Show notes
从麦当劳到多重兼职：我的职涯转折点After I started earning my own money, I truly understood how hard it was to make a living.I worked 20 hours a week at McDonald’s—even more time than I spent in school—yet I could only earn 1,440 NT dollars (≈ US$ 45.6 / ≈ ¥315) a week. Living in a big city like Taipei was really not easy.开始自己赚钱后，我才真正体会到赚钱的辛苦。每周在麦当劳工作 20 小时，甚至比在学校上课的时间还多，却只能赚 1440 元 (≈ 美金 45.6 / 人民币 315)，在台北这样的大城市生活，实在不容易。At that time, I had a boyfriend in Taipei.I liked dressing up nicely for our dates—buying clothes and cosmetics—to show my best self.However, he was serving in the military and insisted on splitting the bill every time, which made me really upset.Several times at the end of the month, I was completely broke. I had no choice but to call my parents and ask them to transfer 2,000 NT dollars (≈ US$63 / ≈ RMB ¥438)so I could survive a little longer.当时，我有一个在台北的男朋友。我喜欢打扮得漂漂亮亮去约会，买衣服、化妆品，想要展现自己最好的一面。然而，他正在当兵，每次约会都坚持 AA 制，让我气得不行。有好几次，月底实在捉襟见肘，我只能硬着头皮打电话向家里求救，请爸妈汇 2000 元（约美金 63 元／人民币 438 元），才能暂时喘口气。During this financially difficult period, my “salary destiny” at McDonald’s took an unexpected turn.Looking back now, it really feels unbelievable.就在这段经济拮据的时期，我的“薪资命运”在麦当劳迎来了转变。现在回想起来，真的有点不可思议！Promotion to Lobby Hostess: My First Career Advancement升职为接待员：人生的第一个晋升After working at McDonald’s for almost a year, I was surprisingly promoted.I finally got the position I had dreamed of—McDonald’s lobby hostess.My hourly wage increased from 72 NT dollars (≈ US$2.28 / ≈ ¥15.8) to 85 NT dollars (≈ US$2.69 / ≈ ¥18.6), and I could even freely choose staff meals.在麦当劳工作快满一年时，我竟然升职了！我拿到了梦寐以求的“麦当劳接待员”职位，时薪从 72 元(≈ 美金 2.28 / 人民币 15.8) 直接调升到 85 元(≈ 美金 2.69 / 人民币 18.6)，还能随意点员工餐！When I was a regular crew member, I could only order basic set meals.But after becoming a hostess, I could finally order my favorites—spicy chicken burgers and chicken nuggets.We usually called lobby hostesses “Aunties.” Their job was to wear a red vest and a slim skirt, walk around the floor, refill coffee for customers, host children’s birthday parties, and sometimes help at the cashier.For me, it was not just a job—it was a sense of identity upgrade.从前当服务员时，我只能点普通套餐；但当上接待员后，我终于能点自己最爱的劲辣鸡腿堡和鸡块！我们都习惯称接待员为“阿姨”，工作内容包括穿着红色背心与窄裙巡视楼层、帮客人续杯咖啡、主持儿童生日派对，有时也协助收银。这对当时的我来说，不仅是一份工作，更是一种身份的提升。However, not long after my promotion, I faced the first major challenge of my career—the outbreak of SARS.然而，升职没多久，我就遇到了职场生涯的第一个重大挑战——SARS 来袭！Trying Entrepreneurship During SARS: Turning Crisis into OpportunitySARS 期间的创业尝试：危机变转机After the SARS outbreak, Taipei gradually became a high-risk area, and the restaurant business was heavily affected.I was assigned to stand at the entrance to take customers’ temperatures.As the weather got hotter, I stood there all day, sweating nonstop. It was boring, and I felt like a “thermometer robot.”SARS 疫情爆发后，台北逐渐进入高风险区，餐厅业务大受影响。我被安排站在门口为顾客量体温。天气渐渐变热，我整天站在大门口汗流浃背，不仅无聊，还觉得自己像个“温度计机器人”。With no children’s parties to host and fewer customers coming in, I decided to do something different.I started setting up a small stall at the entrance, selling handmade crafts I made myself—plaster McDonald’s fries models, painted artworks, and small toys.Although it was only a small experiment, it taught me an important lesson: when the environment is bad, you must create opportunities proactively.