My Career Change from Bartending to Management

by Anne
(Myrtle Beach, SC, USA)

I spent many years skipping from job to job, content with taking whatever bartending or serving job gave me the most money and best schedule. But I, along with my life, was bound to eventually change.

When I met my husband, I realized how much of life I was missing out on by working so many long, late nights in the bar. The money was great, and it suited my personality wonderfully, but suddenly I wanted to be available on the weekends. I had a reason to have spare time.

About five months after our wedding, the stress of opposite schedules and a lack of time together was getting to be too stressful for both of us. Add to that that I was getting burnt out. I knew I couldn't work in the bar scene for much longer without hating what I did. It was time for a change.

A long successful and wonderful nonprofit company was expanding into my area. While I have had experience in both retail and nonprofit before, my strengths lie in the service industry. I decided to take a chance anyways. The company worked for a mission I believe in wholeheartedly, and I knew that I could sell myself if I got the face to face interview.

It has been just over a year now, and I am going nowhere but UP in this company. I am in management, I do something good and rewarding with my day. It took a lot of changes in my lifestyle and, more importantly, in myself. I developed the attitude of I want to succeed. And keeping that in mind, and remembering that I never have to settle for a job that pays has enabled me to have a rewarding career that has a shining future. Barring any disasters, I will work my way up in this company for a long time, while knowing that what I do every day makes a difference in other people's lives.

And I get to see my husband a lot more often, which makes everything that much better.