It’s been a crazy year. I’m 38 and have been having so much trouble finding a career that I enjoy. A few months ago I was chatting with a buddy about this and he asked if I ever had a job I looked forward to going into each day. After a bit of thought I realized that my bartending gigs in my early twenties were my favorite jobs. Upon this realization, I started getting excited about the prospect of slinging drinks again. I started watching some bartender videos on YouTube, memorizing flash cards of over one hundred popular cocktail recipes and started practicing flair tricks.

Over the last couple of months I’ve applied at 73 bars, the majority of those bars were through ads seeking bartenders. My first interview was at a really cool bar that specializes in axe throwing and axe throwing leagues. It’s a very manly environment. I was genuinely excited to work there, I really liked the manager and the staff that I met that day. I did a small demonstration of my bartending skills and the manager was impressed. He ended the interview on a good note and said I was perfect for the job and he’d get in contact with me about a start date soon.

A few days passed and I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by the bar with some pizza for the staff. When I walked in the manager was behind the bar training a girl that had absolutely zero experience. He apologized about filling the position and said he was cashing in a favor for a friend. He offered me a job as an axe throwing coach...

It was frustrating and I nearly accepted defeat. I received a message on a job I applied for on Facebook from a local VFW hall, I wasn’t as excited at first but went in for the interview anyways. The bar had a good crowd and the hiring manager really liked me and hired me on the spot. I don’t know how good the money will be here, but I’m pretty stoked about finally doing something I look forward to.

Cheers!