Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:28 pm
Kitten Medli wrote:Well. If someone asks for ketchup, *do not* give them 25 unless they ask for that many. Everyone does that out here.
Heck, everyone in my side of the world charges you 50 cents a packet (excluding the first two). My mom would be estactic in your area.
Ammer, I can tell you this. You'll get some rather rude people, most likely they'll be yakin' on their cellphones.
Just smile and remember: you talk to people, you make money. And as for the cellphone thing. Stare at them until they get off of it.
EDIT - 3,600th. Thanks man.
Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:37 pm
Wow, thanks for the insight Everconfused and DM. I kinda knew what I was getting into but I wasn't entirely sure, but now I can see I'm in for one Hell of a ride. I honestly just want to have a good time there which I know won't happen and I hope I make some friends -- that way I can pass the time properly as you said.
I really am nervous because I'm scared I won't be able to learn some things as quickly as someone else. Any tips on that?
I really am nervous because I'm scared I won't be able to learn some things as quickly as someone else. Any tips on that?
Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:01 am
Ammer, as far as learning new things, being nervous might actually make you less able to retain the information. You know, that little voice in your head going "Oh no, I'll never get this, I'll never remember it all, Aaahhhhh!"
So, just take a deep breath, relax and if whoever's training you either goes too fast or doesn't explain in a way you "get", just politely say something like, ok I do this, then this, right? And then, is this the next step? That way you'll be sure that the explanation was clear and you're doing things right.
I wouldn't worry if I were you though. You're very smart and you're very clear in your writing so I'm sure you are in speaking and RL stuff.
And remember, we're here for you when you've had one of those days and need to vent!
So, just take a deep breath, relax and if whoever's training you either goes too fast or doesn't explain in a way you "get", just politely say something like, ok I do this, then this, right? And then, is this the next step? That way you'll be sure that the explanation was clear and you're doing things right.
I wouldn't worry if I were you though. You're very smart and you're very clear in your writing so I'm sure you are in speaking and RL stuff.
And remember, we're here for you when you've had one of those days and need to vent!
Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:48 am
everconfused wrote:Ammer, as far as learning new things, being nervous might actually make you less able to retain the information. You know, that little voice in your head going "Oh no, I'll never get this, I'll never remember it all, Aaahhhhh!"
So, just take a deep breath, relax and if whoever's training you either goes too fast or doesn't explain in a way you "get", just politely say something like, ok I do this, then this, right? And then, is this the next step? That way you'll be sure that the explanation was clear and you're doing things right.
I wouldn't worry if I were you though. You're very smart and you're very clear in your writing so I'm sure you are in speaking and RL stuff.
And remember, we're here for you when you've had one of those days and need to vent!
Thanks for the advice everconfused, I honestly appreciate all of it.
Yes, I usually tend to think "I'll never get this!!!" and that usually leads to my downfall. Therefore a positive outlook on this job is what I need and hopefully I'll be able to do well.
And I'll try stopping my trainer for questions, sometimes I don't because I get embarassed or I think I'll look stupid in front of people. But in order to succeed, I need to get over my fear of what people think of me.
Plus, thanks for the compliment. I really do hope I do well and if I don't, you guys will know about. Heh.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:25 am
Excess of nervousness never made a good employee.
You should think of nervousness and a lack of confidence as an enemy to be abhorred, not a friend of whom to seek refuge.
I recall something someone said (perhaps Benjamin Franklin -- or I'm way off again) that looking stupid for a moment is better than remaining stupid, especially when it comes to something as important as a job. And I don't see why asking a lot of questions and then striving to better yourself through your attained knowledge is something you should feel bad about, nor your employer frown upon; rather, it should be considered a good trait.
You should think of nervousness and a lack of confidence as an enemy to be abhorred, not a friend of whom to seek refuge.
I recall something someone said (perhaps Benjamin Franklin -- or I'm way off again) that looking stupid for a moment is better than remaining stupid, especially when it comes to something as important as a job. And I don't see why asking a lot of questions and then striving to better yourself through your attained knowledge is something you should feel bad about, nor your employer frown upon; rather, it should be considered a good trait.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:48 am
Congrats! I know it's probably not your dream job, but you'll make money! Money is good. 
I'm applying to my new, local (Local? There are like 20 within 5 miles of my house) Starbucks so hopefully that goes well too. Even if you just get minimum wage, it's still a good start, plus you'll have job experience, which is important for when you get a job after college.
I'm applying to my new, local (Local? There are like 20 within 5 miles of my house) Starbucks so hopefully that goes well too. Even if you just get minimum wage, it's still a good start, plus you'll have job experience, which is important for when you get a job after college.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:40 am
Well, one thing about working at a big chain is that everyone else has been through training. If you forget something, you can just ask someone else.
Seriously, ask questions. It makes you seem more involved and interested in your job and bosses like that.
Seriously, ask questions. It makes you seem more involved and interested in your job and bosses like that.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 2:55 pm
Keep your hands clean! Nothing is grosser than seeing someonepick something off the ground and then throw it in the garbage then touch your food.
And.
If your doing orders or whatever, let people know you're free. Its so annoying, theres a huge line and one cash open and youre standing there waiting and theres someone just standing at the other cash, looking at the line.
And.
If your doing orders or whatever, let people know you're free. Its so annoying, theres a huge line and one cash open and youre standing there waiting and theres someone just standing at the other cash, looking at the line.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:14 pm
Read customers_suck to know what to expect (the worst), and read bad_service to know what not to do.
Basically, don't let people complaining get you down. You'll always get the whiny brats who think you can't do anything right, and those who insist they're correct when they're wrong. Just don't let them get away with it (as long as you're professional, of course ;P).
