My older daughter just quit an oppressive restaurant job (managers yelled at staff in front of customers, broke dishes, micromanaged, deflected blame, etc.). She would like to find a “nonterrible” job, preferably not as a server, despite the big bucks she has made at restaurants. Any tips for finding work in a new field in which one lacks experience? She is a writer and wants to have time to work on her writing (which she didn’t when doing double shifts at the restaurant) but isn’t making money at the writing yet. Thanks.
P.S. There are jobs that don’t involve regular being-screamed-at sessions, right?
Oh goodness! Yes, there are jobs where even entry level employees are treated with respect. How big is the city where she lives? Is there diversity of industries?
Population approximately 8.406 million (in 2013). She’s in the Big Apple.
I don’t get yelled at at my job but I wanted to do a reality check. It’s good to know that “nonterrible” is still a reasonable goal.
She might try a temp agency.
I don’t know where your D lives, but my D has supported herself as a nanny both in NYC and now back in San Diego. She has two different nanny jobs and still had time to take classes she needed before she starts a 10 month program this August to get her teaching credential. She watches a 2 year old 3 mornings a week then has 2 school aged children in the afternoons. Pay is very good with both families she works for.
Thanks for the tips! Part of the issue is me supporting her (emotionally) through the “nobody likes me, everybody hates me” stage of looking for work. I’m careful to be positive but realistic in my communications with her, but I’m one of those parents who feels my children’s pain more than I do my own. If you have any ideas about that, please feel free to share them, also.
Receptionist/check-in person at a hotel?
https://newyork.craigslist.org/search/wri
I googled editing jobs. NYC
If she is still under your health insurance this would be the best time to go full throttle at writing jobs. Blogging, etc.
My daughter has also had a very good nanny job along with her friends.
There are lots of dog walkers in NYC - does she like dogs?
Retail at a small boutique in a gentrifying neighborhood?
I second temp agency.
D2, living in Boston, got a job through a temp agency after leaving a terrible, long hours, low pay oppressive job. Her temp job led to permanent. She makes more than twice the money, has weekends off and great fringe benefits. And she likes the job and is learning a lot. It probably is not where she will stay forever. But it is so much better than where she worked previously.
It might be worthwhile trying to apply for a federal job–they do take people in many different majors (though they do like folks with languages and science/engineering & computer science). It’s just one more avenue to consider. Our S has been with the federal government since he graduated from college and it has been excellent for him.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I love this forum!