There’s a running joke in ZAG about Joey Jose’s 14-year tenure as part of the team.
Years ago, Joey applied to work at the ZAG Help Desk. Since he didn’t exactly have the skillset needed to take on such a role, he went on to work in HR at another company, but he didn’t forget about ZAG. Later, after the economy took a hit in 2008, Joey was searching for a role when he found out ZAG was hiring again and they offered him a position working as an administrative assistant, answering the company’s main line requests and greeting guests in the San Jose office.
Since then, however, Joey has worked in sales – as both an inside and outside sales rep – in accounting, and now as part of the Asset and Lifecycle Management team.
“They still have never let me become part of the Help Desk – maybe someday,” Joey says with a laugh.
Here, we find out more about Joey and his role at ZAG, his family, and career advice he shares:
How and when did you get your start in the technology industry?
I applied to join ZAG originally in 2003, but the company only had an admin role available, so I turned it down. I went into HR after that, but after the 2008 financial crisis, I needed a new role. I was able to join ZAG since they were still hiring for admin support. While I was in that role, I started helping in the accounting department. After a while, I joined the sales team as an inside sales rep, but I left thinking I could go sell cars. Turns out, it wasn’t a good fit, so I reached out to ZAG and came back to the company and was asked to be an outside sales rep. After my kids came along, I went back to inside sales and then I was given the chance to come over and be a part of the Asset and Lifecycle Management team in procurement and that’s how I ended up here.
Why did you decide to join ZAG?
When I came in and interviewed with Greg and (ZAG CTO) Jim Hunton, in my head I was thinking I would eventually want to go back to HR. I never went back! At ZAG, I kept finding new ways to challenge myself. I started to ask people, “Can I help with this? Can I help with that?” When there was an opening for an inside sales rep, I was able to move over and do that. Every time an opportunity was thrown at me, I took it. If you’re looking to learn something here or do something different, you can do it and they’ve been supportive of what I want to learn. I feel like I’m challenged here and there’s always an opportunity to solve problems and help make someone’s day a little easier. (I still haven’t been asked to do Help Desk yet though.)
What are the responsibilities you have in your role at ZAG?
I manage two people in the ZAG office in the day-to-day, track hardware for clients, troubleshoot issues, help with presales quotes, work with vendors and distributors to help get pricing and quotes, place quotes, receive products and make sure they get where they need to go for our clients. Lifecycle renewals, replacing these, communicating when things aren’t being supported anymore.
How would you describe your job to a class of kindergartners?
I help companies get electronics to help them do their jobs better. I help fix problems.
What would you be doing for a career if you weren’t in IT?
Probably where I originally started, in HR.
What do you like most about your job?
I think it’s a new challenge every day. No two days are the same. When I walk in the door each morning, I know something new is going to pop up and I’m going to help find something to make it work or a problem to fix.
What is one piece of professional advice that you’ve received that stuck with you through the years?
Don’t let failure cripple you. You will fail every once in a while, and if you do, get up quickly and try to move forward.
And for more personal questions…
What was your first job?
I worked at Pizza Orleans at Paramount’s Great America theme park.
Do you have any hobbies or interests you’d like to share?
I’m into video gaming with my kids. I used to play more basketball and went fishing but haven’t gotten back into those things since COVID.
What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?
I was in the Army a long time ago because I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school (against my dad’s wishes because he was in the Navy). But I couldn’t swim well!
What is your dream travel destination?
I think I’d like to travel to Israel.
What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t be lazy. That was me in middle and high school. I would have told myself not to do that!
