Life & Work with Donna Shannon

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Donna Shannon again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Donna, we are so thrilled to be connecting again and can’t wait to hear about all the amazing things you have been up to. Before we jump into all of that, some of our readers might have missed our prior interview, so can you take a moment to reintroduce yourself?
Since our last Voyager article in 2019, both myself and my company, Personal Touch Career Services, have experienced growth and development, constantly improving our services to job seekers to help them land jobs that they love. And yes, I do stand-up comedy on the side… because finding a job is no laughing matter!

Our company employs five staff coaches and resume writers, whom I mentor on all the developments in the hiring maze. With 20 years of experience, I have published two books and over 140 articles on LinkedIn, been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, and spoken about job-searching strategies at conferences in Orlando, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, and Denver, among others. I host the “Tattooed Freaks in Business Suits” podcast.

Awesome, so we reached out because we wanted to hear all about what you have been up to since we last connected.
Personally, I gained two certifications: the Master Career Director (MCD) designation from the Career Directors International (CDI) and the Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE) from the National Resume Writers Association (NRWA). Our Down & Dirty Job Search program earned the Career Innovator Award in 2024. Our company employs five staff coaches and resume writers, whom I mentor on all the developments in the hiring maze.

But I bet you are dying to know about the comedy thing! I regularly produce shows along the Front Range, from Pueblo to Longmont. People actually pay me to perform stand-up in local showcases. I am one of the regular comics on the Second Chance Comedy show, which features comedians with some part of addiction recovery in their story. Can’t wait for a live show? Check out my comedy podcast, “Donna Shannon’s Coyote Tales” on all major platforms.

We also want to give folks a chance to get to know you a bit better so we’ve prepared a fun lightning round of questions. Ready?

• Favorite Movie: Star Wars – original trilogy, please!
• Favorite Book: Nightbreed, Clive Barker
• Favorite TV Show: Futurama
• Favorite Band or Artist: The Police
• Sweet or Savory: Savory
• Mountains or Beach: Mountains
• Favorite Sport (to watch): Hockey
• Favorite Sport (to play): Does holding a couch potato record count?
• Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): Not really
• As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: A radio DJ or a stand-up comedian – and I was both!
• French Fries or Onion Rings: Both?
• Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Preferably NOT
• Favorite Cartoon growing up: Wile E. Coyote
• Favorite Childhood movie: Star Wars – I never grew up
• Favorite Breakfast Food: pancakes

Was there a moment in your career that you can tell us about that illustrates or demonstrates the kind of person you are, your approach, ethos, etc.
In 2009, I was faced with a dilemma: Do I go all in and write my book for job seekers, or do I abandon this idea and go back to school to become a Director of HR? What swayed me was the look on my students’ faces when they suddenly realized that the reason they weren’t getting a good job had nothing to do with them personally. It wasn’t because they were too old, underqualified, or lacking a degree. Instead, it was their TACTICS – tactics that could be easily changed. To see the hope in their eyes – and later, sharing in their success stories – made my choice clear. I knew I was meant to be a career coach and help people in some of the most challenging parts of their professional careers.