I graduated in 1997 full of energy and enthusiasm. I could not wait to get started. After I sent out my resume to all the resorts, I anxiously waited for them to call me. I waited, and I waited, and I waited some more…
Waiting wasn’t getting me a job. Quickly I lowered my grandiose expectations and hit the pavement. I landed my first job, in a nursing home. Yep, that’s right the, Alzheimer’s Ward. Definitely not glamorous, but I needed to start somewhere. I worked hard and learned a lot. My clients were sweet but they could not recall their names let alone mine. Not an obstacle easily overcome when you need referrals to build a private practice. Assertive action was required. Grasping at straws, I placed an ad in the classifieds of the local newspaper. Win, win, it was a low cost plan that would get clients to call. And oh boy did they call, all day and all night. None of which is even legal for me to repeat. The next morning could not come fast enough. Traumatized, I called the newspaper to cancel the ad. The representative suggested I advertize in the food section. Not sure what it had in common with massage but I was still recovering from my last great idea. Even though it was pricey, it worked. To save money, I later switched to advertizing in the Yellow Pages. My business exploded and I eventually gave up the nursing home job before I became a resident. Two years later the resorts called and offered me a job. Glad I didn’t wait! If you are new, hang in there. Where was your first job?
