Tag: food service

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I Worked At a Drive-Through

Wendy’s: fast food, dine-in, drive-through. Unlike “my” Pizza Hut, it has a very diverse menu with all kinds of drinks and sides. There are breakfast and lunch times, where different things are served, and the type of food, along with the drive-through aspect makes it a completely different beast to handle. The flow is very different compared to Pizza Hut. Scheduling is different, there’s a lot more prep and restocking, and the way shifts are organized took me a while to understand.

I got a job at Wendy’s. Being my second job, I didn’t know quite what to expect. Fast food, right? Cooking, customer service, and prep. Couldn’t be much different than Pizza Hut…right? (Cue me walking into an entirely different situation unaware of what I was about to face.)

Leaving Pizza Hut…Sort Of

But wait. Let’s back up. I have a job at Pizza Hut, right? Things were going well. I’d been working full-time hours there, so why—and how—was I getting a job at Wendy’s?

Like I mentioned in the last work blog post, the tip system at Pizza Hut changed. Where I’d been earning a fairly stable amount of tips per hour before, I was now getting almost nothing. Without the tips, my wage was lower than other jobs in the area. $11 an hour isn’t the most comfortable amount of money to live on, and as I intend to be able to live independently within a year, minimum wage isn’t something I want to spend all my hours working for when every other option pays better. In addition, I wasn’t seeing Pizza Hut as a possible career option. Things just weren’t heading that way. Instability abounded, management didn’t communicate, and it wasn’t something I wanted to get into over my head.

Two months passed, Pizza Hut was feeling like my home. People were beginning to look up to me. I was even put in charge of training people. However, negatives were beginning to outweigh the positives. Everything seemed to be headed in a downward direction, and payment wasn’t enough to keep me there. Thus, I decided it was time to move on.

I changed my availability. Wendy’s was early mornings; I could still work nights at Pizza Hut. Yes, I could’ve completely left. However, I decided to keep Pizza Hut as a part-time job, because one, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Wendy’s, and two, I still enjoyed working night rushes—especially with certain coworkers. Pizza Hut was my first ever job. Even though I knew I’d have to leave at some point, I wanted to hold off saying goodbye for as long as possible.

Enter 60-hour work weeks. 😁It was exhausting. It was stressful. It’s not something I ever want to do again—unless I really love my job—but we’ll get into that later.

How I Got Wendy's

I actually applied for Wendy’s a couple of weeks before deciding to move on from Pizza Hut. There had been a few instances where I’d considered leaving Pizza Hut. Things had been progressively getting worse. Management changed—and not particularly for the best—and the turnover was terrible. My hours got cut “to train the new people.” Things were done in the most inefficient and ineffective ways. Favoritism and partialism trumped justice and gave way to corruption. I’d been getting tired of putting up with it all, so the tip system change was just the last straw. That’s when I finally decided to make the move.

I’d considered leaving multiple times before I actually did. At one point, I applied to several places in my area, just to see what my options were. Among my applications was Wendy’s. I waited a couple of weeks. None of them responded. I kept working at Pizza Hut. My applications faded to the back of my memory, and eventually, I assumed none of the places I’d applied for were interested in me. Thus, you can imagine how surprised I was to get a call from Wendy’s the day after deciding to leave Pizza Hut. The timing was perfect. The job sounded promising. It was a perfect coincidence. Everything lined up perfectly, so I decided to go ahead with the interview—which led to me taking the job.

First Impression

The first thing I noticed upon starting the job was how professional Wendy’s seemed. There was mutual respect, a clear hierarchy, and good communication both within management and between coworkers. Things like tardiness and laziness weren’t tolerated. It was a refreshing change, and I was relieved to find that all places aren’t as corrupted as Pizza Hut. (Because being my first job, I didn’t know what to expect from any other place. I’d only been working for three months; my experience and knowledge were severely limited.)

Training

I was put on shoulder-to-shoulder work my first day. I pretty much just followed people around, watched what they did, and cleaned in my spare time. That was day one. For day two, I was put on training videos. I watched hours and hours of videos that taught me about the background of Wendy’s and how to be a clean, nice human. Day three is when I was given actual work.

Drive-Through

I immediately realized how bad I am at multi-tasking. As soon as I was put on drive-through/”speaker,” things went downhill. I got overwhelmed and panicked. I tried a few times, but no matter how much I attempted to remain calm and collected, things went awry. I messed up orders. I made the wrong drinks. I forgot to give customers their receipts. In all fairness, I knew I wasn’t the best at muti-tasking, but I’d assumed things would just come together somehow. (No, they didn’t. Things went wrong, and my newly-found optimism quickly changed to full-fledged pessimism.)

Customers

After that one morning on speaker, I was put on other stations. The first was front counter. I was in charge of coordinating (putting orders together) and taking orders or cashing people out. One of the managers helped me the entire time, so it wasn’t too bad. Over time, I know I would’ve gotten good/quick at it.

