Over 50 Taking on Second Job

The economic situation of the last eight to ten years has left me, and obviously millions of other Americans, financially strapped. Not to exclude the rest of the world but I simply can only expound on what it is like here in the "Good Ol' US of A". No raises, fear of job loss, presumably reputable credit cards jacking up their rates to just below the pay day loan sharks has all been very devastating on most people. Survival is essential so as I found myself in a deficit every month I swallowed my pride and went out to look for a second job.

Now I spent my first eighteen professional working years in the food service industry. I needed a quick influx of cash and as I have spent the last fifteen years since waiting my last table watching how romantic the restaurant business is on the Food Network I decided to go back to waiting tables. What the heck, I had been very good at this, at onetime and I could make some quick, easy money. Well it turned out to be less than romantic and far from being easy work.

I have always worked in fine dining settings and have enjoyed being to sell items at a higher price helping my take home pay immensely. However, I do not know the reason but the few places that I approached to take me back into the folds were people I had worked for in the past and they turned me down. I am guessing that they, like me, they had their doubts if I could do this type of labor again at my age. Did you see the episode of "No Reservations" where Tony tries to go back on the line at his old restaurant!

I had one last place before I started to rethink this strategy for making extra money. I met a couple of buddies there after work and was still trying to decide if I really wanted to do this or not when another friend mentioned to the owner passing by "this is the guy we need up front" and pointed at me. After a brief exchange I was hired on the spot actually before I had a chance to figure out what just went down. So still not sure if I could handle waiting tables again I started at this pizzeria / pub.

The first couple of weeks were not fun at all. My limit when at the top of my game was probably twenty five people at the same time, most. Right away it was obvious that getting thirty plus people, at the same time, was not out of the norm. Now I was in decent shape but still the running around was making me very sore and tired. Advil and power naps were the only remedy I had for the aftermath of being slammed the shift before. Oh and remember I still have a forty hour a week job doing computer work.

Fast forward to six months later and I am still doing a couple of nights a week at the restaurant. I have gotten back into shape where I can make it through a busy shift without being sore but still I hit the hay quickly when getting back home. Almost all of my co-workers are all college age and have acquired some respect for me after showing them I could do as much and as well as they could. Getting hit with thirty people at once still kicks my ass but only until I can get them under control and not for the week after.

The biggest challenge for me returning to this type of work was definitely the pride issue. I almost didn't do this because I was convincing myself I was too old for this work. It has been a physical challenge but not impossible.  I know I am damn lucky to have one job let alone be working two.  I know a lot of good, talented people are out of work right now.  I just wanted to share what I went through in case someone my age is facing a similar situation.  It has been some good lessons to learn and goes to show you, an "old dog" can learn some new tricks.