How do I get away from the restaurant industry and get a real job with benefits?
I (23M) have been working in the restaurant industry since I got my first job at 15. I have worked both from of house and back of house, and have found my way into working in the kitchen. I graduated high school, but never followed through with going to college, I both couldn’t afford it and wasn’t guided through the process by any counselors so I have no idea what that process would be like. I’m not opposed to getting any type of degree, but am not able to become a full time student due to rent and living costs. I work 20 hours a week at a restaurant (the only hours they are open) making 30/hr. While this is a very high paying job, more than any other line cook in the area, it is not enough for me to really save up much money to even get my own car (currently sharing with my roommate). Not having my own car, along with the hours the restaurant is open, makes it incredibly difficult to find a second job willing to work with my availability. I have been wanting to get out of the industry even before I took my current job, but I needed money and knew some people at this restaurant so I toughed it out and took the job. I recently found out that the owners of the restaurant are retiring and are planning to sell. They have treated me very well, and I want to work with them until they sell the property (about a year is the estimate they give) but after the sale goes through, I absolutely do not want to work in a kitchen ever again, it has completely killed my desire to make food, even for myself at home. With all that being said what are the best most immediate steps that I can take to set myself up to eat a job with growth potential and at least some sort of benefits. All I want is to be able to work normal business hours and make enough to not be just barely scraping by.