The second station I was put on (another day) was back cash. It’s the first window, and all I had to do was pull up orders, take payments, and hand people their receipts. It’s actually the easiest job in the entire store. Most people want it, but the station is only opened up when there are enough people working. Anyway, I really enjoyed that station. Customers commented to my manager on how I “took care of them.” I liked the interaction and simplicity of the job. (Give me one thing to do, and I’ll work hard and do well. Give me two or more, and I’ll get nothing done.😅)

So, customers loved me, and I loved them.

Coworkers and Managers

Coworkers—we got along. Everyone there is pretty friendly. People invited me in, tried to make me feel included, and taught me where everything was and how to do stuff. Unlike Pizza Hut, I feel like I got a warm and informational welcome. From the beginning, I was set up for success by both my managers and coworkers. People took active steps to ensure I felt included, and I really appreciated the change.

Leaving Wendy's

Yes.

I know.

I know I just talked about how wonderful everyone and everything at Wendy’s was, but yes, I did end up quitting. Drive-through is what really got to me. Being a morning shift person, it’s not something I can just avoid. It’s a necessary evil of the job. In the morning, you’re in charge of prep, speaker, and food production. Even if you’re not assigned speaker, you’re going to have to do at least 30 minutes of it while someone takes their mandatory break. People liked me, and I liked them, but speaker just didn’t get along with me. It pretty much broke the deal for me.

But…that’s not the whole of it. Embarrassingly enough, I actually left in order to go to Walmart (highest competitor in my area). I’d applied  around the time I decided to move on from Pizza Hut. However, because of how perfectly coincidental Wendy’s had been, plus the lack of response from Walmart, I jumped into Wendy’s right away.

I shouldn’t have. I should’ve waited for Walmart. It was my first preference. There were career opportunities and better pay there. Instead, I was hasty and gave into fear of missing out, taking the first thing that came to me.

So how I left Wendy’s? A few days into the job, as I was questioning whether it was the best fit for me, Walmart called, asking for an interview. I accepted the interview. I got all the information I could, and I told them about myself. Everything seemed to line up perfectly with what I was looking for in a job. I went back home and thought things out. A few days later when I got the formal job offer, I accepted it and put in my two weeks at Wendy’s. I then proceeded to work out those two weeks, along with Pizza Hut nights.

Juggling Two Jobs

60-hour weeks aren’t fun—that’s what I learned from having two jobs. There’s almost zero time for anything. Sleep, eat, work, eat, repeat. What little time you have extra is easily spent in keeping up with friends or family. Sometimes, there isn’t even time for that. Food? No time or energy to think about that. I was exhausted both physically and mentally.

Needless to say, when I finished my last day at Wendy’s, I was relieved. (I was working full-time hours there; part-time at Pizza Hut. Actually, if we’re being technical, I worked full-time at both for one of the weeks.) Without Wendy’s, I finally had enough time and energy to function properly.

Ending Wendy's

I left on a good note. For the short amount of time I’d been there, I met some really nice people, learned the basics of working at a fast food drive-through, and discovered some of my strengths and weaknesses job-wise. A lot of coworkers didn’t want to see me go. Some tried to convince me to stay as I worked my remaining days, and when I left, I was told that if Walmart didn’t work out, I was welcome back. I really appreciate those managers’ kindness. While the job wasn’t the best fit for me, they were patient with me, taught me everything I needed to know, and tried their best to accommodate my preferences. Why they asked me back, I don’t understand (besides the need for labor). However, I am thankful for it. I’m happy we were able to separate on good terms.

Conclusion

I learned a lot from Wendy’s. it was my first job where I feel liked I worked in a professional environment. I was able to learn about what it takes to make things run smoothly, as well as how to keep a positive, helpful atmosphere. It was a good comparison to Pizza Hut. Even though those two alone aren’t enough to tell me everything about different work environments, I feel like I know a lot more about myself and my work preferences. No, I don’t want to be in fast food for the rest of my life. I’m not sure what I want to spend my life doing, but I do know how I operate in different environments and under pressure.

I’m grateful for the experience. I’m grateful for my managers at Wendy’s. While I should have thought things out more thoroughly before taking the job, it’s not something I can say I regret. I learned a lot from it. Without this opportunity, I don’t think I’d be in the same place (job-wise) with the same conclusions as I am now.

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Life at the Hut

Life—that’s really what it’s become. Working over 40 hours a week, being so involved in the Pizza Hut “politics” (everything going on between different managers as they try to work separately toward opposite goals), and trying to keep the place on its feet, I feel like it’s my life now. There’s always something new happening. I’m always trying to catch up and sort things out. People like to joke that I probably stay the night, since I’m always at the store (and I even had a 23-day work streak at one point).

It’s been two months since I got the job. Since then, so much has changed.

Changing Perspective

I came in as an awkward, reserved girl who was scared to interact with customers. I was quiet, and I tried to stay out of the way. Doing my job was my only goal. Work and leave. Follow the schedule. Be an amiable coworker. Make customers happy, and trust the managers to take care of the rest.

But now? I’m the opposite. I interact easily with customers, enjoy talking with my coworkers, speak my mind and ask more questions than anyone else, and gained an ownership mentality that causes me to feel responsible for making sure everything operates smoothly.

