Martin Smith
ManpowerGroup Public Sector
Falls Church, VA USA
"I convinced myself that the best revenge would be to be successful and make something of myself."
Career Roadmap
Martin's work combines: Government, Business, and Working Independently
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
GED
Bachelor's Degree
Computer/Computer Systems Technology/Technician
Strayer University-Virginia
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Project Management Specialists:
Bachelor's Degree: Business/Commerce, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
When I found myself homeless at 17 I had to quit school and get a job. My first full time job was working in a septic tank fabrication plant in their steel shop where I learned how to weld.
2.
I worked for 2 different Pre-Cast plants where I learned machinery operation, loader and forklift operation, crane operations, blueprint reading.
3.
Agricultural equip. dealership. perform mechanic work in house and on farms. learned to drive Semi Truck hauling large farming equipment. Assembled equipment and machinery.
4.
Worked for large construction firm. Drove trucks and became the warehouse manager/supervisor of the drivers and responsible for fleet of vehicles and warehouse inventory. Recession caused 10K pay cut.
5.
Began night school for GED. When I scored 97 percentile for science it motivated me to explore going to college. Attended night school while working: 5 yrs to get a 4 yr degree while raising 4 kids.
6.
I learned the skills of purchasing agent while working for the construction company. This started me on a path to seeing myself working in an office environment.
7.
Tried a part time job at Kay Jewelers to see if I would like sales. I didn't. I am not a salesman.
8.
After college I began working for gov't. contractors and have grown my career working for different firms. I've now been doing what I do for over 20 years earning top dollar in my field.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
I was told I would never amount to anything
How I responded:
I was homeless at 17 having been kicked out of the house by my stepmother for getting a traffic ticket on my way to school and started my adult life with the clothes on my back and $5.00 in my pocket. I convinced myself that the best revenge would be to be successful and make something of myself. Success means different things to different people. For me it was to have a career, own my own home and have enough money left over after the bills to help others.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was never taught how to manage money when I was growing up and I've made every mistake known to man and had to learn the hard way.
I'm the first person on either side of my family to go to college and earn a degree.
My dad was an alcoholic, served time in prison and was very abusive to my sisters and I in every way. I was orphaned by my natural mother at 1 yo and had 2 different stepmothers during my childhood until I was told to "pack my s..t and get out" at 17