Clipping Mask on Outline Letters not working

[surfd4wg]

Trying to do something simple. I want the outline of the Ampersand (&) sign to cut-out the letters behind it. 

All characters/letters have been converted to outlines.

When I try to make a clipping mask with the & on the top layer, It gives me the first letter T - not what I think is supposed to happen.

See attachments. 

[meganchi]

I'm a little confused on what you want the final result to look like? 

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Did you use Pathfinder Minus Front?

Try holding down the Alt key while clicking the Minus Front icon to create a Compound Shape.

[surfd4wg]

Thank you! That worked.

[Katie Houghton · Accepted solution]

The letters are a group of Compound paths. To cut out one shape you need to have a compound path or simple path (one object) cut from a compound path or simple path. (one object) Follow these steps:

1. Take the words "technical competence" and the "&"and ungroup them.

2. Take the L and the C in the center and go to Object> Compound Path> Make

3. Choose the "&" (this should be on top) and then choose the L and the C (this is one compound path which is one object)

4 Choose Minus front from the Pathfinder. If you need the "&" then make a copy before you use it to subtract from the letters. 

(I copied and pasted to the front then hid the copy of the "&". After I was done cutting out the path I Object>Show All to see the green "&" ) 

4. I took the copy of the "&" and added a Offset Path from Effects>(Illustrator Effects)> Path> Offset Path so I could see the cutout

Let me know if this helps.