I’m not a manager; I never wanted to be one. However, it seems I can’t stick to just being in the back seat and going along for the ride. Some people are happy working half-heartedly for a job they only kind of like—being out of the loop and just doing what they’re told—but that’s not me. Whatever I do, I give it my all. Every bit of energy and thought I have will go into my job, and I’ll treat the place like I own it. As I told one manager, I like to work hard for what I deserve. I don’t do well in places where I’m expected to work like a robot and not care about anything. I want to see my effort and hard work produce something bigger than myself.

Reputation

I made friends quickly. Coworkers like me because I do my job and am an amiable person. Managers like me because they can depend on me, I do more than what’s asked of me, and I value efficiency and quality. I’ve gotten a lot of comments from coworkers, saying I’m the “only X they like” there (female, coworker, etc.). It’s funny how many times I’ve been told I “work too hard.”

People tease me a bunch at work. One driver likes to knock my hat over my eyes whenever I pass him. Another coworker likes to purposely say “folded” dough instead of “stretched,” because he knows I like to use the correct terms. He also gives me nicknames (“little girl” being among them, but I made it clear nicknames related to my size aren’t appreciated). One girl pokes me in the side when I’m not paying attention. A manager likes to pretend something big happened (i.e. a giant order that would take tons of time and preparing for), only to reveal he was joking. Spoiler alert: I fall for it every time. *shakes head in shame* I think I’m the only person who gets teased this much. I’m not complaining, though. It shows people like me and that they feel comfortable being themselves around me. Besides, I return the favor every chance I get. 😉

As for new coworkers, they quickly learn that they can ask me all of their questions. I’ll show them how to do anything (I love training new cooks), and if I don’t know how to do it myself, I’ll get a manager to teach the both of us. I’m honest—sometimes brutally so—and coworkers know they can trust what I say.

Then there are the customers. I love the kids. I love the regulars. I’ve gotten tons of comments on my work ethic and positive attitude, and I love being able to bring smiles to people’s faces. The repeat customers with kids always make my day. Sometimes the kids wave to me; sometimes they enthusiastically tell me goodbye. Some kids come in after school to eat in the lobby—even though we aren’t a dine-in location, but I give them plates and napkins anyway.

Best/Worst Customer Experiences

Best customer experience: A lady with two kids came in to pick up her pizza. I was too busy running around between phones, make table, and cut table to notice much about them, but when I handed the woman her order, her two kids stopped to tell my that I was “very beautiful.” The comment surprised me. (I don’t think I look good in my uniform. I know my hair was a mess, and I probably had food on my clothes.) All three of those customers were really nice, and it’s an experience I won’t forget. 😊 I love kids.

Worst customer experience: A guy (mid twenties to early thirties) greeted me with a comment about my appearance and smile. At first, I thought it was just a nice observation, but then he proceeded to talk about how he kept “making me smile.” It was said in a creepy way. He was acting like he had control over me, and he had the audacity to keep reminding me of it through his comments.

Anyway, I took his order with a smile, laughed at his jokes (even though it was just because I was uncomfortable), and told him his total. He asked if my number came with his pizza, and I responded in a confused/disapproving voice that no, why would it? I think I hurt his ego. After my rejection, he told me that “girls my age” always ask for his number, and that he’s “old enough to be my dad” anyway. He then kept talking about how he has friends who have kids my age, so it would be weird to date me. I got away as quickly as possible, handing off the situation to a manager so I could go make the order.

The manager and guy chatted for a while. I stayed near the back, trying to avoid being drawn into a conversation again. When the manager finally escaped the conversation he was in (yes, even he got weird vibes), I met him in the back and asked if the guy was gone. Thankfully, another coworker took care of handing the guy his order. By the time I made it back up front, he’d left. I felt so relieved.

Goals

What about my goals for this job? If you recall my first blog post about Pizza Hut, you’ll remember that I didn’t care about the pay. I was here for the experience. I wanted the chance to work on my social anxiety, and I didn’t care if I thought I’d hate the job.

But…

I’m definitely here for the money. Let’s just say that right off the bat. I’m trying to save up to live independently (potentially) in a year’s time. I also have bills to pay. So yes, hourly wages matter…probably more than anything else at this point.

As for the “experience” part, I think I’ve got that down. My social anxiety is pretty much gone. I’m still awkward in certain situations, but at least I’m comfortable dealing with strangers, and I’m getting better at accepting “mistakes” as part of the process (speaking from a perfectionist’s point of view). Building relationships at work doesn’t have to be difficult or serious. Asking questions doesn’t have to be scary. People are people, and most of the time, it’s better to just put yourself out there and trust the Lord with the outcome.

Besides getting over my social anxiety, I know a lot about how the fast food industry works. How to keep a business running, what kind of people work best in certain roles, scheduling and communication—some of these won’t be useful in day-to-day life, but others are just good practical skills to have. It isn’t the kind of experience I was looking for, but it transfers over to similar jobs, and it could be useful in the future.

Unchanging Workplace

On the other hand, a lot…hasn’t changed. Management is still a mess, there’s zero communication, and hours aren’t reliable (although I do have to give credit to one of the main managers for giving me all the hours and overtime he can). Fishy stuff goes on with payment. Managers fight. Those who have good ideas and want to give their all for the place aren’t given the opportunity to do so, and workers with the drive to make the place better are pushed down. Things seem to change on a whim. Stability isn’t something I feel at Pizza Hut. Still, I was willing to put up with most of it; things were changing…right?

