August 8, 2024 • 10 mins
What if you could transform your career from a grueling, heat-soaked job to a thriving position in tech, all during a global pandemic? Julian Gonzalez did just that. Join us as we discuss Julian's inspiring journey from being a smog technician in Fresno, California, to becoming a Development Consultant within the ServiceNow ecosystem. Despite facing countless rejections, Julian's determination to complete his associate's degree and seize a rare software development apprenticeship opportunity showcases the power of perseverance, mentorship, and non-traditional career pathways.
Hear firsthand how Julian's experience in an accelerated coding program reshaped his problem-solving skills and productivity. He opens up about the financial and personal triumphs that came with his first paycheck from Uplift, and the pivotal role his mentor, Joshua Shapiro, played in his success. This episode also highlights the importance of skills-first hiring and innovative learning pathways in tech, alongside a fun reveal of Julian's favorite snack—Thai milk tea. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the future of modern apprenticeships and how they can revolutionize lives and careers.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When I started looking for jobs and everyone
just kept rejecting myapplications, I was like man,
there has to be a way to learnon the job.
And then it immediately hit mewait a minute, what if there's
like an apprenticeship forsoftware development?
And so I just went on.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
but when I was like software development,
apprenticeship and stuff, and Igot really lucky and I found it,
hey everyone, this is MikeRoberts, creator of the
Apprenticeship Playbook, andyou're tuned in to the Skills
First podcast.
In today's world, skills Firsthiring is revolutionizing the
(00:32):
job market and on this show Isit down with trailblazers who
are rethinking hiring practicesand embracing experiential
learning, as well as the peopleimpacted.
Follow along as we dive intotips, innovative ideas and
proven strategies to help younavigate and thrive in the
evolving landscape of modernapprenticeships.
So let's start with having youtell me what your name is and
(00:55):
tell me what your current jobtitle is.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
My name is Julian Gonzalez and my current job
title is Development Consultantfor Athletes and Social Group.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So you're doing some work in the ServiceNow ecosystem
Awesome.
So where do you live?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I live in the Central Valley, a place called Fresno,
California.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And what were you doing before you started this
new career?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
So before I did this, I worked as a smog tech five
years and it was a chill job,but I could only go up so far in
the ladder and make so muchmoney.
And when you work in a smogtech, especially right here in
the summer, like it gets in thesummer in Brazil, it gets to
like under 10.
And I have to inspect cars it's110 degree weather and an
(01:44):
engine to inspect cars on it.
It's a hundred and ten degreeweather and an engine based like
a hundred plus degrees.
That's several work conditions.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, not fun.
My guess is, pathways is alittle bit more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Oh, that is so much better.
I have AC at home.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
AC, I know Work it inside.
Yeah, that's a phenomenaltransition from working in the
heat and doing like physicalmanual type out there and all
kinds of people that you'redealing with, to now really
solving problems from thecomfort of your home.
That sounds amazing.
What was one of the biggestchallenges in your journey to
(02:18):
become a software engineer?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I've always wanted to get into tech.
I just always doubted myselfand then, when the pandemic
started, I decided I was goingto to get into tech.
I just always doubted myselfand then, when the pandemic
started, I decided I was goingto get serious about it and I
was on track to finishing myassociates.
I just focused on that and thenI quit my job in March of 2021.
And I told myself okay, I'malmost done with my associates,
(02:41):
I'm going to focus on that andI'm going to do a lot of
projects and apply for jobs.
And I was just applying forjobs every single day, week
after week, month after month,and I was getting no responses.
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So how did you learn about this program that you
completed?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
My brothers work there as electricians, they work
in low voltage and their lines,and they actually got their
start through apprenticeship.
And my dad's always like when Ifirst got out of high school, I
applied for the Carpentry Unionas an apprentice, but the list
of that is like 300 plus peopleevery single year, and so that
was going to take a couple ofyears for me to even get looked
(03:23):
at.
And so when I started lookingfor jobs and everyone just kept
rejecting my applications, I waslike man, there has to be a way
to learn on the job.
