For the first and most likely the last time ever I received a 100% pay raise at my job today. Yes I am moving from $4 an hour plus tips to $8 an hour plus tips. When I started the job I was pleased to receive anything more than the paltry $2.83 wages that I mysteriously never saw very much of from Buca Di Beppo in Wynnehood. Now to have the pay increase and not to currently have to pay rent I am more than pleased as punch. As soon as chef made his announcement I could not remove the cheesy, ecstatic grin from my face all through the staff meeting. Just yesterday I was contemplating look for another breakfast restaurant, but now I am officially making more money than any other shift in town.
Returning to the restaurant world has made me realize that I DO NOT want to be a career waitress like so many people I have worked with over the years. Yes the money is fantastic (people always need to eat) and for the most part you can choose the hours of your shifts, but the trade off in the end is not worth the trouble. Between the 5am wake ups or the 2 am closes or cranky people and the occasional $12 nights I just can't bear to make myself push through the pain for the long haul. Add on high stress, swollen feet, and bodily wear and tear and I might just stab someone in the eye with a cocktail fork before my next birthday. Now that I've acquired the necessary skills for medium to fine dining and a basic knowledge of bar tending I will always have a universal source of extra earned income and for now that is fine, but give me a month or two and I will finally be fed up enough to put together a polished resume and be out on the street looking for a salaried day job.
My mother is especially excited for me to start out on my career journey in life. She is eagerly anticipating what twists and turns I may take in the future and is constantly offering up advice and suggestions and networking on my behalf. Eventually I will even take her up on her connective knowledge and move on up in the world.
Returning to the restaurant world has made me realize that I DO NOT want to be a career waitress like so many people I have worked with over the years. Yes the money is fantastic (people always need to eat) and for the most part you can choose the hours of your shifts, but the trade off in the end is not worth the trouble. Between the 5am wake ups or the 2 am closes or cranky people and the occasional $12 nights I just can't bear to make myself push through the pain for the long haul. Add on high stress, swollen feet, and bodily wear and tear and I might just stab someone in the eye with a cocktail fork before my next birthday. Now that I've acquired the necessary skills for medium to fine dining and a basic knowledge of bar tending I will always have a universal source of extra earned income and for now that is fine, but give me a month or two and I will finally be fed up enough to put together a polished resume and be out on the street looking for a salaried day job.
My mother is especially excited for me to start out on my career journey in life. She is eagerly anticipating what twists and turns I may take in the future and is constantly offering up advice and suggestions and networking on my behalf. Eventually I will even take her up on her connective knowledge and move on up in the world.
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