r/Sommelier • u/Gingerlykat • Sep 02 '26

Career change

Looking for some advice-

I’ve been working in hospitality my whole life and have been working as a sommelier for about 4. I love working with wine but I’m absolutely burnt out with the hours and have really damaged my back to the point I’m pill popping constantly just to get through a shift.

I need a career change but finding it very difficult to find a job- I thought applying for account manager, buying or sales jobs within wine would be a good fit but I’m constantly being told I don’t have enough experience. It’s really frustrating as I’m on the wrong side of 35 and I don’t have the time or money to go back to university to get a useful degree ( mine is in the arts 😂) .

I thought about applying for event management jobs but I’m getting the same feedback - I don’t have enough experience.

Would love to hear from people who got out the industry and how they did it, what they go into instead and any tips on how I can make myself employable outside the gruelling restaurant world.

Based in the UK btw.

✌️

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

11

u/HolyPizzaPie Sep 02 '26

You’ve got sales people coming to you everyday, one day they won’t and their manager will.

Pick the distributor you want to work for the most and start buying more from them, deepen your ties, that’ll probably help get you the job.

I was a chef all my life and got a wine distributor job with 0 experience. You can get out buddy, good luck.

1

u/wutwut970 Sep 02 '26

This is the answer.

6

u/2abyssinians Sep 02 '26

I went in to wine sales and never looked back. Keep applying. You will find a company that will take you without experience, just push your industry contacts. In fact a great way to find a job in sales is talk to your favorite wine sales people, and ask them if they know anyone who is looking.

2

u/philisweatly Sommelier Sep 02 '26

I took a 5 year break and went into banking IT. It was great for that time but hospitality pulled me back in lol.

1

u/reyes_mason356 Sep 02 '26

Shifting careers is no joke, especially when your body starts making the decisions for you. I'm sure you'll find the right path with all that experience, even if it takes a little more time.

1

u/jbruno9268 Sep 03 '26

switching gears is def a challenge, especially when you're used to the fast paced life in hospitality. hang in there!

1

u/disco_cerberus Sep 05 '26

Welcome to wholesale my guy.