And then it immediately hit mewait a minute, what if there's
like an apprenticeship forsoftware development?
And so I just went on.
But when I was like softwaredevelopment, apprenticeship and
stuff, and I got really luckyand I found a CCC.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Nice.
Yeah, man, that's the cheatcode that you found.
Because, like, a lot of peopledon't make that connection, so
they don't even think that thisis an opportunity and there are
very few apprenticeship programsvery few.
So like to know to do thesearch, like I think was a big
hack, that hopefully people arehearing this and they realize
that oh man, try that hack andmore of that searching.
(04:03):
Oh man, try that hack and moreof that searching might result
in more of these companiesstarting to show up because we
see there's a demand.
So how long did it take for youto finish the program?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It actually took me a month to complete all the.
It took me like a month tofinish all the projects for CCC
and then two months I finishedServiceNow.
I got my CAC the month afterand then I like a month to
finish up the project for CCC,and then two months I finished
service now.
I got my CSA the month afterand then I waited a month and I
still kept doing service now andthen I got imported to Uplift.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So I often tell people your story and share with
them that like, oh yeah, wehave some people that fly
through the curriculum becausethey've had a little bit of time
to like self-teach or gothrough and it's a testament to
how much hard work you put inbeforehand when it was just
unseen.
It's the time that, like a lotof people put in before they're
successful.
That really allowed you, Ithink, to just crush it in the
(04:56):
curriculum and get done with.
Most people might take four tosix months and literally two
months, like a month of justlike banging out learning the
new things Cause I'm sure thereare new things that you're
learning in the curriculum.
But also just, man, like you'renow, like you're the what would
the benchmark we compareeverybody to?
It's like Julian, is this goingto be Julian?
(05:16):
Or a little like a half ofJulian, right?
So again, props for that, forputting in the work, because it
doesn't come easy for anybody,but it was clear.
I remember when I interviewedyou I asked you some question
about coding and I could seelike you lit up and I was like,
oh, this guy is gonna be a coderI.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
I enjoyed the work a lot and it's like you said.
I was like I was reallydetermined to that man.
I working at the smart shop wascool, but like it was soulless
and I didn't want to go back tothat at all.
And my boss was really cool andhe was like anytime you need to
come back, but I was determinednot to come back oh, yeah, yeah
.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You gotta be looking forward.
So how is learning to code makea difference or an impact on
you, both professionally andpersonally?
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I feel like I look at things differently when solving
challenges.
The way I learn things is, Iguess, a little bit more
productive.
It teaches you to look at aproblem and just be stuck at it
and not really get anywhere.
But learning to code it taughtme.
There's so many resourcesonline, or even asking someone,
and that video can all lead youto the answer.
And then sometimes too, ifyou're looking for the answer,
(06:21):
but if you focus too much,you're never going to get the
answer.
And so sometimes too, if you'relooking for the answer, but if
you focus too much, you're nevergoing to get the answer, and so
sometimes you just need to takea break and get away from it
and then come back with a freshperspective.
I feel like that.
Really.
That really helped me out in mypersonal life as well.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yeah, so many transferable skills that you can
take and you can apply to youreveryday to make you just a
better human.
A hundred percent agree.
What do you look forward tomost now professionally?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I just actually just got my first paycheck from an
athlete, like this week or lastweek, and it was so amazing
because I'm used to getting like18 bucks, 20 bucks an hour and
like my mortgage is like 1600bucks a month and so it feels
nice to actually have some moneyleft over and be able to save.
And I guess the thing I'm notlooking forward with a lot of
(07:08):
being able to actually build aretirement, actually be able to
afford, like maybe now I canactually afford that nice man,
that's uh, that's huge.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
like I can just.
I can hear and sense the likeweight lifted off your shoulder
to know that if you're livingfrom paycheck to paycheck and
you have now that capacity,that's huge.
I remember when that happenedfor me.