Things Are Changing

People were fired. People were hired. I got to train a new cook for the first time, and it was a blast. Procedures changed around the restaurant. Management became more strict with what they tolerated and what they didn’t. Things were starting to look better.

The general manager disappeared. (Yes, it’s a good thing, in my opinion.) I still don’t know too much about what happened, but let’s just say that I never really liked him, and I’m relieved to be working with people I actually enjoy being around instead. And since the manager is gone, I was able to get a bunch of overtime. (If you know me, you know I love my overtime.) Another manager was brought in from another store to help out. He’s a responsible and thorough, and having him manage makes my shifts a lot less stressful.

Positive attitudes increased. People helped out instead of standing around on their phones or eating. Being in an environment where hard work was modeled and nurtured resulted in more getting done, and I could do my job without having to worry (as much) that things would go haywire if I stepped away for one second.

…Or Are They?

Hope was in the air. Things were starting to look up. I started to believe Pizza Hut could be a long-term thing, and I was really enjoying spending time with my fellow coworkers.

But…all good things have to come to an end, don’t they? Hope couldn’t last forever. Mine was shattered to pieces bit by bit. At first, it was small things: the white sauce was frozen. Someone left the oven on overnight. Prep got forgotten. We didn’t have enough people one day, so I had to stay late to get things done.

I tried to make it work. I tried to avoid feeling down about it and did my best to make sure things would stay in order. All the frosting and white sauce was frozen? I made sure to do a freezer pull before rush began. Closing manager with a history of forgetfulness? I reminded him what needed to get done before I Ieft.

Then it got more frequent. Tips were always missing. Sauce and frosting was always frozen. People weren’t scheduled well, and we’d be swamped one day and have wrong pizzas spitting out of the oven because training is a huge mess. Managers would step to the side to have “important talks” mid-rush, leaving me (a non manager) to run everything up front by myself.

I tried to prepare for these things by coming in earlier (before rush instead of mid-rush), but I was told I couldn’t clock in early, because we were trying to “save on labor.” I asked to go in when I knew we didn’t have enough people, but again, “save on labor.” “We’ll be fine,” they said. “X will take care of it.” (Spoiler alert: they weren’t. X completely forgot about it.)

I confronted the higher-ups about it. I’m not a manager; why was I doing so much manager stuff, while the real ones forgot their responsibilities? I was promised change. I was asked for “more time” and a “second chance.” So I gave it to them.

The Last Straw

Then, the tip pool system changed. All of a sudden, I was earning half of what I’d been getting before. People who came in for only a couple of hours could get the same as me, despite the fact that I’d been working 11-hour days. While a part-time worker earned $15/hour, here I was getting $11.50 or so.

I tried to bring it up with management. I tried to show how the new system was unfair. I was shot down and talked over, and even though many people took my side, the ones who agree with me don’t have to power to change things. $11/hour  is what it’s going to be. There’s no reasoning with the change. I can’t depend on tips anymore to make up for the rate being lower than all the other options in my area, so I’m finding another job. We’ll get into that in another blog post, though. For now, let’s talk about my experiences and growth within Pizza Hut.

Things I Learned

Pizza Hut taught me a lot. Being my first job, I learned the basics of scheduling, clocking in, and just how to work a job. Social anxiety? Pizza Hut helped me to get over that (although I’m still naturally awkward in a lot of circumstances). There have been a lot of situations I had to work my way through alone, and because of those, I’m more confident interacting with the world.

One big thing I learned: how not to run a store. There’s so much Pizza Hut could be doing better. It’s like they shoot themselves in the foot, trying to follow all the profit percentages and labor hours from corporate, when in reality, all it does is cause things to mess up, and more money is spent on fixing those problems. I’ve tried talking about it with management. Other managers have tried to follow more efficient ways of doing things. But Pizza Hut doesn’t want change. They want robotic employees who do what they want without question. “We’re already doing things the right way,” they say when you try to change anything. But their “way” doesn’t work. It’s like they turn a blind eye to the reality of what’s actually going on inside the stores.

Besides the disconnect between corporate and the actual individual stores, there’s the manner of communication. Managers just…don’t. If there’s a new change implemented by the top, it doesn’t make it far. Three managers could be splitting the tip pool in three different ways. Neither would know anything had changed. There’s just no communication. And because of it, it makes everything so much more complicated and stressful than it needs to be.

And besides that, there’s the matter of how they treat their employees. I know all Pizza Huts aren’t the same, but the highest person at mine likes control. She doesn’t want to give an ounce of it to anyone under her. Even though it would be more beneficial to have someone inside the store making the schedules and deciding who to hire, she doesn’t care. Employees with the determination and ability to bring the place up from the dirt are pushed down because it also means they’re more “smart” (don’t just go along with everything; actually thinks through stuff before implementing it; needs more control to get things running smoothly). If you have a brain and like to use it (and if you have the boldness to speak it), you aren’t very much liked. They want puppets, not people.

So yeah, I know a lot now about what makes a business run and what doesn’t. I don’t know if this experience will ever help me in the future, but it’s something good to have.

