College2Jobs

THE FOUNDER’S STORY

About fifty years ago, on a gloomy February day, I saw a small newspaper ad from a firm that was seeking a civil engineer. As a recent college graduate with a civil engineering degree, I responded to the ad.

No response.

I kept calling, daily, for weeks — but still… no answer.

Finally, I got someone on the phone. His name was Charlie Reed. Charlie was pleasant and talkative and asked me to sit tight until the firm was ready to interview.

Unfortunate for Charlie, sitting tight is not in my nature. I could not wait and leave everything to chance.

I called Charlie back the next day and the next and the next without much luck. Considering at the time that cell phones and email did not exist, I literally called Charlie every day until I got him on the phone again.

And his response was the same: Wait until we are ready and you may get a call to come in for an interview.

Either he was tired of my everyday calls, or perhaps, he appreciated my passion, persistence and willingness to work my tail off. After a long pause, he said, “You know what? Come on in and I can talk to you and maybe — no promises — I can have a principal of the company to talk to you as well.”

Little did I know that Charlie was a sales manager who had no authority to interview let alone hire someone.

I met Charlie the next day after driving 464 miles to the firm’s offices. It took me about 11 hours.

There, Charlie saw someone who was a recent graduate with no real engineering experience. He also saw someone willing to do whatever it was going to take to get a kick start.

Charlie was a good man, thoughtful and positive and promised me that he’d do his best to get me an interview and potentially a job with the company.

And he did.

I started two weeks later on a more-than-modest salary that required me to take on another job doing restaurant work at night so that I could pay my student loans and make ends meet.

But there I was, learning and growing. I loved everything about that job — and I put my whole heart into it which proved to be the jumping off point for what has been a blessed and progressive career.

I have served in various positions including, Jr engineer, Sr engineer, group leader, department manager, area manager, division manager, operations manager, President & CEO. Throughout these years, I have interviewed thousands of candidates and hired hundreds of excellent people. I have launched numerous successful businesses and forged countless meaningful and trustworthy relationships.

Later, when I asked Charlie why he went out of his way to get me in, he was honest. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Honestly Moses, I was tired of your daily calls. But again, I was impressed with your hunger and your eagerness to work. You didn’t take no for an answer.”

When I asked him how I could pay back his kindness, he replied, no need to thank me but remember, one day when you can, help others and pay it forward.

And now, after a totally blessed career, I am launching an exciting new endeavor, College2Jobs.com, so I can help others and pay it forward!

If this mission resonates with you, either as a student, employer or school, I invite you to join me to become a College2Jobs partner. Please share the website with your family and friends and let’s help others and pay it forward.

Thank you. And thank you, Charlie.

Moses Javan, Founder & CEO