'Keep your head up'
- Name: Erica Arrington, 39
- Place: Chicago, Ill.
There was no Christmas for the kids last year.
I had spent six years working for Chipotle Mexican Grill, but was laid off last May. By December, I was at the end of my unemployment benefits, and I still had no job offers. I was leaning on my mother and father, who are retired. Those were hard times.
Then, in January, I got hired. I took a management position at Old Country Buffet. It's a great company. They flew me down to South Carolina for a week of training. I even met the CEO.
Now I'm in charge of the dining room and servers and making sure our guests have a great experience.
The company pays me hourly, and with 20 hours of overtime some weeks, that really has helped so much. Financially, we've gotten much better.
Looking back now and seeing the situation I was in, I know to keep your head up. Something will eventually come your way. What you go through in that moment, it doesn't last forever -- you will get through it.