And finally, my mindset. Before Pizza Hut, I had a difficult time getting out of my comfort zone. I overthought too much and shied away from doing anything unfamiliar. Go out into public? *scoffs* I’ll sit at home instead. I’m still learning, but I’m getting better at just jumping out into the unknown and (trying to) embrace the challenges and hiccups that come with everything.

Conclusion

I’m very thankful for my job at Pizza Hut. It taught me a lot, I met some really great people, and I learned a lot about myself and how I work in different environments. Maybe it wasn’t the most professional place or the most pleasant experience toward the end (no, I haven’t quit; I’m just working there less), but the Lord used it for my good. There’s just so much I learned.

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Turning 18

I’m excited to finally be 18!

It’s a big number for many people. Eighteen. The world likes to put a ton of significance on it for some reason, and when you reach the number, you’re suddenly handed multiple privileges you’ve never had before and expected to know how to function as an independent adult (even if you’ve never done taxes.)

So what am I excited about? Definitely not the taxes—that’s for sure. The government takes too much of my hard-earned money for it to be funny in the least bit. Expecting me to calculate it all for them on top of everything definitely doesn’t make me any happier. And with the ridiculous amount of money disappearing down the black hole of government expenses and debt, I’m surprised to see there’s leftover for things I don’t actually need…like Oreos and crackers 😜 However, despite the taxes, there are things that come with being 18 that make me excited. Some of these include:

Getting a Credit Card

I looked into several credit cards as soon as I turned 18. The main reason is that I want to start building credit. Having a good score allows you to get big things at a lower interest rate, and I’m pretty sure that the earlier you start building a clean track record, the better it is for your score.

The second reason I’m trying to get a credit card is because I want to be able to buy things easily. Although debit cards work just as well, credit cards are a lot safer, and I don’t have to worry about fraud as much. They also have some nice benefits attached (like cashback). I fully intend on paying my card off in a timely manner, and I’m not going to be spending money I don’t have. (The interest rates on these cards are crazy.) Thus, for me, a credit card is just a more secure debit card with extra benefits.

So…I’m looking into a secured card. I’d originally intended to apply for ones with cash back and no security deposit, but because I don’t have a credit history, unfortunately I’m automatically excluded from such things.

Freelancing

Freelancing is difficult no matter your age. It’s even more difficult when freelancing websites don’t allow minors, or (in best-case scenarios) won’t let you join unless under a parent’s name. And that does not work if you’re trying to build a brand for yourself. Now that I’m 18, I have free rein on most—if not all—freelancing websites, and I plan on using to my full advantage. I don’t have very high expectations for freelancing, but I’m hoping it will at least pay more than my job at Pizza Hut…or at least be a fraction of the stress when it comes to getting the hours I want.

Celebrating

So what did I do for my birthday? First off, I’ll just say I like to pretend my birthday doesn’t exist. I don’t like it when I’m made into some sort of big deal, I don’t appreciate gifts in the same way most people do, and I prefer not having to deal with the hassle of birthdays. (My close friends get birthday cards and/or gifts, though.) Oh, and I do not like big, planned out surprises.

So of course, my family knowing me so well…surprised me. Okay, I’m sort of kidding.

For clearer context, I celebrated on Sunday. That morning, I got a text from my Pizza Hut area manager asking me to come into the store to help out. I hadn’t been scheduled that day. However, it’s been extra busy recently, so I’m often asked to help out off-schedule. I went in before noon, did a bunch of R4C (ready for customer; basically stretching dough and pre-making items), and prepped some stuff for the night rush. By the time rush came around, it was chaos. I clocked out anyway though, because my parents had already planned to celebrate my birthday that night.

When I got home, the area around the dining table was decorated. There were presents and brownies (instead of cake) out on the table, and my dad made kimchi fried rice and eel for dinner. We did a birthday Zoom call with some relatives. While on the call, we ate, had dessert, and I opened presents. It was pretty fun, and I’m thankful for the thought everyone put into my birthday.

Birthday Gifts

(I’m mainly including this section for the family and friends out there who wanted to know. Feel free to skip.)

As mentioned earlier, I like to ignore my birthdays. I tell people I don’t want anything when they ask, and I let them know I don’t need a celebration. Still, that doesn’t stop them from getting me stuff.

My mom gave me a black faux fur blanket 😍 I love it. It’s so soft and warm, and I love the texture.

My coworker (and new friend) gave me some things for my birthday, including scrunchies, a drawing, a painting, and a cute little stuffed animal whose fur looks suspiciously identical to the faux fur blanket my mom bought me 😂

One of my managers from work brought party supplies (noisemakers, accessories, decorations) into the store for my birthday. I think it was really sweet of her. However, I didn’t like standing out from my coworkers.  On the other hand, it was super busy that day at work, so it wasn’t like people had much time to notice me 🙂 Oh, and then because of how busy it was, she forgot about the cake she’d brought, and it stayed in the walk-in fridge until the next day, when we cut and ate it. Very sugary, but I liked it.

