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Getting out of Food Service

S

snazzy_sn

Bluelighter
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
774
Location
Texas
I've been working in restaurants and kitchens since I was sixteen.
It's all I know how to do.

I've been hearing for the longest time from various people that getting out of food service is hard to do.
My aunt was a waitress for twenty some-odd years.

I've been a busser, a dishwasher, a prep cook, cash registers, fast food everything but serving (i lack the people skills i think) in country clubs, chinese joints, country themed restaurants and all kinds of others. I know how to do everything, but I really don't want to.

I hate it. I just got another job washing dishes and I hate it.
I've been fired or let go or quit every one of these food service jobs (about eight or nine total) because I start using/drinking to cope.
Up until now I haven't had much of a choice because I've lived in rural areas or small towns where there weren't many other oppurtunities.
Recently though, I moved to the city, a very big one and I'm sure there's plenty of oppurtunity I'm just not sure how to approach any other kind of business for a job other than a restaraunt.
I'm 21 years old, I have one felony and a ton of misdemeanors.
I'm handy on a keyboard and pretty bright when I'm not doing drugs (and sometimes when I am)
Physically I'm very weak, especially considering I'm a male, and I loathe manual labor.

I just dunno how to get non-kitchen jobs.

I'd like to go to college at some point but until then, I need to work to survive. My newest job is the worst one I've had so far. Hours are good, pay is low, and it's just not worth going through the misery unless I have to.

Ideas?
 
I think a good place to start is at some entry-level retail jobs. Not all retail positions deal with people. I have worked support jobs where we unloaded trucks in the back and stocked shelves after hours in the front.

I also think you need to work on your quitting etiquette if you're going to start moving up in jobs instead of moving around. No matter how much you hate a job, I highly recommend turning in a 2 week notice and riding out the storm instead of quitting or getting fired. I say this because you should start building a resume and you typically don't list past jobs on your resume if you got fired or quit without notice.
 
Maybe be a trucker or van driver or something along those lines?

Youre kind of limiting yourself with an attitude of loathing manual labor. Most jobs that dont require a college degree are going to have some form of physical labor. Have you tried becoming more than a prep cook? My 2nd restaurant job I started off as a dishwasher but learned how to use the grill and fryer and eventually just became a fry chef. Fryers are pretty easy to learn its all about timing.
 
i just want a job where i can sit down and do paperwork
i was thinking a job as a bartender would be great, i just don't know if my people skills are up to par. x.x
i'm a poor and inexperienced driver so that rules that out...

honestly, i have no desire to become a chef or advance in any kind of restuarant job (although i can work a fryer). i've been around kitchens so long. i'm burnt out.
 
being a convicted felon is really going to limit your options.. I know that UPS is definitely out of the question..
 
volunteer doing something similar to what you want to do. that's how i escaped food service. it's an easy way to gain experience in another field.
 
^ Yea that. I hate to say it, but volunteering can do you a big favour. At one point or another it'll give you an opportunity to show your real aptitude and people will start saying "why the fuck are you working as a dishwasher? I have a job that needs to get done right here, and it pays better."
 
I have been working in the area for 6+ years and for the first year or so it was fun good :) now the industry has lost the respect, you get treated like shit all the time.

but on the plus you can work anywhere in the world knowing that cafe and restaurants will always need staff ..

But maybe go study ?
 
I suggest going to a temp agency in your area to see if they can hook you up with something. They have jobs in all different areas, and many of them are entry level with no experience needed. Something like data entry, clerical work, billing, and mail room work are all common jobs that can at least get you started in an area outside of the food service. Just type in temp agency + your location into google, and see what you can find from there.

I think that a lot of temp agencies ask if you have been convicted of any crimes, so that may be an issue. Since they cover such a large range of jobs for a lot of different companies (some of which ask if you have been convicted of a felony, and others that don't) they usually ask you during the initial interview to get it out of the way. Hopefully they will still help you out. If you contact them often enough they should help you out with something.
 
It isn't hard. Walk out the front door.

Don't look back.

...seriously.
 
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