Making Ends Meet in a Slow Economy
A bartender/server we recently met at a new wine shop in a nearby neighborhood captured my attention. Watching him and listening to his small talk with patrons struck me as something pretty significant- enough to write this blog. This tribute is to his work ethic.
In these tough times, it is easy to get complacent. Easier still to use the bad economy as a reason to give up any efforts to reconcile what is needed to be done to take care of one’s financial obligations and what one’s expectations are. I am talking about expectations related to how someone will earn their income, how much that income will be, or how many sources might be required. Here is a great example of doing what it takes.
This server (I’ll call him Ray to maintain his anonymity) took considerable care describing the appetizers and wines currently on special, and offering tastes as he spoke. We watched as another patron turned up her nose at two offerings, and then ordered an appetizer she also promptly rejected. Ray didn’t flinch, and told her he would buy it for her. Every exchange was done politely, with a smile, with a little bit more small talk, without any hint that he was in any way put off by her reactions to his suggestions.
Ray is articulate, speaks with a smile and has a nonchalant, but matter of fact tone, without a hint of dissatisfaction with his work. We learned Ray is an artist, but also has a strong interest in food and interacting with people. He told us about his commute, the hours he worked, and his long distance girlfriend. He has a 9 to 5 day job downtown that is related to the work he does as an artist, but between that and the sale of his art work he is still missing the people facing/food element he desires and some extra money to invest in supplies. He buses from the downtown area of Seattle to this neighborhood in the southwest part of the city about 30 minutes away to fulfill his role as a part time bartender/server.
What captured my attention even more than his pleasant attitude and the positive way he described his status, was what he told us he did to secure this 2nd job. He said he personally visited upwards of 75 restaurants in about a 20 mile radius until he got “yeses” from two. (He even brought a loaf of homemade bread to the owners of this wine shop!) The other position he was offered didn’t work out with his schedule, so he is still on the hunt for a 2nd part time job, and is continuing his in person quest to find the right restaurant.
Now I am guessing that Ray is about 20 years younger than me. So, I was surprised to hear his story, based on my experience with job seekers over the past 20 years. It took me way back to the days I held five part time jobs to make sure I could cover my mortgage in the 80’s. Or, in the late 90’s when I was catching a ferry at 5:00 AM to travel across the water to earn $19 an hour delivering training that had already taken 30 (uncompensated) hours to develop. It is just what had to be done at the time to help me move forward toward my goals.
Today’s market is tough – no doubt about it. But Ray’s story took me back a bit, and made me think about the number of people today that stay unemployed altogether because they are not finding the one job that pays what they used to earn when times were good, or the one job that pays what they think they deserve. I think about how many others I know that have stayed unemployed because the currently available jobs seem beneath them, or were too much effort to look into. In my work, I hear about it or see it firsthand almost every day. I work hard to help job seekers think out of the box – To think about getting back in the game and position themselves for that time two to three years from now when the market is back to some kind of stability.
I was so impressed with Ray’s attitude and perseverance, I just had to share. I hope his story is an inspiration for others to make a little more effort to reach their goals, and to keep things from going completely into a ditch during these slow times.
What are you doing differently to make sure you stay in the game or make sure your bills get paid? How has your thinking changed?
Hello Sherri
I agree with you on just getting a cash flow to cover your bills. I am doing that myself by picking up part time merchandising projects. While at the same time volunteering to work with different Nonprofits to get exposure and experience.
Now how does taking a job just to get a cash flow, like the above person, impact your career direction? Meaning, if you just get part time gigs, that may not be in your field, so there is cash flow in this economy?
Joseph
Hi Joseph,
The key to get work that covers cash flow is to make sure it is in line with your career goal.In Ray’s case, he wanted to be in the restaurant business, so he achieved that, but he also wants to sell his art work. He achieved that by working in a venue that promotes it.
It is all about planning and strategy – making sure that you can connect the dots between where you are and where you want to be.There are jobs. The ones that are available may not be a person’s “Plan A”, so the key is in positioning yourself to be ready and in line with Plan A when things get better.
Hi Sherri,
Well in my case the “Plan B” is doing volunteer work with Non Profits to get the experience I need. Right now working with one group on redeveloping their board and creating “Clock Hours” for their workshops.
Was able to get some part time work as a merchandiser, which is not my career goal. I am just finding that companies want someone with a track record, not just the skills. So I offer my skills to get the experience and connections.
Joseph,
If your goal is to get into the nonprofit sector, then volunteering is a great way to build experience and connections. Yes, employers do want a track record. It may be that there is other paying work that transfers more to your end goal than merchandising, and that in combination with the volunteer work will help you get closer to your goal, sooner. Sometimes it is beneficial to take a short term hit on salary if you can better relate your current experience to your target. Although you may make less up front. if you can show the skills you are using are directly related to your goal, it may get you there faster.