Some relatives sent things in the mail for my birthday. I got stationary stuff (cool scissors, mechanical pencils, etc.), hand sanitizer, cash, and a few other assorted items. And as mentioned before, I did a Zoom call with some of my relatives. That was very nice.

Age Is Just a Number

“So do you feel any older?”

I’ve been asked this question countless times in the past few days, and the answer is no, I don’t feel any older. Age is just a number. I don’t feel like an “adult” (whatever that’s supposed to mean). I feel the same as I did a few days ago, and the only reason I’m excited to be this new number is because of the privileges I gain. I don’t have to worry about legal stuff when it comes to work (except for taxes), and I’m considered a grown adult, which means I can do whatever I want based on my own judgement. The laws put in place to protect minors no longer apply to me. Thus, there’s no need to worry if I’m working “too much” or “past the legal time.” It’s all up to me now. (Of course, my parents’ opinions still play a big part in my decision-making, since I live in their house and use their vehicle to get around. That’s a whole different issue, though.)

Conclusion

I’m excited to finally be 18! Mostly, it just feels like a huge burden has been lifted off of my shoulders. Legally, I’m allowed to do pretty much anything, and I don’t have to worry anymore about all the laws meant to keep minors safe (but which were really just hindering me from doing what I wanted to do). Now that I’m actually 18, I can do some things I’ve been waiting a while to try. I can pursue stuff I’ve waited on for years. I don’t expect things to go shooting off the ground or anything (I’m a pessimist, can’t you tell?), but I am hoping to do more exploring and figure out what I’m doing with my life.

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I Got a Job

I graduated summer of 2022. That winter, my family decided to stop traveling in our RV (indefinitely) and move into a house in the city. Being the ideal (and possibly only) time to get a job, I decided to go for it. I ended up landing a job at Pizza Hut.

What I expected to get: a full-time job as a cook or something else in the background—preferably with an organized team and manager. $12/hr was my minimum starting point.

What I actually got: a part time position as a customer service representative. I’m working with very chaotic and disorganized people. A lot of them act not-so-professionally, and there’s a lot of swearing and some sexual innuendo stuff going on. I’m getting paid the absolute minimum legally allowed: $11/hr. My job consists of answering phones, placing orders, and manning the front desk—all customer service stuff. The only cooking I’m doing is wing orders.

Applying for the Job

Pizza Hut’s website allows you to apply to certain positions at certain locations. I chose the location less than two miles away from our home and selected a specific role: cook. (I needed to be able to walk to work if necessary. So far, I’ve only done that once.)

The website gives almost zero information. There was nothing on the pay or hours except that the position was “full-time,” and the website said I’d get more information at my interview. A few days later, I got a text from the area manager. She told me they could interview me, and she set up a time and place to meet.

Interview

I went into my interview ten minutes early. Ten minutes passed, and my interviewer (who I work with, by the way) was still not there. Another ten minutes. Still nothing. Another ten minutes, and my parents suggested I reschedule the interview to another day. Finally (at over 30 minutes late to my scheduled interview), the guy got in. At that point, I knew the job was super casual, and I’d pretty much lost all respect for said guy. (I mean, who comes in 30 minutes late to an interview?!) The guy called me to the back and proceeded to scroll through his phone a bit before telling me a bit about the job and asking me two questions. One of them was if I’d had a job before. The other was about…actually, let me give you the full experience.

Guy: What’s one good thing about you?

Me: I’m organized.

Guy: I’m not.

*nervous laughing*

Guy: All right, what’s one thing you don’t like about yourself?

Me: I have mild social anxiety.

Guy: *nods and proceeds to hire me*

Oh, and for clearer context, he’d just told me the position was a CSR one, which meant I’d be working with people. At that point, I didn’t care; Mr. Guy had set himself up for failure. He’d come in late to the interview, and on top of that, the job turned out to be nothing like what I’d signed up for…unless you count the fact that it’s at Pizza Hut. I was really questioning whether or not I really wanted the job. When he asked what one bad thing about me was, I purposely said social anxiety, because it contradicted the role, and it was more likely he wouldn’t hire me. But apparently, they’ll hire anybody. As long as you breathe, have a pulse, and can learn and work, you’re good to go. So he showed me the forms I’d be signing (all electronically) and left me to sign them.

At that point, the “rush” (when people start ordering all at one time because it’s a meal time) had started. Because the guy had come in late to the interview, he was busy making pizzas while I asked him questions and signed forms. I did a lot of standing around—partly because I was too nervous to interrupt, and partly because the guy kept forgetting I was there and chatted with his coworkers when he wasn’t busy.

Finally, about three hours later, I’d signed anything and had no idea what was supposed to happen next. My interviewer was still busy but managed to tell me that I could go; I was hired. I then asked about dress code and a few other things. Then, I left. (I was given almost no information. I came into the interview knowing pretty much nothing, had to press my interviewer for information, and left knowing almost nothing, since there was too much to ask about, and I was just in the way. At this point, I was really considering whether I actually wanted the job or not.)

First Day of Work

I didn’t hear anything for the first week. I’d been told I’d get an email with more information within the next couple of days. However, after many days of dead silence, I contacted the area manager and asked her about the position. (They’d really hired me, right?) She never responded to my text. A few days later, I received a call from the guy who’d interviewed me. He asked me to come in a certain day and told me my training would begin then.

