Me: 24 year old Ivy-League grad, working in the New York City restaurant industry.
My status: Underemployed. Single. White. Female.
The Gallup pole classifies the respondent as underemployed if she is "unemployed or working part time but wanting full time work." According to Gallup, we're up to a 20.3% rate of underemployment.
Looking at the employment histories of my fellow alumnae from the illustrious Class of 2008, this 20.3% rate seems low. I have few fully employed peers. I have even fewer who have full-time employment in an industry they would want to stay in.
And there's me. Like other young people pursuing a career in the arts, I am for all intents and purposes pursuing a career in the hospitality industry. 2-4 shifts a week. But I like the restaurant industry. I am hungry for more shifts. I want to be running the place by the time I leave for the amazing arts job of my dreams. If I leave at all. On the plus side, I've got a lot of free time to enjoy the fruits of my labor and explore what it means to be underemployed in one of the greatest cities in the world.
And now, I'm off to Friday night dinner service. On behalf of everyone that is working to make your Friday night awesome, I humbly encourage you to tip well tonight, readers.
Hi....Beautifully written and I'm certain your words and experiences will resonate with many, many people thruout the city. I especially love the tone of your writing: practical, accurate, not self-pitying and ultimately hopeful. Bravo!
ReplyDelete(funny that my word verification word for posting this comment was, "plated.")