Hi all,

I'm obsessing a little, and it's making it hard to sleep, but I need some help about my job.

I am a fairly broke college grad, living at home, and recently made plans to save up some $$ to go abroad as an au pair. The quickest way it seemed to do this, was to take a job in a restaurant.

I went for it, and am training (not fully hired) at a restaurant, and will probably make good money there, if I can withstand the stress.

However, I know myself, and in my last waitressing job I was harried, nervous, stressed out, and exhausted. This amplified my depression/emotional eating by a lot, and I ended up quitting for fear I wouldn't be able to graduate college.

Admittedly, that job kinda sucked. I wasn't trained properly, had not had experience waiting tables before, and my boss was really uptight and terrifying. So my stress levels may have been higher than at other places.

I just don't know if I should take the risk of ruining my health in a similar job. Waiting tables is stressful. Every waiter at my old job drank a lot. They were also more extroverted and less sensitive than me.

Still, I'm not sure how long it'll take to get another job, or if I can get one that'll be equitable pay-wise. I'd be making $$$ at this restaurant, if I am good.
Is the $$ worth it? Should I just keep my eye on the prize and weather the storm of misery that may accompany it? Or should I get a less stressful job, and just be frugal & save a bit longer?

[Little Lulu]

You don't say if you have a feel for whether this new job will have the same level of stress and negative factors (bad boss, lack of training, etc) as the prior one did so maybe making a decision like this is premature. It might turn out that this job will be better than the previous one but you won't know until you give it some time and an open mind.

Keeping your eye on your goal, saving money to get a job abroad, will help when things get rough.

[guilloche]

Can you find something less stressful? If so, considering you're an introvert and sensitive, I would (I say that as someone with a similar personality!). I mean, it's a tough call... if you know it's a temporary thing ("it's stressful, but I've only got to hang in there for 6 months until I've got the money to go overseas...") it might make it more bearable?

I also sort of wonder though... if you want to be an au pair, would it make more sense to look for work now that involves kids (for the experience)? Would that be less stressful, and more relevant?

Good luck!

[Dan208]

I guess it depends on the person, but for me, the money would not be worth it. I left a job a few years ago after only a few weeks because I knew it wasn't for me. The pay was decent and the benefits were really good, but I have absolutely no regrets about leaving.

Now I work at a job that I enjoy (but am sometimes embarrassed by), that is close to home and is relatively stress free. Most of the stress comes from my own compulsive tendencies of how I like things to be done a certain way.

[offthegrid]

I would say do what you can to make this job as bareable as possible. I'm sure it won't always be easy but try to anticipate what your dressers may be and do what you can to deal with them. For example, if you aren't trained on something let your managers know and deal with it right away.

Some things are just way too much so since you do need money, hang in there as long as possible while looking for another job.

Thanks to those who responded. Actually, just after i posted this, I went in for a second training day at the new job and at the end of the day they decided not to hire me.
The problem is: they didn't train me either!
So my stress derives mostly from these crazy bosses who think I don't need training or don't have time to train me when really I need practice and instructions!!!
I'm starting to think my next best bet will be a family restaurant...or else Applebees? Except I would hate working at such a loud obnoxious establishment...
But it's either that, or give up au pairing, and get an unpaid internship (and resign myself to living at home for the rest of my young life)

If anyone here has waitressed before: please help! Did you just b.s. your way through at the beginning? Or were you naturally amazing at waiting tables? Or did you work some sh***y job until you had some experience bussing?

[CosmicRose]

Being an au pair sounds more stressful than anything you mentioned. I personally wouldn't take a stressful job just for the money, I would do my best to find jobs that matched my personality a little better for the cash.

[offthegrid]

It's probably for the best that they didn't hire you. Bad management makes even the most "easy" job stressful. Also bluedonna, all jobs have a potential to be stressful in some way. I think you just have to find something you enjoy enough that the hard parts are suited to your strengths.