Where I Come From
An Unconventional History
Soldier. Office manager. Software developer. Retail sales associate. Storyteller. Data Analyst.
It’s fair to say my career has followed a nontraditional path. So how does that help you? And why should you hire me?
It helps because on your team, you want somebody who a) is detail-oriented, and b) has the breadth of experience that facilitates placing those details in a broader context.
If your aim is to hire somebody with a proven ability to think outside the box, then you should consider a candidate whose life experience doesn’t fit in any single box.
Start Where You Are
Imagine the path you’re on isn’t taking you where you want to go. What do you do? Go back to the beginning? What if that’s not possible? What if you’d lose all your forward progress?
You could try blazing a new path from wherever you are. It might not be easy. But that’s not the point. Easy doesn’t get you to your destination.
In 2005, armed with a Master’s degree I couldn’t use (long story), I took a job in a used bookstore. I love books, but at that moment, retail wasn’t the right path for me. So I applied for a training program to learn how to write computer code.
My application was turned down. Repeatedly. In fact, I applied six times.
Then I resolved to try a different route. After the sixth rejection, I brought home a stack of books on programming and taught myself. Within a year, I had passed the Java certification exam, and in 2007, I found a position as a data developer for Drilling Info (now called Enverus).
Other things happened. I wanted needed to tell stories, and that led to different opportunities. Then in 2024, things changed again. I needed to return to full-time employment.
One particular job posting quickly caught my eye. It was a Data Analyst position. It looked like fun – and I have the technical background. I have a good working knowledge of SQL and an eye for data patterns and anomalies. I could also draw on my years of experience as a storyteller, educator, and tour guide. I’ve become adept at reaching audiences with widely varying backgrounds.
I just needed to learn the tools of the trade, that’s all.
Feel free to roll your eyes. Yes, I know, that was a pretty big hole in my resume. But I knew what I wanted to do, and so I began studying. By October, I had passed the Microsoft certification exam for Power BI.
I’m still learning. There is always more to learn. But I’m on the right path; in lieu of an internship, I recently completed a data analysis project for the Boston History Company. Details can be found here.
If you’re reading this, you probably already have my resume. If not, feel free to contact me. And if you’re wondering why you can’t find any information on a storyteller named Rick Taylor, that’s because I generally write and perform under the name Abner Serd.