Two days ago was my last day at my latest restaurant job. After getting fired from GD, and getting hired at another restaurant where I have worked with one of the managers before, I promised myself that this was going to my last restaurant. I put two years of my life into GD and they fired me for something as silly as missing a meeting, I wasn't going to put a whole lot of time and energy into another job that had the potential to do the same thing to me.
I like to compare working in a restaurant to being in an abusive relationship (either friendship or romantic). It has far more bad moments than good, though the good prove slightly that might be worth hanging onto, you don't leave because it's easier to stay, it's more comfortable than the unknown and less scary, you stay in it so long it is all you know anymore, you don't think you could get a better alternative if you tried, makes you feel guilty about leaving, but once you do break free, it's the best feeling in the world!
I knew that my most recent restaurant was going to be my last. I was tired of dealing with customers and employee drama long into my job at GD, so I knew I wasn't going to be very happy at this restaurant. But it was so easy to get hired at another restaurant. Restaurants will hire anyone and everyone, especially if they have lots of other restaurant experience. It's quick and easy cash, relatively, so why work hard to try and get a job where there is a chance they might not hire you when you basically have a guaranteed job that you already know how to do.
For me, restaurants are my comfort zone. I know how to do those jobs already, I don't really need to learn anything new, it's easy and convenient, and it's an evil I'm completely familiar with. Most people would rather have a known evil to an unknown one, and I'm no exception (to a certain point). Since this blog has been about working in restaurant, and as I am no longer a restaurant employee (it took five years, but I'm finally out), I conclude my blog with this final entry. But, when one door closes, another opens. I have started a new blog about summer camp and life after restaurants.
http://aintgonnarain.blogspot.com
Good night, and good luck. :)