I remember when I went fromlike really wanting to do this
to figuring out, oh I can dowhat I do for fun, I can do that
for real.
And then starting to see thosechecks come in, I was just like
(07:39):
whoa, this is like life changing.
Yeah, it was great.
Who's someone that you look upto that you want to give a?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
I honestly you and you and Joshua Shapiro, my
mentor because what you're doingis I don't think without you, I
don't know, maybe I would havebeen able to get a job in
software development, but itwould have taken me a lot longer
.
And it is very demoralizing tobe looking for a job for four
months, five months, and not get, not even hear back from
recruiters.
What you're doing is it's ablessing.
(08:09):
If someone applies for CCC, Ithink they need to realize how
it's such a great opportunityand if they're going to join,
they need to realize how no one.
It's like you said earlier thatthere's not very much
apprenticeships in california orin the us for software
development like I think.
Out of all the apprenticeships,I thought you were like the
only one that actually isactually doing the
(08:29):
apprenticeship program.
It's a huge opportunity andpeople need to take an advantage
of that.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Appreciate it.
I appreciate you showing love,especially also to Josh Shapiro.
Shout out to him, I thinkhaving that mentorship, I think,
is I'll give him more credit inthe shout out than I.
Just I feel almost morallyobligated, since I've lived the
lifestyle of those big checks,to be able to say, hey, how can
I help more people that are justlike they're deserving, they're
super hardworking, you're outthere in the heat and you want
(08:56):
to do something different.
If I can help, more than happyto do so.
Appreciate you.
This is the last question andit's most challenging for some.
What is your favorite snack?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
My favorite snack man , you drink out Thai milk tea.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Oh Thai milk tea.
Do drinks count, thai milk tea?
Oh Thai milk tea.
Okay, yeah, yeah, but thatdoesn't have the little bubble
things in it.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That's just tea, not the tea with the little like
yeah, you can add the boba, butI don't really like the boba
because it's like plastic.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, I don't like it either.
Like, sometimes you just need alittle refreshing pick-me-up in
the middle of your day, so Ilike it.
Awesome.
All right, julian, thanks somuch for coming on the program.
Yeah, thanks.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Mike for having me Awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
You've been listening to skills first, the
apprenticeship playbook podcast.
By the way, if this is valuableto you, don't be lame.
Share the game.
This is how we know you love it.
If you're a company thinkingabout changing how you hire,
please share it so we know thistype of stuff is what you want.
When I started looking for jobs and everyone
just kept rejecting myapplications, I was like man,
there has to be a way to learnon the job.
And then it immediately hit mewait a minute, what if there's
like an apprenticeship forsoftware development?
And so I just went on.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
but when I was like software development,
apprenticeship and stuff, and Igot really lucky and I found it,
hey everyone, this is MikeRoberts, creator of the
Apprenticeship Playbook, andyou're tuned in to the Skills
First podcast.
In today's world, skills Firsthiring is revolutionizing the
(00:32):
job market and on this show Isit down with trailblazers who
are rethinking hiring practicesand embracing experiential
learning, as well as the peopleimpacted.
Follow along as we dive intotips, innovative ideas and
proven strategies to help younavigate and thrive in the
evolving landscape of modernapprenticeships.
So let's start with having youtell me what your name is and
(00:55):
tell me what your current jobtitle is.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
My name is Julian Gonzalez and my current job
title is Development Consultantfor Athletes and Social Group.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So you're doing some work in the ServiceNow ecosystem
Awesome.
So where do you live?
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I live in the Central Valley, a place called Fresno,
California.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And what were you doing before you started this
new career?
Speaker 1 (01:23):
So before I did this, I worked as a smog tech five
years and it was a chill job,but I could only go up so far in
the ladder and make so muchmoney.
And when you work in a smogtech, especially right here in
the summer, like it gets in thesummer in Brazil, it gets to
like under 10.
And I have to inspect cars it's110 degree weather and an
(01:44):
engine to inspect cars on it.
It's a hundred and ten degreeweather and an engine based like
a hundred plus degrees.
