Free Career and Job Search Advice

[kaynigra22]

This is a question that I hope never to ask anyone ever again! I am new here to the forum and am looking for some helpful advice from someone who has any. I am 26 years old and I work in a fast paced restaurant. Something that I never pictured myself doing in a million years, but here I am after graduating from college still working in the dreaded restaurant industry. I guess you could say that I went through what some people may call a "Quater Life Crisis". I guess I am still going through it.
I graduated college in 2003 with a Bachelors Degree in English and Elementary Education. So why you ask am I still working in a restaurant? I don't have a good answer to that question except that maybe I am absolutely scared out of my mind. It seems so juvenile to say that, but I am. I worked at a restaurant throughout college and grew accustomed to the atmosphere, people, and the lifestyle. I found a comfort zone. I recently got married and bought a home with my very supportive husband. On top of feeling scared and anxious about getting a "real" job I feel like a failure to my parents, my family, and my husband. I am sick of feeling like I am wasting my life. I am sick of feeling like a failure. I am sick of coming up with excuses as to why I am still serving in a restaurant. I feel like an even bigger idiot that I was fortunate enough to be able to go college and I am just wasting it! I want to change my life for the better and improve my chances for a better future. Oh the other big issue is that I really do not want to become a teacher! At this point any advice would be good advice. Any tips on how to overcome this fear and all of my anxieties? My fear of failure? What do I do next?

[noradlf]

.
.
.
Ok, let me start with the good news.
You know what you don't want and this is very important.
If you are sure you don't want to be a teacher, you can pick up that thought and throw it away and focus on something else.

The restaurant job is your comfort zone, you say. You know the job and the environment very well.
What about building your career in there? In that sector, I mean, not in that very restaurant, if you can't.
When I was studying, I worked in a hotel and the best hotel director I have ever know was graduated in... Agricultural Sciences!


Let us know. Bye, n

[Ciprian13]

So what noradlf is saying is that you should try to be your own boss and not encounter the fear of failing a job interview.For that you need to start a restaurant bussiness, maybe a cathering one or something similar to a franchise.Do you have the support for such a thing from your friends and family or this is another stupid idea that you've heard?

[CareerCookie]

Dear kaynigra22:

You are in a great place! Why do I say that? Because, you are no longer content with where you are. You no longer want to settle for less than you're worth. Subconsciously, you have come to realize that you have more to offer this world.

Getting out of your comfort zone will require planning and diligence. You can use your English/Teaching degree to your advantage. Having this college education means that you are:

• An excellent communicatior (written and verbally)
  
• Enjoy learning
  
• Are disciplined
  
• Are analytical
  
• Persuasive
  

In addition to your education-- you've developed great people, time management, conflict resolution, and organizational skills at the restaurant you work at. I'm not sure what your interests are but consider looking into fields such as: social work, administration/clerical, writing, publishing, government, and public relations/marketing.

Also you can always go back to school for law, psychology or medicine.
Let me know if I can be of any other assistance.

CareerCookie