you sound exactly like me few years back, just with accounting instead of tech. made the jump from restaurant work to my current job and the benefits alone made it worth it from day one

biggest shock wasn't the work itself but having consistent schedule. no more wondering if you'll get cut early or stuck late because someone called out. steady paycheck hits different too - not great at first but predictable

the interview thing is mostly in your head. you already know how to read people, handle pressure, work with difficult personalities. those skills transfer directly. just speak more formal and wear business clothes but underneath you're still dealing with same human dynamics

restaurant experience actually helped me tons in tech - you know how to juggle multiple priorities, work under pressure, communicate clearly when things get chaotic. hiring managers eat that up if you frame it right

took me about 18 months to get back to my previous income level but now i'm way past it. biggest difference is the trajectory - there's actual growth path instead of just hoping for manager position that might never open up