That's several work conditions.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, not fun.
My guess is, pathways is alittle bit more comfortable.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Oh, that is so much better.
I have AC at home.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
AC, I know Work it inside.
Yeah, that's a phenomenaltransition from working in the
heat and doing like physicalmanual type out there and all
kinds of people that you'redealing with, to now really
solving problems from thecomfort of your home.
That sounds amazing.
What was one of the biggestchallenges in your journey to
(02:18):
become a software engineer?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I've always wanted to get into tech.
I just always doubted myselfand then, when the pandemic
started, I decided I was goingto to get into tech.
I just always doubted myselfand then, when the pandemic
started, I decided I was goingto get serious about it and I
was on track to finishing myassociates.
I just focused on that and thenI quit my job in March of 2021.
And I told myself okay, I'malmost done with my associates,
(02:41):
I'm going to focus on that andI'm going to do a lot of
projects and apply for jobs.
And I was just applying forjobs every single day, week
after week, month after month,and I was getting no responses.
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So how did you learn about this program that you
completed?
Speaker 1 (03:00):
My brothers work there as electricians, they work
in low voltage and their lines,and they actually got their
start through apprenticeship.
And my dad's always like when Ifirst got out of high school, I
applied for the Carpentry Unionas an apprentice, but the list
of that is like 300 plus peopleevery single year, and so that
was going to take a couple ofyears for me to even get looked
(03:23):
at.
And so when I started lookingfor jobs and everyone just kept
rejecting my applications, I waslike man, there has to be a way
to learn on the job.
And then it immediately hit mewait a minute, what if there's
like an apprenticeship forsoftware development?
And so I just went on.
But when I was like softwaredevelopment, apprenticeship and
stuff, and I got really luckyand I found a CCC.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Nice.
Yeah, man, that's the cheatcode that you found.
Because, like, a lot of peopledon't make that connection, so
they don't even think that thisis an opportunity and there are
very few apprenticeship programsvery few.
So like to know to do thesearch, like I think was a big
hack, that hopefully people arehearing this and they realize
that oh man, try that hack andmore of that searching.
(04:03):
Oh man, try that hack and moreof that searching might result
in more of these companiesstarting to show up because we
see there's a demand.
So how long did it take for youto finish the program?
Speaker 1 (04:15):
It actually took me a month to complete all the.
It took me like a month tofinish all the projects for CCC
and then two months I finishedServiceNow.
I got my CAC the month afterand then I like a month to
finish up the project for CCC,and then two months I finished
service now.
I got my CSA the month afterand then I waited a month and I
still kept doing service now andthen I got imported to Uplift.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
So I often tell people your story and share with
them that like, oh yeah, wehave some people that fly
through the curriculum becausethey've had a little bit of time
to like self-teach or gothrough and it's a testament to
how much hard work you put inbeforehand when it was just
unseen.
It's the time that, like a lotof people put in before they're
successful.
That really allowed you, Ithink, to just crush it in the
(04:56):
curriculum and get done with.
Most people might take four tosix months and literally two
months, like a month of justlike banging out learning the
new things Cause I'm sure thereare new things that you're
learning in the curriculum.
But also just, man, like you'renow, like you're the what would
the benchmark we compareeverybody to?
It's like Julian, is this goingto be Julian?
(05:16):
Or a little like a half ofJulian, right?
So again, props for that, forputting in the work, because it
doesn't come easy for anybody,but it was clear.
I remember when I interviewedyou I asked you some question
about coding and I could seelike you lit up and I was like,
oh, this guy is gonna be a coderI.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
I enjoyed the work a lot and it's like you said.
I was like I was reallydetermined to that man.
I working at the smart shop wascool, but like it was soulless
and I didn't want to go back tothat at all.
And my boss was really cool andhe was like anytime you need to
come back, but I was determinednot to come back oh, yeah, yeah
.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You gotta be looking forward.
So how is learning to code makea difference or an impact on
you, both professionally andpersonally?
