While you love your restaurant server job, your hotel front desk position, or your back of the house catering gig, you’re ready to move on. Perhaps you need a larger paycheck, better benefits, a more flexible schedule, or maybe it’s simply time for a new challenge. Just because your current and past work experience has always been in the service industry, doesn’t mean you have stay in the same employment field.
Determine your Professional Identity-Take the time to define your strongest skills both personally and professionally. An easy method of doing this is to make a list of your biggest accomplishments. They can be as simple as getting to work every day on time or as complex as being responsible for all front of the house scheduling. Figuring out your professional identity helps narrow down your strengths and weaknesses.
Own Your Past Experiences-Your previous employment achievements have merit and don’t deserve to be downplayed or glossed over. Bundle these experiences together with skills you excel at. For example, chances are if you’ve made a decent living in the service industry, especially in front of the house positions, you have mastered the fundamentals of good customer service. You know how to make an experience memorable so why not consider allowing this skill to translate into a more financially lucrative or professionally rewarding career?
Say you’re current working as a restaurant server but have always had an interest in finance. An entry level bank teller position can easily open the door to head teller, loan processor, credit manager, or even branch VP. Include on your resume your cash handling and credit and debit card processing capabilities. Then don’t forget about your ability to work under pressure while multi-tasking, as well as dealing with difficult situations and customers. These are all transferable skills that work in your favor in many professions.
Gettysburg College graduate Andrew Naber has determined the average American will spend 90,000 hours of their life at work; while a 2013 Gallup poll discovered 87% of those Americans have no real passion for their job. Life is too short to stay in a job that doesn’t fulfill you. Connect today with Staffing One Services and let us help find you the career path you’ve always dreamed of walking down.