Congratulation on your job ^_^
Basically, don't let people complaining get you down. You'll always get the whiny brats who think you can't do anything right, and those who insist they're correct when they're wrong. Just don't let them get away with it (as long as you're professional, of course ;P).
Congratulation on your job ^_^
Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:50 pm
I worked at a Wendy's for two years before I went to college, and I just want to say that I still think that was my best job ever. If I could make what I do now working fast food, I think I would.
The vast majority of customers you get will be fine. It's the ones who are crappy that you remember.
You won't start on the cash register, that I can almost 100% guarantee. Most restaurants want to make sure that you can do the easy stuff (cleaning, runnign the fryalators, making sandwiches) before you're asked to handle money.
Remember to keep your balance - even if you have non-slip shoes, you will still slide around a lot. The floors of fast-food kitchens are always a little slick with ice, water, and grease, no matter how often they're swept. Don't expect to have perfect footing, because you almost never will.
If you make sandwiches, you'll be given gloves to wear to work with. If you have to change gloves, or after you take a pair off, don't brush your hands against your pants (which is a pretty common reflex), because you'll just get talcum powder all over yourself. Instead, wipe them off with a paper towel from the sink or something.
As with any new job, don't expect to know peoples' names at first, but they'll all know you. You have to learn 70-80 new folks, they only have to learn one.
Courtesy is something that was really important at Wendy's, though I don't know how much it is at McDonald's. Always say please and thank you to other staff members, and if you're coming up behind them with something, make sure you warn them. "Hot Chili" at Wendy's was code for "Move your fat butt so I can get to the sandwich station, you lazy bum!" It also meant you had hot chili in your hands and were bringing it to the chili station. One of the two.
Other than that, remember that fast food is actually very hard work. It's a lot of long days for low pay. The best advice I can give you is to pay attention - remembering how hard this work is will make you a much better person, for all service-industry folks, in the future.
The vast majority of customers you get will be fine. It's the ones who are crappy that you remember.
You won't start on the cash register, that I can almost 100% guarantee. Most restaurants want to make sure that you can do the easy stuff (cleaning, runnign the fryalators, making sandwiches) before you're asked to handle money.
Remember to keep your balance - even if you have non-slip shoes, you will still slide around a lot. The floors of fast-food kitchens are always a little slick with ice, water, and grease, no matter how often they're swept. Don't expect to have perfect footing, because you almost never will.
If you make sandwiches, you'll be given gloves to wear to work with. If you have to change gloves, or after you take a pair off, don't brush your hands against your pants (which is a pretty common reflex), because you'll just get talcum powder all over yourself. Instead, wipe them off with a paper towel from the sink or something.
As with any new job, don't expect to know peoples' names at first, but they'll all know you. You have to learn 70-80 new folks, they only have to learn one.
Courtesy is something that was really important at Wendy's, though I don't know how much it is at McDonald's. Always say please and thank you to other staff members, and if you're coming up behind them with something, make sure you warn them. "Hot Chili" at Wendy's was code for "Move your fat butt so I can get to the sandwich station, you lazy bum!" It also meant you had hot chili in your hands and were bringing it to the chili station. One of the two.
Other than that, remember that fast food is actually very hard work. It's a lot of long days for low pay. The best advice I can give you is to pay attention - remembering how hard this work is will make you a much better person, for all service-industry folks, in the future.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:05 pm
-just watched Supersize Me...like, just barely -
First of all, BIG congrats!
Some tips:
Customers are insane, but never make any notion to saying that. Smile and always, always, always remain calm even if they are screaming their head off at you.
CALM!
Have a nice supervisor...hopefully
Try to explain things sloooowly to customers, like they are little children- if they are confused and are having a tantrum.
Hope this helped
-
First of all, BIG congrats!
Some tips:
Customers are insane, but never make any notion to saying that. Smile and always, always, always remain calm even if they are screaming their head off at you.
CALM!
Have a nice supervisor...hopefully
Try to explain things sloooowly to customers, like they are little children- if they are confused and are having a tantrum.
Hope this helped
Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:49 pm
shapu wrote:You won't start on the cash register, that I can almost 100% guarantee. Most restaurants want to make sure that you can do the easy stuff (cleaning, runnign the fryalators, making sandwiches) before you're asked to handle money.
But this is a brand new restaurant and everyone at the restaurant is new. So isn't it possible I could be put at the cash register?
And thank you very much for your help Shapu, Alex, Forest_Majesty, PuddingofEvil, Hyperion and Jen! I honestly have learnt a lot from you guys so hopefully I won't mess up.
But thanks for the compliments, I really appreciate it.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 8:38 pm
Just a little start of Congraulations! Second of if you work the counter theres nothing that we hate more then someone working to forget to give us our ketchup and sauce and what not.
Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:21 pm
Ammer wrote:shapu wrote:You won't start on the cash register, that I can almost 100% guarantee. Most restaurants want to make sure that you can do the easy stuff (cleaning, runnign the fryalators, making sandwiches) before you're asked to handle money.
But this is a brand new restaurant and everyone at the restaurant is new. So isn't it possible I could be put at the cash register?
And thank you very much for your help Shapu, Alex, Forest_Majesty, PuddingofEvil, Hyperion and Jen! I honestly have learnt a lot from you guys so hopefully I won't mess up.
But thanks for the compliments, I really appreciate it.
Chances are good that for the first few weeks, at least, They'll have someone from another store come in and run the register for a while, or have managers do it.
Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:40 pm
as my parents would say, it's a job, it gets you money, and most people these days don't enjoy their work ,so get used to it. It isn't very inspiring to hear, i know.