How Bartending After Layoff Transformed Corporate Career

Marketing veteran Julie Levin experienced an unexpected career disruption in 2023 when she was laid off from her marketing position after relocating from Los Angeles to the New York area for what she believed would advance her career.

During her career transition, she returned to bartending—a position she previously held during college—working part-time for approximately six months while determining her professional future.

The bartending role required creating complex cocktails at a fine dining establishment, which provided humbling lessons about working without the protection of corporate titles or past achievements.

Observing how full-time bartenders' negative attitudes impacted customer experiences, Levin consciously chose to maintain positivity despite the physically and emotionally demanding nature of the work.

After returning to corporate work at Two Things as head of brand partnerships, she found that her improved attitude received more recognition than her technical contributions.

Levin now emphasizes that resilience, humility, and maintaining a positive demeanor are essential skills that transcend industry boundaries.

In 2022, Julie Levin relocated across the country from Los Angeles to the New York area, accepting what she described as an exciting marketing position that would mark the next phase of her career trajectory.

However, the marketing industry experienced significant volatility in 2023, and Levin found herself unexpectedly laid off from her role.

This setback caught her completely off guard and forced her to question her professional direction during a period she described as frightening.

While she began doing some consulting work, Levin wanted to take deliberate time to recalibrate her career path rather than rushing into another corporate position.

She decided to incorporate bartending into her transitional period, a job she had performed during her college years.

Initially, she viewed bartending as a way to generate additional income while having fun during a stressful period of uncertainty.

The experience ultimately provided far more valuable lessons than she anticipated, delivered in what she considers the best possible way.

The establishment where Levin bartended had evolved significantly since her college days, transforming from a dive bar into a fine dining venue with proper mixology standards.

This meant her responsibilities extended far beyond simply pouring beers and shots, requiring mastery of complex drink recipes and even creating original cocktails.

Working at high volume while maintaining precision proved challenging, but the experience delivered profound personal insights.

Levin described the experience as next level work that demanded more than physical effort—it required significant emotional energy and genuine human engagement.

Behind the bar, she found that stripping away artifice and pretense created authentic connections with customers.

The role proved deeply humbling because her previous corporate success held no relevance in this environment.

She appreciated the illumination that came from working without the protective shield of a professional title.

Contrary to popular expectations about lucrative bartending tips, Levin discovered that the service industry presents genuinely difficult working conditions.

The experience also provided perspective on the advantages of corporate employment, helping her appreciate aspects of office work she had previously taken for granted.

The most significant revelation for Levin came through observing workplace dynamics and making a conscious choice about her own approach to customer interactions.

She noticed that some full-time bartenders brought their bad moods to work, creating negative experiences for customers who were paying $20 or more for cocktails and expecting enjoyable evenings.

Initially, Levin found herself joining in on complaints and negativity, aligning herself with dissatisfied coworkers.

However, she experienced an aha moment when she realized this approach was counterproductive and ridiculous.

She made a deliberate decision to put a smile on her face, recognizing that being pleasant and happy represented a manageable expectation despite the challenging eight-hour shifts mixing complex drinks.

The moment she implemented this attitude shift, her entire experience transformed.

What she had originally hoped would be a fun job finally became that enjoyable experience she sought.

She established a new tone that proved transformational, not just for her own satisfaction but for the entire atmosphere around her.

This became a principle she carries forward: bringing a positive attitude even when circumstances feel difficult, managers seem challenging, or personal motivation runs low.

Interestingly, customers frequently complimented her bartending skills, though she honestly assessed herself as merely serviceable rather than exceptional.

She believes her attitude shift was infectious and made a substantial difference in how customers perceived her performance.

When Levin eventually transitioned to her current position as head of brand partnerships at Two Things, a New York City consultancy specializing in business transformations, she brought her bartending mindset back to the corporate environment.

The positive attitude and cheerful spirit she developed behind the bar immediately translated to her new team dynamics.

She began receiving frequent praise and recognition, though notably not for the technical work she considered significant.

Instead, colleagues appreciated her improved demeanor and collaborative approach.

This represented a marked departure from the first 20 years of her career, when feedback typically described her as capable and intelligent but also demanding and intense.

Levin now observes that professionals who cannot simultaneously roll up their sleeves to tackle difficult work while maintaining kindness toward others—regardless of titles or perceived utility—will face significant challenges in modern workplaces.

The bartending experience forced her to rethink her entire approach to work, revealing perspectives she would never have encountered in her previous corporate trajectory.

She learned to appreciate every step of the process, both challenging and rewarding.

Most importantly, the role taught her resilience and enhanced her problem-solving capabilities, equipping her to approach challenges fearlessly.

Levin concludes that these skill sets have become essential requirements for professional success in today's environment.