Mini Profile- Interview

Trey Jones is the typical blue collar American worker who strives to climb that invisible ladder until he reaches the top. Day after day, he comes home to his sleeps-two camper covered in installation and paint with a stench of molded water from his worn through On-Cloud shoes just to sit in the same recliner and watch the same show.

Jones is the lead restoration technician at a small restoration company in Opelika but has since accepted a new job as the lead in-house restoration technician for 320 apartments. Having never finished college, Jones exemplifies what it means to be a successful in today’s society without a college degree. Being a 22-year-old male in the workforce has its advantages, but according to Jones, “You can make a good living, but you’ll work like a dog.”

Jones was raised in a split household on Lake Martin with the knowledge that hard work was the only way be successful. He’s been in the workforce since he was 15 years old but has never complained about the work he’s had to do. His past jobs have included a cook at the local restaurant, grocery store clerk, boat operator at the local marina, mechanic, and now, restoration technician. Jones said, “Having job after job is not a sign of getting bored, but rather a sign of never settling.” However, he’s said working every day from 8 a.m. to when the job is done affects him and his social life since an early age, which is something he never wanted with his career.

During college at Southern Union Community College, he was studying to become a traveling welder. He realized after speaking with other welders the sacrifices he’d have to endure to make a good living. Some buddies of Jones that worked on the pipeline said they have missed best friend’s weddings, family members funerals, and vacations because of traveling, so he changed his path. He was not willing to give that up to live out of a suitcase. Jones also said, “and oddly enough I didn’t want to live in a camper.” So, he dropped out of college with his certifications, no associates, and mad parents. He said he can still remember how red his dad’s face was when he told him he quit school with just one semester left.

A few months later, his dad passed away and this experience put the world into perspective. It gave him a new meaning to live life to the fullest with as little means as possible. He moved into a camper, adopted a dog, went on vacations, and took time to himself to find his true calling.

Now, Jones has a “focused” mindset on what he wants out of life. Wanting to be the supervisor at his new company or buy into a company and be a partial owner. He explained that his dad was a maintenance coordinator for one of the Auburn area apartments, so Jones being offered the position that is like his dads “makes me feel like he’s watching over me.”

Interview Questions

1. Where did you grow up?

2. What do you do for a living?

3. How did you get into the field?

4. What is your lifestyle like?

5. What would you say that influenced you to really enjoy being in that business?

6. What was one experience that altered your path for today?

7. Was there something that happened that put things into perspective?

8. Would you recommend that anyone else go into this business?

9. What is some advice to give a newcomer?

10. How did you know you wanted to be in restoration?

11. What are your career goals in the next 5 years?