How to Get Your First Six Sigma Gig

Since I started teaching students online a yearto help improve attendance at churches or church
ago I've encountered something new: studentsevents, lower costs, or improve the satisfaction
trying to get into Six Sigma for the first time.of those who attend. My guess is that few
This obviously wasn't a problem when I waschurches wouldn't be interested in Six Sigma
training clients whose employers were gettingprojects to increase collections!
them trained specifically to use the approach inThe most important thing to realize is that you
their organizations. I write this for those of youhave an extremely useful skill set. Be bold and
who are trained in Lean Six Sigma and are in theconfident when you approach your prospective
situation that you are not working for an"client" for a project. Six Sigma has been
employer who gives you the chance to practiceproclaimed by management guru Jack Welch as
your newly acquired skills.the most significant management innovation in the
However, nearly all of you have a big advantage:past quarter century. You're learning about an
you have a lot of job experience. And much ofapproach that few know and nearly everyone
your experience is closely related to Six Sigma.can benefit from. You'll be surprised at how much
Many of you have led project teams, qualityfun it can be, and how productive. Finally, this
improvement teams, or other work teams. Thisstuff really works! You'll soon find that your skills
is, of course, a big part of Six Sigma work. Play itare soon in more and more demand. After all, the
up in your resumes!supply of processes that need to be improved is
You can also try finding projects where you caninfinite!
enhance your resumes by actually applying whatFinal thoughts:
you're learning in your training. I've done pro bonoNewly trained Six Sigma Belts without experience
work for community hospitals and charities suchface a situation similar to that of newly graduated
as Goodwill and Red Cross. Some of mycollege students. This site contains some great
self-study students are working with theirtips on writing a resume when you have no
physicians offices to reduce errors and improveexperience.
efficiency. Others are working with church groups