Nathan graduated from high school in Alabama and joined the Marine Corps instead of attending college. He later started his freshman year of college at the University of Maryland while still in the Marine Corps. After being discharged, he worked various jobs before returning to Alabama for college. He earned multiple degrees and interned in rural health care. He worked for over a decade as a laboratory manager at Birmingham Southern College before being asked to resign due to the college's financial issues. Since then he has struggled to find stable work in his field.

1. “So Nathan, tell me all about
yourself …”

2. After graduating from Lee High School
in Huntsville Alabama, I joined the
Marine Corps instead of going to
college.

3. They put me behind a desk and called
me a “Supply Clerk”.

4. I wanted to go to college so I started
my Freshman year at the University of
Maryland (in Iwakuni Japan), while in
the Marine Corps.

5. I settled in
California.
I worked as a Customer
Service representative for
Carnation Company after
receiving an “honorable”
discharge from the
Marine Corps.
California was very expensive
as a Customer Service
Representative.

6. I moved back to Alabama to go to
college.

7. In Alabama, I continued my schooling
by going on an academic scholarship.
• Made straight A’s
• Became “Most Outstanding Student in
Chemistry” in 1991 and “Most Outstanding
Student in Biology” in 1996
• Received three Associate’s; in Chemical
Engineering, Math, and Pre-Med
• Received a Bachelor’s in Biology
• Received an 1100 GMAT score (450 Verbal
Reasoning, 700 Math)
• Completed some graduate level coursework
(Biochemistry)

8. I received a UAB Rural Health Pre-
Medical Internship for the Summer of
1997

9. I volunteered at the clinic for an
additional six months

10. On the cusp of applying to Medical
School, I instead chose to enter the job
market.
• Gained employment as Laboratory Coordinator for the
Sciences at Birmingham Southern College ( Jan 1998)
• Within the first several years, my contract was changed
from a 10 month position to a 12 month position and I
was subcontracted as an Adjunct Instructor for 2
semesters of General Chemistry Labs and one semester
of Organic Chemistry Lab.
• After five years, The Sciences were moved into a new
building and my position was spilt into two, with a
Laboratory Coordinator for the Biology Department,
and a Laboratory Manager for the Chemistry and
Physics Departments.

11. I was offered the Laboratory Manager
position, a trip to Boston, and a corner
office (to sweeten the pot) and I took
the Chemistry/Physics position.

12. Birmingham Southern College began
experiencing shortfalls in their
finances and endowment.

13. Presumably, the college’s financial shortfalls were the reason I
was asked to resign in July of 2009, after eleven and a half
years.
• Presumably because:
 Alabama’s “at-will” law was used.
 When asked for a formal reason, the
reply was “no reason given”.
 All performance reviews were “Above
Average” or better.
 No verbal sanction, counseling
session, nor any indication was ever
given prior to this action.
 In eleven and a half years only one
negative showed up on any
performance review (that of paying
off a contract in a different fiscal
year).
 I was given a severance package and
unemployment was not contested.
 I am not a mind reader.
I’m trying to read
your mind.

14. Since July of 2009
I HAVE:
o Been unable to reenter my
career field
o Utilize my experience or
education
o Been successfully treated for
depression
o Misguidedly entered Graduate
School in Clinical Laboratory
Sciences
o Worked transitional food
service jobs
o Trudged through a recession
and depressed job market
along with the rest of America
EMPLOYMENT:
Year Position Employer City/State
2013 Waiter/
Bartender
Café de
Paris
B’ham, Al
2012 Server Cheesecake
Factory
B’ham, Al
2011 Server Dodiyo’s H’wood, Al
2010 Grad
Student
UAB B’ham, Al
1998-
2009
Lab
Manager
B’ham Sou
College
B’ham, Al

15. Background and Experience
Background includes:
 Inventory Control Manager
 Customer Service
Representative
 Leasing Consultant
 Fund Raising Coordinator
 Supply and Budgeting Clerk
(USMC)
 Personal Fitness Trainer
 Supervisory roles in and out of
the Food Service Industry
Experience and Skills include:
 Supervising students in lab
preparations or preparing them
myself
 Teaching
 Purchasing and contract
negotiation
 Inventory Control
 Equipment and instrument repair
including nuclear magnetic
resonance spectrophotometer
management
 Regulatory and OSHA compliance
including upkeep of MSDS files
 Campus hazardous waste removal

16. I am:
A goal-driven, hardworking
professional seeking and challenging
and rewarding position in the medical
or academic community.