Back in March, I decided I was going to take a break from working at my local grocery store and try my hand at being a front desk agent at a boutique hotel. I contemplated leaving my assistant front end manager position for about a month before I decided to take a break.
I notified my managers and told them I'd likely return in a month. Once I was hired at the boutique hotel, I figured the job would be simple and it was. I was smiling, greeting, assisting, and making reservations. It was almost perfect.
By the second week, I realized the staff was not exactly as professional as they made one assume. Some of the staff, having been working there longer, were patronizing, condescending, and unprofessional. I was honestly surprised, but I didn't want to stir any further problems between me and them.
They would be loud while guests were present, make faces when guests' backs were turned, and would constantly be on their phones. The front desk manager seemed to either take things too seriously or not seriously enough. After another two weeks, I decided to return to my previous job.
The following week, I called the assistant store manager and asked him what I should do to come back. He told me to text my supervisor, so I did. "Hey just wanted to let you know I'll be available next week to work. Things didn't work out at the last place. Let me know about the schedule." I waited for a text and received one the next day. "This week's schedule is already done. I'll see if I can put you on for next week."
I didn't mind having to wait a week so I replied with, "OK. Just send me the schedule when you put me on it." So I waited for the picture of the schedule I was supposedly going to receive, but lo and behold… Nothing was sent to me.
I called the assistant store manager and let him know I still hadn't received the schedule so he told me to talk to my supervisor, the same advice he had given me the week before. Again, I waited for a response. Another week goes by, still nothing.
I began to worry about my bills. My rent, my gas, my utilities, my Internet, my groceries. I could pay for them. My fiancé was the only one making any money, but it was barely enough to cover everything. I tried calling, texting, everything I could possibly do to return, but still nothing.
I was applying to different places and scored a few interviews here and there, but nothing stuck. I was starting to run out of options. Luckily, the local performing arts center I worked at all through high school was hiring people for Patron Services. Once I applied, I felt like I was being welcomed back.
It took me three months to find a new job. I was almost kicked out of my place, we often didn't have any food, and relied on other people for help. I know there are probably people who have been in worse situations than I have, but this experience made me realize that a job is a privilege. Working and providing for yourself isn't easy, let alone after three months of unemployment.