A wavering belief in the value of college education has prompted many to look elsewhere for sturdy employment. Derek Mullis found his way through the trades — one that is lesser known but increasingly crucial in everyday life.
Mullis got his start with no broadband background in 2015 and worked his way up various field technician roles — working with various companies and traveling all over the country. “It’s been a very rewarding experience,” he told us during a home install in rural Florida. “It’s been rewarding not only for myself but for the customers that received the fiber internet. It’s been an adventure.”
He currently works as a project supervisor for a local internet service provider — a subsidiary to Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative based in Florida. What’s kept him around the work for a decade really all boils down to solid pay, new places and people.
“Compensation is a big thing, especially nowadays,” he explained. “And this is a career that you can get into and make tons of money and provide for your family. I’ve been in it 10 years, and I’ve been able to take care of my family very well.”
But rather than a corporate office job to make that happen, this is one that's outdoors and always on the move. Every day on the job is a different scene, a different task and a different group of people to connect — an aspect that Mullis finds most rewarding, be it a local pizza shop or a family connecting for the first time.
No less notable is the fact that you don’t need expensive or extensive schooling to make it happen. Most of the training occurs on the job — with opportunities for more skilled technical training often provided by employers or accredited organizations.
“You can teach this to just about anybody,” argued Mullis. “You don’t need a college degree to get into this… most of my team are brand new at it. They’ve been with me six months to a year, and they’re excelling,” he said.
The work is physical and can be demanding at times. It may not be for everyone — but it is for more people than many may realize, according to Mullis. "I just recently hired a female technician, 18-19 years old, and in six months she has turned into one of my leads. She's excelled pretty rapidly because she has the drive, determination and the personality for the business. As long as you're not afraid to get dirty, to get into crawl spaces, anybody can do this job and do it well."
“It’s been a very enjoyable career for me, and I would actually advise anybody that’s interested to give it a shot.”
Listen to his story:
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