch. I was an assistant cook and worked with wranglers and horses in my spare time. Despite never having worked with horses, I successfully led trail rides through mountainous terrain. The ranch job was seasonal, so when the season ended, I returned home but still felt the need for more time to explore.

The next logical step was to move to rural Mississippi to become a carpenter (obviously). In six months, my company promoted me to manager and master carpenter. I worked on custom builds for some interesting, high-profile clients. While this experience was rewarding, Mississippi wasn’t quite the place for a young guy from the North (I earned the nickname “Yankee”). So, I returned to Cleveland and took a job at Cleveland Bagel Company. I’m not sure what drew me to that job, but the people and the atmosphere felt right. I quickly worked my way up to manager and helped the company expand with two more locations.

When I tell this story to others, some look at me with amazement. However, many people also question me and think I’ve wasted my education on quick thrills. Frankly, I do not care what people think. It is what I needed for myself. And I will always hold the memories and the people I met along the way close to my heart.

Five years out of college, I still sense I may not have a clear career path. But in no way will that stop me from discovering what I am meant to do. Because at the end of the day, I have built trust in myself. I have learned skills that I will use until the day I am no longer here. I can proudly say I am an IT professional with a background in hospitality, construction, food service, and management. Oh, and I can bake a killer sourdough loaf.

No matter where you are in your career, keep your mind open. Look at yourself and see the good. I could easily look at what I’ve done as a negative. I could say I can’t stick to one thing, I wasted my degree, I’m a jack of all trades, master of none. Instead, I choose to see a well-rounded professional whose communication, empathy, and strong work ethic have allowed me to experience things many others have not. And for that, I am grateful.

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