没有儿童派对可主持，餐厅人流也减少了，我决定做点不一样的事。我开始利用门口空间摆摊，贩售自己制作的手工艺品——麦当劳薯条石膏模型、彩绘作品和小玩具。虽然只是小小的尝试，却让我学到一件事：当大环境不景气时，更要主动创造机会！This proactive attitude unexpectedly led me to discover a much higher-paying part-time job.而这样的主动精神，也让我无意间发现了更高薪的兼职机会。Children’s English Cram School: Discovering a Fourfold Salary儿童美语补习班：发现薪资 4 倍的机会！One day, while chatting with a younger schoolmate at the cashier, she told me she had started working as a teacher at a children’s English cram school.I casually asked, “How much is the hourly pay?”“320 NT dollars,” she replied calmly.I was completely shocked.That was four times my current salary.某天，我在收银台和一位学妹聊天，她也是辅大学生，最近开始在儿童美语补习班教书。我随口问了一句：“那里的时薪是多少？”“320 元，”她轻描淡写地回答。我顿时惊呆了——这是我当时薪水的 4 倍！Thinking about how I hadn’t practiced English properly for a long time due to my busy life, a thought sparked in my mind: maybe I could try it too.A few days later, I gathered my courage and applied to an English cram school near my campus.The interview went surprisingly well. After a few simple English tests, I was accepted.That was how I started my journey as a part-time English teacher.想到自己因为生活忙碌，已经很久没有好好练习英语，我心中燃起了一个念头：我也可以试试看！几天后，我鼓起勇气到学校附近的美语补习班应征。面试过程出乎意料地顺利，几个简单的英语口试后，我竟然录取了。就这样，我开启了兼职英语老师的人生。The Joy of Doubled Income: Falling in Love with Teaching收入翻倍的成就感，让我爱上了教学As my teaching hours increased, I received my first paycheck of over 20,000 NT dollars (≈ US$633 / ≈ ¥4,380)..When I looked at my pay slip, I felt an overwhelming sense of achievement—I felt capable and powerful.随着补习班工作时数增加，我第一次领到超过 2 万元 (≈ 美金 633 / 人民币 4,380) 的薪水。当我看着薪资条的那一刻，心里涌上一股巨大的成就感，觉得自己好棒、好强大。At that time, I was both a McDonald’s lobby hostess and a children’s English teacher.Little did I know that another opportunity was waiting for me at McDonald’s—this time, from the financial industry.当时的我，同时身兼麦当劳接待员与儿童美语老师。没想到，在麦当劳工作时，另一个机缘正在等着我——而且，竟然来自金融业。A Chance Encounter During Floor Patrol: Entering the Insurance Industry楼层巡视的意外转弯：踏入保险业One day, while refilling coffee for customers, I met a woman named Qingxia.After chatting for a while, she asked me, “Have you ever considered savings insurance?”Although I knew nothing about financial planning, I bought a basic policy because I wanted to save money.After several meetings, she unexpectedly encouraged me to join her insurance team.有一天，我在楼层帮客人续杯咖啡时，遇到一位叫“青霞”的女顾客。聊了一会儿后，她问我：“你有考虑过储蓄险吗？”当时的我对理财一无所知，但因为想存钱，就买了一份最低保额的储蓄险。没想到，几次见面后，她竟然鼓励我加入她的保险团队！So at that time, besides being a Fu Jen University student, a McDonald’s hostess, and an English teacher, I gained yet another identity—an insurance agent.My life became busy but fulfilling.From barely surviving on a low salary, I now held three part-time jobs with significantly increased income.Soon after, fate presented me with a decision I could not avoid—one that ultimately led me to let go of all other jobs and fully commit to the insurance industry.于是，当时的我，除了是辅大学生、麦当劳接待员、英语老师之外，又多了一个身份：保险业务员。那段日子忙碌却充实，从原本只能靠微薄薪水生活，到同时拥有三份兼职，收入大幅提升。然而，命运很快给了我一个无法逃避的选择——这个选择，让我最终决定放下其他工作，全力投入保险业。（To be continued…）（未完待续……）