Her Story
About Elizabeth
I started my hospitality career with Ruby Tuesdays in Homestead, Florida in the late 90s and early 2000s, right after graduation in 1989. I've worked in various roles including server, bartender, and front desk at hotels. At Ruby Tuesdays, I advanced rapidly - I went from hostess to server within 3 weeks, then became a bartender and trainer, achieving all of this in less than 7 months from my first day of hire. I'm now going back to work for Disney, starting on the 22nd of this month in food and beverage at the water parks. I'm based in the Orlando area. The biggest challenge I see in the field right now is the lack of jobs - there are a lot of people saying they're hiring, but very few positions are actually available. If you don't know somebody in a position somewhere, it's hard to get a job, especially in Orlando. For bartenders specifically, you can find a job pretty easily, but it's twice as hard to find a place that actually has the clientele flow to make a livable earning.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Elizabeth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to stubbornness - I refuse to give up. I put my mind through it, and I keep going. That determination and refusal to back down has been the driving force behind everything I've accomplished in my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to never give up and always reach for the stars. If it's in your brain, put your mind to it. Don't ever give up, keep pushing forward and drive for the next level every day. This advice has shaped how I approach every challenge and opportunity in my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't back down. Stand up for yourself. If you have a voice, use it. And always respect yourself above everybody else. Don't put yourself down - if you don't think you can do it, you won't be able to. Put your mind to it that you can do it, and you will reach amazing levels faster than you can blink. I'm proof of that - I went from hostess to server within 3 weeks, then became a bartender and trainer at Ruby Tuesdays back in the 90s. Within the first day of hire to not even 7 months later, I was a trainer. That's what happens when you believe in yourself and push forward.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is the lack of jobs. There are a lot of people saying they're hiring, but there are very, very, very few positions actually available. It's hard to find that actual open window to get in. If you don't know somebody in a position somewhere, it's hard to get a job, especially where I'm at in Orlando. As for opportunities, with bartending you can find a job pretty good, but it's twice as hard to find a place that actually has the clientele flow to make sure that you actually make a livable earning. So while there are opportunities in bartending, the real challenge is finding positions that will provide sustainable income.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are structure and consistency, teamwork, and friendship. Friendship is a big thing when it comes to work and home life. If you can't make friends while you're working, why are you working? When you build your base with friendship, you can go anywhere. These values create the foundation that allows me to succeed in everything I do.
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