Disclaimer: All of the names in this blog have been changed to protect me.
Hello, My name is Caterina. Okay, it really isn't, but it's close to my real name. After more than 15 years as a drink server (better known as a cocktail waitress) in a casino, I've realized it's time to get a real job. The money was great as a drink server, but I just can't make myself do that degrading job anymore. After two and a half years working casino surveillance, I've decided IT work might be the career for me. I enjoy the work I do with computers and compared to the people around me I seem to have a knack for it. And an interest.
Originally this blog was simply going to be about my attempt to transition from a dead end job in casino surveillance to a career in IT within the next year. However, personal issues surrounding my family keep popping up lately. I said "good-bye" to my parents and two of my siblings 10 years ago. I haven't seen or heard much from my whole family in that decade. I left that life behind. Now, I find myself running into and getting phone calls from family members I haven't seen in a long time. I recently got a Facebook page. I've gone from this quite separated, compartmentalized life, to all the moments of my life touching each other on Facebook. I don't know what will become of it.
Will the next year be a success story or a train wreck? I'm rooting for a success story, but, it seems, train wrecks are easier to make. I hope this blog will hold me accountable and push me on to the life I'd rather live.
Wish me luck.
Score Card pages:
People in the Surveillance Room
Hello, My name is Caterina. Okay, it really isn't, but it's close to my real name. After more than 15 years as a drink server (better known as a cocktail waitress) in a casino, I've realized it's time to get a real job. The money was great as a drink server, but I just can't make myself do that degrading job anymore. After two and a half years working casino surveillance, I've decided IT work might be the career for me. I enjoy the work I do with computers and compared to the people around me I seem to have a knack for it. And an interest.
Originally this blog was simply going to be about my attempt to transition from a dead end job in casino surveillance to a career in IT within the next year. However, personal issues surrounding my family keep popping up lately. I said "good-bye" to my parents and two of my siblings 10 years ago. I haven't seen or heard much from my whole family in that decade. I left that life behind. Now, I find myself running into and getting phone calls from family members I haven't seen in a long time. I recently got a Facebook page. I've gone from this quite separated, compartmentalized life, to all the moments of my life touching each other on Facebook. I don't know what will become of it.
Will the next year be a success story or a train wreck? I'm rooting for a success story, but, it seems, train wrecks are easier to make. I hope this blog will hold me accountable and push me on to the life I'd rather live.
Wish me luck.
Score Card pages:
People in the Surveillance Room
A Year in Transition
Posted 07-16-2010 at 05:35 PM by Inconversant
At 40-something I have decided to change professional industries. After working in hospitality for two decades I've decided to learn IT. I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person, but I don't know a great deal about computers or networking, and changing industries at such a late stage in my life is a risk, especially in this train wreck of an economy. Scratch that. A risk isn't entirely true. Anyone who has ever worked in hospitality knows the money is in the tipped positions. Advancement in hospitality means an unliveably low income. As well, if I am going to change professions I better get down on it before it's way too late.
Recently I started working in surveillance. Not a lot of money at an entry level. If I were able to install cameras, maintain the servers, solve software issues, I could make almost as much as I did at my old tipped position. And I wouldn't have to deal with the public. I would also be able to look for an IT job outside of surveillance. The next year will be dedicated to learning the IT skills necessary to successfully transition from the hospitality industry to the IT industry. One person's story. I really don't have the first clue how to do this, just one foot in front of the other. If any of you in the IT industry have any advice for me, I would love to hear it.
Recently I started working in surveillance. Not a lot of money at an entry level. If I were able to install cameras, maintain the servers, solve software issues, I could make almost as much as I did at my old tipped position. And I wouldn't have to deal with the public. I would also be able to look for an IT job outside of surveillance. The next year will be dedicated to learning the IT skills necessary to successfully transition from the hospitality industry to the IT industry. One person's story. I really don't have the first clue how to do this, just one foot in front of the other. If any of you in the IT industry have any advice for me, I would love to hear it.
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Comments
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Posted 07-17-2010 at 11:54 AM by 2goldens
