In the months leading up to his graduation, Babson College student Antonio Lopez did everything he was "supposed to do" to secure himself a good job, he said.
But as with many of his friends who are also recent college graduates, careful planning and a degree weren't enough to launch a career during the recession, said Lopez, a Waltham resident.
"Of my immediate friends, only five are employed," he said.
Lopez aggressively pursued finding a job, searching online, checking postings at school and sending out his resume to many companies since he graduated this year, he said.
"It hasn't really been easy for anyone, though Babson's done a really good job of helping people through it," said Lopez.
Lopez, who majored in business management with a concentration in entrepreneurship, technology and design, didn't wait long before redirecting his efforts to put control into his own hands.
He scrapped the resume, opting instead to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit Babson nurtures, and decided to start his own business, Werewolf Repair, (www.werewolfrepair.com), which he describes as "computer repair by moonlight" (because he fixes computers overnight).
With next-to-zero overhead costs, and experience running a similar, successful business during high school, Lopez said he is confident his new path is the right one.
"It got to a point where I was applying to things I wasn't really crazy about, and it wasn't good for me or the employer to do a job just for the money," said Lopez.
"This (computer repair) is something I'm good at and enjoy doing, so it makes more sense. I've always been kind of entrepreneurial, I always want to do things different or better," which doesn't always please employers, he said.
Comfortable with his niche, Lopez launched Werewolf Repair a month ago, offering a flat fee of $250 (plus the cost of hardware if required) for restoring computers to full working order.
This is a unique service, he said, because most computer repair companies charge an hourly rate, which often results in customers paying "a crazy amount of money."
Lopez and his crew at Werewolf will diagnose the problem free of charge, and, if given the OK, take the computer back to "the lab" (his apartment), repair it there and return in the next day, he said.
"I've never encountered a problem I couldn't fix in an hour or two, but if I did I find new problems exciting," he said.
He gets frustrated when he sees some computer repair companies take advantage of people by overcharging, which can be done easily with hourly rates, he said.
"I really hate that. To see people charged $350 for a virus scan is wrong," he said, shaking his head.
Lopez prides himself on a strong work ethic and honesty.
He is targeting individuals, and, he said, "especially in this economy, I love to help small business, I like to encourage small start-ups."
Lopez, who is also a programmer, can help small companies develop custom computer solutions, and, being an advocate of open source, often installs free software, he said.
Lopez said he isn't nervous about running his own business, especially when he's got so much support from friends and the Babson community.
"It's a more appealing option than trying to find a job. I'm more excited and hopeful than anything," he said.
Said Lopez, "It's like a breath of fresh air, doing something on my own, as opposed to going around sending resumes. Not finding work can be very discouraging, but creating work is very inspiring."
Joyce Kelly can be reached at 781-398-8005 or jkelly@cnc.com.
