After living in his car for over a year, web developer David Casarez began sleeping on a park bench in Mountain View, California as the vehicle was repossessed last month. Running out of money and luck, he had a clever idea that would lead to job offers from Google and hundreds of other companies.
Casarez completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University. Right after college, he was able to land a job as web developer job at General Motors in Austin.
While the job had a lucrative salary, Casarez had always dreamed of working in Silicon Valley, just like many other IT graduates. So, he quit his high-paying job at General Motors, cashed in on his 401(k), and drove to Silicon Valley in his 2015 Ford Transit Connect utility van.
Things weren’t as bright in Silicon Valley as Casarez had hoped. While he was able to land some freelance gigs, all the companies he had applied to just weren’t hiring at the moment or were not looking for someone with his level of skills and expertise.
“No one was hiring. I had an interview with Apple in January, but the job was filled internally,” he told reporters.
Because he found no real job in Silicon Valley, he lived in his van for over a year. But as his money ran out, the van was repossessed. All he had left were a few clothes and personal belongings.
Living in the park was harsh; Casarez knew he had to do something to change his situation or go back to his hometown and admit defeat.
Thinking he would give it one last go, he made a sign that read, “HOMELESS. HUNGRY 4 SUCCESS. TAKE A RESUME.”
Then, he donned his best corporate attire “to be presentable to my future employers”, before standing on the median at El Camino Real and San Antonio Road, with the sign on his hands and a stack of resumes at his feet.
He had been standing there for a couple of hours when Samoan makeup artist Jasmine Scofield drove by. Thinking that Casarez badly needed help but admired him for seeking a job instead of asking for money, she decided to help.
Scofield tweeted, “Today I saw this young homeless man asking for people to take a resume rather than asking for money. Please RT so we can help David out!”
Within hours, the tweet went viral. It now has over 137k retweets and 220k likes!
With the post becoming viral, hundreds of job offers poured in for Casarez, including one from Google and another from Pandora.
“Google reached out to me,” a rather overwhelmed Casarez told the New York Post.
“A product manager from Bitcoin.com was wondering if I could work remotely or if I want to relocate to Tokyo. But tonight, I’ll be back on my bench in Rengstorff Park.”
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
Casarez completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University. Right after college, he was able to land a job as web developer job at General Motors in Austin.
While the job had a lucrative salary, Casarez had always dreamed of working in Silicon Valley, just like many other IT graduates. So, he quit his high-paying job at General Motors, cashed in on his 401(k), and drove to Silicon Valley in his 2015 Ford Transit Connect utility van.
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| Photo credit: Twitter / @FullMakeup Alchemist |
Things weren’t as bright in Silicon Valley as Casarez had hoped. While he was able to land some freelance gigs, all the companies he had applied to just weren’t hiring at the moment or were not looking for someone with his level of skills and expertise.
“No one was hiring. I had an interview with Apple in January, but the job was filled internally,” he told reporters.
Because he found no real job in Silicon Valley, he lived in his van for over a year. But as his money ran out, the van was repossessed. All he had left were a few clothes and personal belongings.
Living in the park was harsh; Casarez knew he had to do something to change his situation or go back to his hometown and admit defeat.
Thinking he would give it one last go, he made a sign that read, “HOMELESS. HUNGRY 4 SUCCESS. TAKE A RESUME.”
 |
| Photo credit: Twitter / @FullMakeup Alchemist |
Then, he donned his best corporate attire “to be presentable to my future employers”, before standing on the median at El Camino Real and San Antonio Road, with the sign on his hands and a stack of resumes at his feet.
He had been standing there for a couple of hours when Samoan makeup artist Jasmine Scofield drove by. Thinking that Casarez badly needed help but admired him for seeking a job instead of asking for money, she decided to help.
Scofield tweeted, “Today I saw this young homeless man asking for people to take a resume rather than asking for money. Please RT so we can help David out!”
Within hours, the tweet went viral. It now has over 137k retweets and 220k likes!
With the post becoming viral, hundreds of job offers poured in for Casarez, including one from Google and another from Pandora.
“Google reached out to me,” a rather overwhelmed Casarez told the New York Post.
“A product manager from Bitcoin.com was wondering if I could work remotely or if I want to relocate to Tokyo. But tonight, I’ll be back on my bench in Rengstorff Park.”
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
