Turned 30 this year and work as a barista at a specialty coffee shop. Never went to uni or did further study just bounced around the hospo scene. Waiting, bar tending, managing, worked in kitchens when short staffed (lmao when, more like always) but landed on barista as I like getting up early and being home by 2:30pm. Kind of had an “Oh shit” moment recently as I don’t want to wake up at 40 and still be doing this.

I genuinely enjoy what I do, my work mates are genuine close friends and we hang out outside work all the time, I’m still really good mates with heaps of ex coworkers too. The work isn’t stressful and I leave it at work. Of course there are shitty and rude customers but that’s across nearly every industry and honestly 99% of the people who come into my work are lovely. I make about $80k/year (work weekends and public holidays on casual but I’d rather earn the extra money and have no queues when I’m out and about on weekdays). Free food and coffee is also great with the cost of living going up and up. Sometimes I don’t even grocery shop and just have breakfast and lunch at work.

I just dread meeting people when they ask what I do, or when people ask if I’m also studying. Like this is a high school/uni/early-mid 20s gig that 99% of people move on from by my age. But I can’t stand the idea of sitting at a desk 9-5.

Don’t mean to offend anyone, just looking for thoughts from people in a similar situation. Chefs feel free to chime in, I only wrote that as cheffing is seen as a proper career and no one would think you’re too old or ask what you’re studying at uni.