Irish girl hoping to travel to Texas or Canada (appointed, hotel)

[corkgirl]

(young irish girl hoping to travel and work in Texas or Canada)

Hi! im a 20year old girl from Cork,Ireland and i was hoping to travel and work in Texas or Canada.Due to the recession and everything is this the totally wrong time to go?? Im hoping not!! Iv trained as a barber here and iv also worked as a waitress and receptionist in a hotel.What are my chances of getting work in either Texas or Canada?? And is there a big Irish community in either place,i know thats abit vague but...!! any information appreciated,thanks!!

[WillysB]

corkgirl, while we'd love to have you here in Texas, it may be a bit difficult for you to get work due to laws. Most employers can't/won't hire unless you can show documentation allowing you to work in the U.S. For citizens that's easy. For visitors not so easy. Also, Barbers require licensing by the state. I don't know if you can bring licensing with you from Ireland but it would take a while to achieve that here.

I don't know what the rules are for Canada.

Again, we'd love to have you, if only for a visit. Who knows, you might open a business or win the lottery. Could be worth a try. Good luck...

[Trainwreck20]

Waitressing is always an option, although as WillysB mentions above, I am not sure about 'greencard' type work allowances. There may be some temporary work visas that will allow you to work short-term. There is a lot of competetion for the waiting jobs (at least on paper) but if you:
a) know what you are doing;
b) are pleasant;
c) can show up consistently (and on time); and
d) realize that the best restaurants are not always available.
you should have no trouble finding a job in relatively short order.

The drinking age is 21, so I am not sure if you have to be 21 to bartend (you used to only need to be 18). If you can bartend (and care to), check out places like Fado's...I am sure they would love to have an actual Irish bartender .

http://www.fadoirishpub.com/austin/

[teatime]

You'd probably find the process easier in Canada. Isn't Canada still connected to the UK in some way, like a Commonwealth country? I know Ireland is independent, but there still may be a link and reciprocity with Canada.

Otherwise, you're looking at jobs here that don't pay all that well and for which there is a lot of competition to work at the best restaurants. (Yep, you'd need an American license to be a barber.) The recession may not be as bad in Texas as it is in other parts of the country but we're still feeling it. My son is a college student who was working as a waiter and he had to quit because he just wasn't making it on the lousy tips people are now leaving.

Also, you may or may not realize that in America, waitresses are only paid about $2 an hour and the industry basically looks to the customers to pay their wait staff through tips. If the tips are bad, or business is slow, you work a lot of hours for very little money. (When my friends from London visited, they were shocked by this so I know it's very different in the UK, where wait staff are paid a decent wage and don't have to rely mainly on tips.)

[Trainwreck20]

Although, I made really good money waiting tables through college and then as a second job when I worked at the state. Yes, you only get $2.125 and hour (nice number, huh?) in wages, but I usually ended up with at least $15/hr, sometimes much more. And that was working in a $6-$7 per plate type place. So, yeah, the money aint going to get you to retirement, but it has really flexible hours, fun people, and is actually pretty low stress (you NEVER take work home with you ).

[corkgirl]

thanks for the comments,im disappointed to learn that i wouldnt get going with the barbering!! anyway,iv visited the states a few times before so i was aware waiting staff depended mainly on tips,i just didnt realize pay would be as little as $2 an hour,thats like one euro an hour-crazy!! we get at least 8euro here!! anyway il keep looking into it....thanks again

[teatime]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Although, I made really good money waiting tables through college and then as a second job when I worked at the state. Yes, you only get $2.125 and hour (nice number, huh?) in wages, but I usually ended up with at least $15/hr, sometimes much more. And that was working in a $6-$7 per plate type place. So, yeah, the money aint going to get you to retirement, but it has really flexible hours, fun people, and is actually pretty low stress (you NEVER take work home with you ).

Trainwreck, with the recession, tips have become horrible. My kid would work 6 hours and earn maybe $25, and that included the $2/hour wage, some days. Business was very slow and folks aren't tipping as well as they did before. Competition is now fierce for wait service jobs at good restaurants with a solid clientele. My son gave up and went to retail where he's at least guaranteed $7.50/hour and can budget accordingly.

[cotybagley]

ay darlin Im from Texas and mow Im a Marine every time Im there I can tell you Jobs dont pay bad at all I can tell you that Irish communities are non-existant we that are Irish or made up mainly of Irish decent live in communities with everyone else but the southern hospitallity is great I know that the jobs are good cuz im about to be out of the Marines and have 6 to 7 job oppertunities waiting just have a good idea of where you would want to go in Texas

[Westerntraveler]

you can be under 21 to bartend

[Squirl]

This thread is 2 years old......doubt the OP needs advice any longer!