Speaker 1 (06:00):
I feel like I look at things differently when solving
challenges.
The way I learn things is, Iguess, a little bit more
productive.
It teaches you to look at aproblem and just be stuck at it
and not really get anywhere.
But learning to code it taughtme.
There's so many resourcesonline, or even asking someone,
and that video can all lead youto the answer.
And then sometimes too, ifyou're looking for the answer,
(06:21):
but if you focus too much,you're never going to get the
answer.
And so sometimes too, if you'relooking for the answer, but if
you focus too much, you're nevergoing to get the answer, and so
sometimes you just need to takea break and get away from it
and then come back with a freshperspective.
I feel like that.
Really.
That really helped me out in mypersonal life as well.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Yeah, so many transferable skills that you can
take and you can apply to youreveryday to make you just a
better human.
A hundred percent agree.
What do you look forward tomost now professionally?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
I just actually just got my first paycheck from an
athlete, like this week or lastweek, and it was so amazing
because I'm used to getting like18 bucks, 20 bucks an hour and
like my mortgage is like 1600bucks a month and so it feels
nice to actually have some moneyleft over and be able to save.
And I guess the thing I'm notlooking forward with a lot of
(07:08):
being able to actually build aretirement, actually be able to
afford, like maybe now I canactually afford that nice man,
that's uh, that's huge.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
like I can just.
I can hear and sense the likeweight lifted off your shoulder
to know that if you're livingfrom paycheck to paycheck and
you have now that capacity,that's huge.
I remember when that happenedfor me.
I remember when I went fromlike really wanting to do this
to figuring out, oh I can dowhat I do for fun, I can do that
for real.
And then starting to see thosechecks come in, I was just like
(07:39):
whoa, this is like life changing.
Yeah, it was great.
Who's someone that you look upto that you want to give a?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
I honestly you and you and Joshua Shapiro, my
mentor because what you're doingis I don't think without you, I
don't know, maybe I would havebeen able to get a job in
software development, but itwould have taken me a lot longer
.
And it is very demoralizing tobe looking for a job for four
months, five months, and not get, not even hear back from
recruiters.
What you're doing is it's ablessing.
(08:09):
If someone applies for CCC, Ithink they need to realize how
it's such a great opportunityand if they're going to join,
they need to realize how no one.
It's like you said earlier thatthere's not very much
apprenticeships in california orin the us for software
development like I think.
Out of all the apprenticeships,I thought you were like the
only one that actually isactually doing the
(08:29):
apprenticeship program.
It's a huge opportunity andpeople need to take an advantage
of that.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Appreciate it.
I appreciate you showing love,especially also to Josh Shapiro.
Shout out to him, I thinkhaving that mentorship, I think,
is I'll give him more credit inthe shout out than I.
Just I feel almost morallyobligated, since I've lived the
lifestyle of those big checks,to be able to say, hey, how can
I help more people that are justlike they're deserving, they're
super hardworking, you're outthere in the heat and you want
(08:56):
to do something different.
If I can help, more than happyto do so.
Appreciate you.
This is the last question andit's most challenging for some.
What is your favorite snack?
Speaker 1 (09:06):
My favorite snack man , you drink out Thai milk tea.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Oh Thai milk tea.
Do drinks count, thai milk tea?
Oh Thai milk tea.
Okay, yeah, yeah, but thatdoesn't have the little bubble
things in it.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
That's just tea, not the tea with the little like
yeah, you can add the boba, butI don't really like the boba
because it's like plastic.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, I don't like it either.
Like, sometimes you just need alittle refreshing pick-me-up in
the middle of your day, so Ilike it.
Awesome.
All right, julian, thanks somuch for coming on the program.
Yeah, thanks.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Mike for having me Awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
You've been listening to skills first, the
apprenticeship playbook podcast.
By the way, if this is valuableto you, don't be lame.
Share the game.
This is how we know you love it.
If you're a company thinkingabout changing how you hire,
please share it so we know thistype of stuff is what you want.
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