Recent College Grad: I Couldn’t Find a Job, so I Worked at Chick-Fil-a

I figured that once I graduated from college, I would have no problem stepping into an entry-level position in journalism or publishing. I learned very quickly that the post-recession job market in 2011 had changed everything.

Since my partner and I had adopted our first child in college, I had a young family to support, so finding a job after graduation was important.

I moved my family from West Texas to Fort Worth so that I could access a larger job market, but the combination of idealistic naivety and unrealistic expectations got in the way of my job hunt. I soon found myself in places I never thought I would be: a job seeker event and, at one point, a food bank.

For the first few months after graduation, the stress of job-hunting and not having enough money to make ends meet affected my young family.

After several months of holding back, I finally broke down and decided to apply for a job at the Chick-fil-A close to our house. I landed an interview quickly and was immediately offered an entry-level cashier position.

Before I knew it, I was dressed in full Chick-fil-A red and black, standing at the ready and asking customers what types of sauces they wanted with their nuggets.

No, I wasn’t “living my best life” or harnessing the American dream, but that wasn’t the point. I was making money for my family. Plus, the job both humbled and empowered me.

I first struggled to adapt to my new job

It wasn’t easy for me to settle into the restaurant position since my hopes had been firmly set on a salary with benefits.

I was a college graduate working a job I never saw myself doing. At times, I felt like I had taken a step in the wrong direction. I found myself struggling with anger and frustration.

However, once I overcame my frustration, I noticed the real benefits of my gig.

For example, I worked with some inspiring people: high school students putting themselves out there to get some work experience, the cooks who took me under their wing (and caught me up on my Spanish), and our store owner who cared about people over profit.

It felt good to earn for my family in a positive environment while I waited to determine my next step.

My Chick-fil-A job empowered me, too

Taking that job in a fast-food restaurant didn’t solve all of our problems, but it gave me a new outlook on postgrad life.

While it wasn’t my dream job, I could make a monthly wage, giving me the breathing room to look for other work opportunities that made sense for a recent college graduate.

It took patience and willingness to work while waiting for another opportunity. In doing so, the job also taught my family a powerful lesson: If we can approach tough situations with the willingness to do what it takes with humility, we’re more likely to survive our struggles.

Being willing to take the opportunities in front of you, even if they don’t feel like enough at the time, can lead to what you need.

I have no regrets

After working at Chick-fil-A for eight months, I found work more closely aligned with my career goals.

Thanks to my short stint in the service industry, I now own a coffee company in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The journey has also led my partner into her private practice as a clinical therapist. Not only have our careers grown, but 13 years later, our family has grown from three to six.

I am deeply grateful for our family’s Chick-fil-A era because I learned a lot while responding to customers with “my pleasure.”

It was my pleasure, in the end, to have the opportunity for growth and the ability to lay a healthy foundation for our family.