Clown 2 Career….BRIDGING THE GAP

WHAT DOES ANY SELF-RESPECTING 13 YEAR OLD DO WHEN THEIR PARENTS TELL

THEM TO START PAYING FOR STUFF…

WHAT DOES ANY SELF-RESPECTING 13 YEAR OLD DO WHEN THEIR PARENTS TELL

THEM TO START PAYING FOR STUFF…

WHY A CLOWN YOU ASK?

SIMPLE----MONEY! I STARTED AT $10/HOUR UNDER THE TABLE WHO WAS GOING TO TURN THAT DOWN?

WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WHERE I AM TODAY?

FAST FORWARD…I LEFT HIGH SCHOOL, WENT TO COLLEGE, BECAME AN RA, GRADUATED COLLEGE, WENT TO GRAD SCHOOL, WAS STILL AN RA, THEN BECAME AN RHD, FINISHED GRAD SCHOOL, HAD A TINY STINT IN A CAREER I DID NOT END UP LIKING…

NICE STORY BUT WHAT DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH BEING A CLOWN?

Decided to leave previous job after

completion of contract

Sat down with self and said what the

heck do I want to do for a career?

Started Crafting RHD Resume by using accomplishments

sheet

Realized that my work experience as a clown had transferrable skills

that made me more marketable

Clown/Balloonist is presently on my

Resume that I used for this job and recently acceptance into an

MBA Program

WHAT SEEMINGLY MEANINGLESS JOBS DO YOU HAVE THAT CAN HELP YOUR CAREER?

Transferable Skills!

A brief google search about “transferrable skills” returns hundreds of hits that can leave you feeling, well downright awful. From communication skills to business management skills the

seemingly vast ocean of information leaves you swimming for oxygen and unsure which was is up. Inhale deeply because your local pond might be the better place to start swimming.

Start Locally

Ask yourself this simple question: What have I done thus far in my life? A great starting point is to list ALL of the jobs (yes all) that you have worked up to your current role. Once you have a list of accomplishments it is time to make a bullet list of the roles you had in those jobs. A few bullet

points is a great start!

Wade in

As you begin to look over you roles it is time to enter the water. Start to narrow down the specifics about them: What did you do as a cashier? What customers did you serve? Were you a wallflower or did you greet them and have a conversation? How many customers did you serve a day (estimated)? These questions and more can be helpful to think about. Most importantly, if

you read something you wrote about a role you had, ask yourself: Is this as specific as I can make it? Generalizations do not create distinctions! Make yourself distinct!

Throw some false casts!

As you start to narrow down your roles do not be afraid to get feedback! Ask your friends, your family, but most importantly your current supervisors or mentors. Do not be afraid of feedback because this is what is going to help make your cashier job different from your colleagues. It is

always helpful to ask your current or previous employer: Would you give this person an interview based on what is written here? This is helpful feedback even when you are not actively looking

for a position.

Let out some line and practice

As you proceed with creating your specific jobs list a helpful exercise can be to do a search for your dream job and the skills required for that position. Hope onto Indeed.com or any of the

numerous job sites and start searching for your dream job or company. Once you have found it look at the skills and requirements for that job. Take that and compare it to your list of roles and

jobs and identify the areas you are strong in and the gaps that exist in your experience. Once you have done that pick one of the gaps and actively work on it over the following year. It

creates a small step towards your greater goal!