How Smoothstack Helped One Man Pursue His Dream After a Heart Condition

Background

Prior to joining Smoothstack, Leandro was being treated for a heart condition.

“If I die today, 1 in 100 chance of that, I’m gonna die not as something I really wanted to be,” Leandro recalled when undergoing treatment.

His medical condition gave him pause about his current career path, and once he had completed recovery, he decided to seriously consider a position in the tech industry.

Challenges

Leandro faced several hurdles when entering the tech industry:

• No higher education degree
• Getting noticed in the application process
• Securing interviews

“I applied to 12 different places,” said Yabut. “[I] didn’t get a single interview with one [because] I had no school. [I] had no formal education.”

Growing At Smoothstack

Yabut recalled working with a recruiter at Smoothstack who helped guide him through the process and technical interview — a process that ended in an offer he would go on to accept.

“Smoothstack really helped me jumpstart my career and actually get me to a point where this is my dream job,” said Yabut. “Smoothstack’s gonna take a chance on you.”

Outcome

Yabut’s plight in finding a job is similar to many who go through Smoothstack’s training program and is a focus of how the company hires, engaging specifically with unemployed and underemployed people looking for a rewarding career in the IT sector — and helping them achieve those goals.

Upon completion of his training, Leandro remained at the company following his training, now working as the company’s technology operations manager, helping others who were once in his place.

“This is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life,” said Yabut. “It’s like a superhero origin story.”