For training, I watched a bunch of cringy videos (think little kid shows that try way too hard to get the viewer involved) on how to be a decent human being. The voiceovers were terrible, the acting was bad, and the videos were horrific. I don’t think I’ve ever cringed so hard in my life. It’s like Dora the Explorer, where she’s constantly asking “what do you think we should do?” and saying “let’s look at the map!” in a fake, overly-excited voice. Anyway…

My first day of work was New Year’s Eve. I came in to work thinking I was going to do more training. Instead, I was tossed straight into the mix. New Year’s Eve was super busy. I was put on phones and phones only, and they were ringing almost constantly for a couple of hours, so I had plenty of opportunity to get adjusted to the job. When things started to slow down, I found myself standing around a bit, and since I didn’t know how to do anything else and didn’t want to get in the way, I let it stay that way. When my scheduled time ended, I left the restaurant and went home.

More Training

The second time I went in for work, I learned how to cash customers out at the front desk and make sure they get everything on their orders. I also learned how to make wings, which isn’t part of the CSR role, but it’s nice to be able to help out wherever possible, since the Centerton location doesn’t schedule enough people. (They want to make as much money as possible while paying for the least amount of labor possible.)

I figured out pretty quickly that my training was going to be minimal. Instead of doing the shoulder-to-shoulder work on the lists in my training program, I was taught only as needed (whenever things happened). There was very little training and a lot of, “Here you go. Do this, and if you need help, call for someone.” A lot of times, there was no one around to coach me through things, so I was constantly asking for help with stuff I was already supposed to know. As a result, I ended up taking my training into my own hands.

If I wanted to learn how to do something, I asked about it. If a customer had a situation I didn’t know how to handle, I handed it off to a manager and made sure I got the details of how things played out and why. (I prefer to know everything than remain ignorant and have to ask for help when the situation happens again.) Some managers were more than willing to help. Others weren’t so enthusiastic about my many questions. And I get it; it’s annoying when a new person comes in and is constantly asking you to explain things to them. Thus, I ended up singling out the more friendly people for advice. After a week or two, I began to get into the gist of everything. Things started to come naturally to me, and soon, I knew how to do more things than the other CSR’s and delivery drivers (who can answer phones, do dishes and prep, and deliver food to customers).

Customers

I hit it off immediately with the customers. The rules are pretty simple: smile, give people their (correct) orders, fix any mistakes promptly with an apology, and show that you care. People seem to appreciate the way that I treat them. A few even comment on my “good attitude,” and regular customers sometimes stop to chat with me for a bit (although I have to admit I don’t remember most of them). In such a fast-paced environment, there’s no time for social anxiety to set in. Thus, I grew accustomed to interacting with strangers almost immediately. I even found myself enjoying the job.

Coworkers

I still don’t know all my coworkers, and I’m not sure all of them know me. When I first entered the job, I was pretty reserved and shied away from talking to anyone. However, one night of chaos and laughter was enough to change my mind. New Year’s Eve was crazy. Besides the many customers, someone had brought in party stuff (decorations, accessories, and candy). A few people were hard at work running the store. Meanwhile, the rest were lounging around whenever possible, joking with each other, and blowing party horns in each other’s faces. Seeing how free everyone was with each other made me let down my guard a bit, and I decided to take on socializing with an open approach.

I didn’t try to talk to anyone. I barely met anyone the first couple of days. However, when people talked to me, I welcomed them (not literally; I’m talking body language and tone of voice here), and I attempted to be extra friendly. This resulted in me making a few acquaintances. We’ll get into that in a little bit.

Work Ethics

The first thing people seem to notice about me is the way that I work. Apparently, in the fast food industry, it’s difficult to get people who work hard, treat customers and coworkers with respect, and do things with a positive, helpful attitude. In my first few days, I got a lot of comments on my “work ethic.” Delivery drivers appreciate that I help out with dishes. (That’s their responsibility in down time.) Managers appreciate that I do my job—and more—without being asked. (They don’t need to constantly check up on me like a babysitter. I know what to do, and if I don’t, I ask for advice or help.)

Of course, I didn’t know how to do everything right away. When I first started out, I was helping a lot more with dishes when things weren’t busy. However, as I learned cut table, WingStreet, make table, and front desk, I moved to doing those instead. One of the managers also recovered the CSR cleaning duty list. (Someone “lost” it, apparently.) Now, every night I’m scheduled, I spend at least an hour cleaning things, including the bathroom, windows, and phones. I’m also in charge of wiping down food areas and making sure the fridge up front is stocked. Heavy trays of soda—combined with mopping—has made sure my shoulders and neck are given a thorough workout.

Managers

I met my favorite manager a few shifts in (along with my favorite coworker, but she recently left). Unlike many of the other managers there, this manager is approachable. He shows he cares about and appreciates his employees, takes action to make sure things run smoothly, and overall just makes my shift—no matter how chaotic—enjoyable. Mostly, he doesn’t act in a condescending manner. He’s very friendly and treats everyone as an equal, and I like the way he coaches through things. (Think charismatic and hands-on, vs commanding.) He’s proactive, realistic, and knows what it takes to get things running smoothly.

