u/Cautious_Face8972

Hey guys, I recently decided to pursue a master’s degree hoping it would help me break out of the cycle of customer service jobs. Unfortunately, due to financial reasons, I may not be able to continue the program, and now I’ve found myself back in customer service again.
I’m trying to figure out a more realistic path forward and would really appreciate advice from people in Chicago who changed careers without going back to school full-time.
What are some jobs that:

are not heavily customer-facing

can realistically be learned through online courses/certificates
Or
provide training or apprenticeships

have actual entry-level opportunities in Chicago

I’ve been looking into things like UX design, cybersecurity etc but it’s honestly hard to tell what’s realistic vs. what’s oversaturated online.

I’m honestly very desperate for any job that is not customer facing.

Would really appreciate hearing what worked for you or people you know. Thank you.

I’m about 2 months into training at Panda Express and I’m honestly starting to think I might not be able to keep doing this.
I knew it would be hard, but the long shifts and constant pressure are starting to really get to me. I keep going back and forth because I also know quitting this early isn’t exactly an easy decision, especially right now with how expensive everything is.
Part of me feels like I should just push through it, but another part of me is wondering if I’m just not meant for this kind of job long term.

For anyone who quit Panda (or something similar) - what did you end up doing after? Did you regret it or was it actually the right choice?

And if you stayed… what helped you survive those crazy long shifts without burning out?

I’d really appreciate real experiences.

I was told my assistant manager training would take around 6 weeks, but it’s already been 2 months and I still feel stuck at the front of the house all the time. Sometimes I literally have to ask if I can work in the back of the house, and even then I barely spend any time there.
There are also so many things I was never taught, like cutting vegetables or doing inventory. At this point I just feel like a regular FOH employee instead of someone actually being trained to become an assistant manager.
It’s getting really frustrating because I never planned to stay stuck in FOH forever, and I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. Has anyone else dealt with this during management training?

If someone was hired externally to be an AM and they were givens a specific hourly salary, would it be increased upon successfully passing all modules or stay the same?

I’ve been training for Assistant Manager at Panda for about a month and a half. Started in FOH and then moved more into BOH because my ACO wants me preparing for my cooking test coming up soon.
A few days ago my store manager sent me to cover position 1 during a huge rush. I was trying my best to move the line fast while also handling online orders. After the rush she pulled me aside while associates could still hear and said “that was HORRIBLE.”
Then she started criticizing everything:
not moving online orders fast enough,
not calling for shrimp,
saying I shouldn’t have been in position 1 and should’ve been overseeing the store more as a manager.
The confusing part is she was literally the one who told me to cover position 1. I’ve also previously been told that during long lines we prioritize in-store guests over online orders. And with shrimp, I had been told before not to keep 2 bags up because they get soggy, so I thought I was following direction.
Ever since that happened she’s barely letting me train BOH anymore even though my cooking test is soon. She keeps putting me in FOH even when there are already enough people there to cover every position. I honestly feel like I’m learning nothing from her because most of the time she just criticizes instead of actually teaching. Being around her has become mentally draining.
I know I’m new and I know I’m still learning. I can take criticism. But the way it was delivered genuinely got to me. I ended up crying in the bathroom during the shift and trying to hide it while cleaning floors after. Since then I keep replaying the whole thing in my head and feel awkward around everyone at work.
I’m not trying to complain or act like I’m perfect. I really do want to succeed in this role. I just honestly feel exhausted mentally right now and don’t know if this is normal Panda training culture or if I’m taking it too personally.
For people who worked at Panda:
Is this kind of environment normal?
Does it get better?
How do you deal with managers who mostly point out mistakes?
And how do you stop letting moments like this kill your confidence?
Would really appreciate honest advice.