Saturday, August 14, 2010

Real life real soon

Well the new job officially starts on Monday! Wow! Everything in life is coming together and happening so fast it's almost hard to take it all in!  I truly could not be any happier to have all of the opportunities that I have been faced with over the past few months (or throughout my entire life for that matter)! My first shift begins Monday at 6 am. Hellloooo wake up call! My position at the Westin is the Outlets (Food & Beverages) Supervisor which means I will be overseeing the restaurant/bar/minibar/room service. Since both the individuals who were most recently in this position have been given promotions within the hotel, they need their new supervisors to start ASAP. The only problem is, they have yet to find supervisor #2 so I am diving right in! I feel like many of the things I do start out like this, yet I sort of like it because I'd rather jump right in and learn everything hands on (to some the hard way) as opposed to getting my feet a little wet and slowly learning the ropes. Don't get me wrong, there will be a lot of rope learning to be had in the next few weeks, but taking things face first will be the best way of doing it. It's going to be hard and probably a little rough at first, but to me that will only make things easier in the long run. There are two shifts a day for the supervisors and manager, one being 6 am - 2 pm and the other being 3 pm - 11 pm. Therefore, I am either working morning or night. It's kind of nice because the schedule will fluctuate and no matter which shift, I still have a full day to do other things whether it be in the morning or in the afternoon. It's certainly not a 9-5 job, that's for sure, but with what I want to do (plan events!) I might as well start getting used to it now! I will be saying goodbye to full fledged weekends for quite some time as we are given two days off each week, but it's always two different days (not your typical Saturday/Sunday weekend). I am excited about all of it though because it will be such a new and different experience and opportunity, and I cannot wait to see what it's all about! Luckily, I did not have to start in the midst of all of this weekend's Cards/Cubs madness downtown because with the Westin being directly across from the stadium, many people head there before or after the games. That would have been a lot to take in for day one with such a crazy downtown atmosphere the Cardinals and Cubs would have to offer! Although, it would have been fun because I was hoping to be downtown amidst all the madness, but they will be back in September so I am hoping to either some how snag some tickets, or hopefully I will be working! Since we get two days off each week, one of my two days off this week is somehow luckily Tuesday, which is my birthday! When asked which days I would like off, my manager suggested Tuesday may be a good day, and I proceeded to tell her that she was right, and that was my birthday : ) Lucky me! Not that I have any big plans for the big 2-3, but it will be a nice little present not having to worry about working that day! 
I can't wait to start off this new venture in my life! As always, I will of course keep you posted with more details. I was wondering when the next chapter in my life would officially begin, and I would say that this is it! I am going to be busy having a full time job, while also still doing some part time work with Performance Plus and Metromix whenever possible, but I am willing to make it happen (the same way I have done everything throughout my entire life!), and I cannot wait to see what outcomes these great continuing opportunities will bring me! 
Hello real life!! : )

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

I guess I am growing up after all!

Wow! So talk about change. These past few years have been full of change, but these last three months, since college graduation, have been nothing other than a great deal of positive changes in my life, and I could not be more excited and willing to take on every single one of them! After the most intensive interview process I have faced thus far, I've nailed a job : ) Wow! I have a full time job! With the Westin St. Louis! (and why yes, that is where Tim and I will be celebrating our marriage as well...better yet! That's just an added bonus :) ) I have accepted the position as one of two Outlets (Food and Beverages) Supervisors at the Westin! All of my hospitality studies in college have paid off : ) And what's better yet!? The two individuals whose positions I will be replacing are leaving these current positions because they were given promotions within the hotel! One of which will be moving to catering and events!! My goal and hope for the near future! What a great opportunity and what a great company to develop and grow with. There are so many great learning experiences and opportunities to come, and as always I am ready to take them on and see what comes of them! It's so hard to find jobs right now, and here I am with 2 part time jobs, an internship and a full time job offer! All the hard work throughout has certainly paid off, and it's finally showing in more ways than one. I sure do feel like one lucky girl. I don't want to get too excited because so many things are just perfect right now, and I honestly could not ask for more. I am beyond thankful for my family, my friends, life's challenges and opportunities and where I am in my life today, and each of these things has helped to lead me here. I'm starting to feel like I really am growing up after all. I guess I will be 23 years old in just over a week! Wow! Life is good : )

The [what seems like] never-ending process of getting there

More and more opportunities are on the rise. More than I ever would have imagined I would have at this point in my life. I originally thought I would graduate from college and come home to a full time job and begin my big girl life. Think again. Ok, so then once I realized that wasn't the case, I thought I would have the Summer to "figure things out" so to speak and maybe by the end of Summer...or the year...or next year perhaps?! I would finally have a job up my sleeve. Think again. Ok ok, so everything about this Summer and my [POSTGRAD] life is far different than what I could have expected. I currently have two part time jobs and an internship, all of which kind of seemed to fall into place at about the same time. On top of that, I have had interview after interview (the most grueling part of the entire process) while continuously submitting resumes and cover letters because I can't live off of part time jobs the rest of my life...I still need to find the real deal. So basically, I've been busy. (Oh yea...I'm planning my wedding too in case I've forgotten to mention that!) I'm doing the Marketing/Public Relations for Performance Plus by day and working with Metromix by night (and on weekends). I also recently gained another new opportunity as an intern with Cosmopolitan Events through which I get to work full day and night events and weddings. All of this is such great experience for where I want to be! But, like I said, I'm still on the search for a career, in hopes that all of these great opportunities and experiences will get me there along the way. I've had several more interviews and am hoping that some positive news will come of them. We shall see! Regardless, one of my best bits of advice to you is that the interview process in and of itself, despite the fact of how long and grueling it may be, is truly the some of the best experience one can get, no matter the outcome. I couldn't be more thankful for all of the different types of interviews I have already faced, and those that I know I will still continue to face in the future...whether it be now or later on down the road. It's such a great opportunity to learn so much about such different types of people and different companies and organizations, and overall, you come to learn a lot about yourself. I find myself comparing the career search and interview process a lot to sorority recruitment. Might sound weird, I realize, but if you are or have been vastly involved with both, you realize it's all one in the same. Life is a recruitment process. I thank God for playing such a big part in the sorority recruitment process while at school, because it has taught me SO much to help me get to where I am today. I am beyond thankful for all of these opportunities I currently have today because I realize I may have more than many [POSTGRAD] students may have just a month or two coming out of college, and I am thankful for the process it has and is taking to get me there, and for the hopeful opportunities to come in the [hopefully near] future. So many different things to think about, but in the meantime, all I can do is wait. And I suppose I will just continue on with living life in the meantime. : ) Take every opportunity you can get, even if it ends up only being one that you stick with for a month or even a week because the reason you may only be with it for that amount of time is because it likely will lead you to the next best thing. It's a never ending process. One that I (as always) am anxious to see more of. : )