Eric Gardner

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

If you want a career bad enough, you have to work at every aspect of it and understand that no job is always glamorous. More than anything, search for a career that fells less like a job and more like a hobby. If you're doing what you love, it wont feel like work.

What is it like when your job gets tough?

Frustrating, annoying, aggravating... all the above! The important part is how you handle those situations. In a professional atmosphere you want to maintain a cool head, calm down, and when necessary ASK a coworker/ supervisor. The best ways to learn is by example. We learn from our mistakes. The best way to advance in any career is to be willing to learn something new everyday on the job, and be open with your supervisors and managers about what your week-points are and how you want to work on them.

How did you pick your career? Did you know all along?

Definitely didn't know all along, and over time have even changed my direction completely. you never know what life is going to throw at you, and you never know what your "Dream Career" may actually be like. Change is part of life. the sooner you embrace change, the less likely you will let it affect you negatively. Take everyday as a learning experience, and never give up on what you truly love.

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

I am thankful that my parents wholeheartedly supported me in anything I wanted to do. That being said, I was my own worst enemy. I second-guessed myself, and convinced myself of "safer" career choices. I wasted time, money and effort on what i thought was the right choice, over what was what I actually wanted, and ultimately had to do extra schooling because of it. Find a career you love. or a hobby that pays, invent something if you have the creative itch, but above all don't let anyone tell you what you should do with your life. That's your decision.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

My mother always used to tell me "if you find a career you love, then it wont feel like work."

How did you start building your network?

LinkedIn is a great career networking tool that I ave used for years.

When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?

My first "Big Break" was when I began in the Casino Industry. I was financially stable, I was finally living on my own, and I was enjoying going to work most days.

When you were a student, did you do anything outside of school to build skills or get knowledge that has helped your career?

Yes! And you should, too! Get involved! Meet like-minded people, and make life-long connections.

In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?

I have multiple career paths that I chose to pursue, therefore I'm going to break it down for each field: ~Theater~ I've worked in multiple theater work shops building and designing sets, set pieces and props for multiple shows in a short period of time. I've also worked in multiple theater Prop Rooms organizing the many boxes, shelves of props, and costumes owned and rented by the Theater Department. As stage manager and director for many shows I've been involved in, gives me plenty of experience preparing scheduling rehearsals, rehearsal space, contacting actors and fellow cast members prior to rehearsals, organizing and running individual rehearsals, filling in for absent actors at rehearsals, watching lines when actors go off-book, recording directors blocking and stage directions for the master script, and cleaning-up/locking-up theater after rehearsals In addition to that, I also worked on light maintenance, set maintenance, stage maintenance, spotlight maintenance, stage lighting design, sound design, sound monitoring, and stage maintenance. As an Actor, I've acted for over 12 years in about 24 shows and performances including live theatrical productions, improvisational theater, some voice-over acting, and haunted house acting. >Major Positions I've held in the Theater industry include: -- Historian for Alpha Psi Omega (ΑΨΩ) Fraternity - Theta Theta Cast (Chapter) -- Director of Improvisational Theater -- Assistant Director -- Stage Manager -- Assistant Stage Manager -- Set Designer -- Photographer -- Make-Up Artist & Stylist -- Special Effects Make-Up Artist -- Lighting Designer -- Lightboard Operator -- Sound Designer -- Soundboard Operator -- Spotlight Operator -- Lighting, Sound, and Stage Maintenance -- Front House Host/Ticket Sales ~Private Security/Criminal Justice~ As Event Staff, I gave pat-downs, search bags, and keep areas secure as well as other types of jobs for football stadiums, concert venues, and concert amphitheaters. I also patrolled (on foot, and on bike) city plazas, a 3 level underground garage, the local Food Court, the indoor garden area, and the adjacent Skating Rink. ~Casino Industry~ Performed duties as a Craps Boxperson watching over two dealers and a Stickman, as well as the duties of a Floor Supervisor of all the Table Games listed below, usually supervising between four to six table games at one given time. When not supervising I correctly performed the dealing techniques required by the casino I was employed by in a timely manner, showing proficiency in dealing as a Table Games Dealer of the following table games: > Craps > Blackjack > Roulette > Baccarat > Three Card Poker > Four Card Poker > Ultimate Texas Hold'em Progressive Poker > Let It Ride > Mississippi Stud > Double Deck Pitch Blackjack > As well as other Banked Carnival Games that came and went through the Casino

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

There's always a learning curve for anywhere you start. It's always a challenge to get through that stage. It takes time and practice. Nothing comes naturally, and if it does it usually gets boring quick. Just remember to power through that uphill battle at the beginning of any career.