Quit your Job, Move to Hawaii Part 3 of 3

Tweet

This is part three of three in a series of guest posts from Ryan Martin.  In this post he will discuss the reality of finding work on the island. Follow the links if you haven’t read part 1 or part 2.

Sunset on Maui

So far I have been writing about how awesome Hawaii is and how it has pretty much been all fun and games. Now here comes the dark side…or so it was for me.

After the honeymoon stage ended for me on Maui, I decided I needed to get a J-O-B. I mean, half the reason I came to Hawaii was to pursue a job in the hospitality/tourism industry. So I set out on a quest to find a way to continue to fund the limitless fun that I have been enjoying on Maui. I literally made it four blocks down the street to the closest business to my residence (a coffee shop), walked in, and asked if they had heard of any job openings after ordering a cup of coffee. The sweet, kind middle-aged lady replied, “Well as a matter of fact, we’re hiring.” Hot damn, this is going to be easier than I thought. I handed her a resume, she interviewed me on the spot, and 5 minutes later I had a job.

I started the next day and soon learned what I thought was going to be an easy, laid back job at a coffee shop was turning into a concentration camp of sorts. My first hint of this was when I brought up casual conversation with a customer about travel. Boy, did I get an earful when they left. The nice, middle-aged lady instantly turned into a she-beast and ripped me a new one. “In this coffee shop, we educate customers about coffee and bring all conversations back to coffee. DO NOT talk to customers about anything other than coffee. Do you understand me?” Oh, I understood loud and clear. Most of all, I understood that this was going to be a big mistake.

After being verbally reprimanded, I put my tail between my legs and cowered back behind the counter in anticipation of the next customer. Before the next customer arrived, a co-worker asked me about the surf that morning. I responded like any social human being would, and was quickly ssshhh’ed by my boss. WTF? “Ryan, what did I tell you?” I replied, “Yes, mother.” Ok well I really didn’t say that, but I was thinking it in my head.

Two weeks of social oppression followed and I finally couldn’t take it any longer. I called the “Coffee Nazi” out on her outrageous demands and we agreed that my employment there was not going to work. She wanted complete control over my existence in the coffee shop and I apparently couldn’t keep my mouth shut. So after two arduous weeks of slavery, I was free once again to pursue a job more so related to tourism and such.

Three days later, I sniffed out a lead on a job selling sun tan lotion and Maui Jim sunglasses. I went in for the interview and met with the Big Wig there (or so I was told). “I can already tell you look good for the job. When can you start?” That was literally my interview. Somewhere in the U.S. jobs are suppose to be hard to come by, but apparently not here. A few days later I became a member of an elite society of oil boy experts.

I’m about to start my first day on my own as an Oil Boy Specialist, as I like to call it. I would say it’s a step up from my former job. They pay me talk at this one and even encourage it (who would have thought talking while at work could turn into a privilege). Now, I wander the pool deck and look at the gorgeous azure seas to my right and perfectly fitted Brazilian cut bikinis to my left. I have the best office view in the world, get to work on my tan, and best of all, get paid all at the same time. This is the first time in awhile that I have worked at a job I enjoy, rather than a job that was convenient or paid well. So for those of you out there that can’t take it anymore at that crappy job, don’t. Follow your passions, keep looking, and don’t give up because if you keep an optimistic outlook on life and your career, everything will work out in the end.

Tweet