Meeting said favorite manager is when I really started to look forward to work. Shifts with him are fun. Any ones without him are either fun or all right. In fact, there was only one time I didn’t like a shift, and that was when I was stuck with two managers who stayed at cut table most of the time, joking about…well, not-so-appropriate things for a professional environment.

Okay, maybe two shifts. There has only been one so far where I felt like crying, however (go-to response for dealing with stress and angry people). It didn’t have to do with the manager. We were swamped, I was the only CSR, and I was filling in for a lot of cook stuff, all while dealing with impatient customers on the phones. We also had a new cook that day (so more mistakes). Oh, and prep hadn’t been done earlier. Overall, it was super stressful, but afterwards, people were back to laughing and joking around.

I’m actually really surprised how much of a difference the manager makes. Sure, having certain coworkers around can make a difference, but the manager seems to set the tone for the most part. Some days, people are less willing to help out (“that’s not my job”). On others, my coworkers are putting in a ton of effort to help where they can—even beyond their actual responsibilities. Then, there’s the matter of how laid-back/upbeat everything’s going to be.

Actually, let me take that back a bit. It takes a majority of the team to make a difference. Starting at the top, if the managers are either ignoring their employees or going around with nothing but criticism, the workplace it bound to have a negative atmosphere. If employees come in with personal issues and are feeling down and showing it, people around them are bound to feed off of that negativity. However, if people come in with smiles and a good attitude, it’s likely that others will catch on, and work can be fun for most—if not all—employees.

Moving Up/Sideways

In the fast food industry, there’s a high turnover rate. People are constantly cycling in and out of there, and at my workplace, it’s difficult to find people who are reliable and consistent. Thus, it’s convenient to have people cross-trained in multiple roles. A couple of weeks after starting, I’d learned how to do pretty much everything except cooking, and I was even told I could become a shift leader. (After two weeks! It’s crazy how quickly you can move up here.) I didn’t become a shift leader, as I currently can’t fulfill the role, but it seems like any dedicated worker can do so.

After a few cooks left, I was asked to cross-train for the position. I agreed, and after one morning of some manager coaching, I knew how to make everything on the menu. So now I can do pretty much everything. It’s helpful on days when there aren’t enough people, and I believe it lifts some of the pressure off of my managers’ shoulders. Oh, and an update: I now work full-time. Well, I have more hours at least. Now that I’m a cook and CSR, I’m able to fill in for more of the schedule.

Plans for My Job

I’m still in the “figuring it out” stage with my job. Right now, there are a ton of reasons to leave, and the only thing keeping me there is the fact that I like it. Plus, there’s a chance I might be able to make a difference. (Side note: I went into the job “knowing I wouldn’t like it.” To my surprise, it’s turned out to be the opposite way around. I owe it mostly to that one manager. Things are changing, and I feel like a partner in crime 😉)

Reasons to stay: I love my job (currently). It’s really fun, and surprisingly, I like the fast-paced environment. I also like that one manager in particular. On days we’re scheduled together, it feels more like hanging out with a friend doing a (sometimes stressful and chaotic) activity, rather than working a job. Same with a few other coworkers. Also, due to said manager, things will be changing. I’m very excited about it. (If you know me, you know I’ll jump on any chance to be the change anywhere. I’ll literally give it all my energy, time, and motivation.)

Reasons to leave: The pay is terrible. I’m doing almost everything a manager does and making minimum wage. Even managers don’t make much. Drivers can earn $30/hour on busy days, while managers are earning like $13/hour doing a lot more. Also, the scheduling isn’t the best. They’re trying to cut down on labor, which results in chaotic shifts, managers getting more hours due to having to stay late, and everyone else feeling left out. The schedule gets posted way too last-minute. Then, things get switched around without notice. One week, I had an earlier version of the schedule and was coming in when I wasn’t supposed to…but we won’t get into that.

If I could sum up my workplace with three adjectives, it would be this: chaotic, uncommunicative, and inefficient. With the right people in higher places, things could be run a lot better. That’s all I’m going to say.

Conclusion

I know this is an entry-level job. I’m not supposed to care about the company, and I’m not supposed to want to change it for the better. However, that’s exactly what’s happening. If I see a chance to make a difference, I’m snatching it up, and needless to say, I’m going to continue to give Pizza Hut my all. So, am I staying? Yes, I am—for now, at least. Do I see this as a career? No, not really. It comes down to the poor pay and unsteady hours. If it were up to me, I’d be working four ten-hour days as a cook then night CSR. I’d also be earning at least $13/hr. However, it’s not up to me, so I don’t think I’ll be staying here too long.

I don’t plan on leaving now. As mentioned before, things are starting to change, I’m excited to be a part of it, and I enjoy the job. I guess there are only two ways I’d leave. One, if my favorite manager quit. (😅 I know I sound dramatic, but without him, I only see things going downhill.) Two, if I make a ton more money freelancing once I turn 18. However, it would probably have to be a combination of these two. I think there are a lot of ways God could use me in my workplace, and I don’t want to cut it off prematurely for money, especially when the Lord has already done some stuff. Onwards and upwards!

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