The fast food industry: we all are aware of it, partake in it, and many of us have given our souls and freedom to it in exchange for money. Here are 12 signs that you have done just that.
1. Beeping makes you anxious
Everything in a store beeps. Everything. And, when it does it requires immediate action. Therefore, when you’re at home and something is beeping you immediately are on your feet trying to stop it. There is no ignoring the sharp, continuous sound. Instead you will stop at nothing to make it stop. This includes alarm clocks. Choose the right alarm tone and you will never sleep through it again.
2. You instinctively try to use a headset…everywhere
Headsets are your life at work. Whether it’s actually doing your job or talking to your coworkers about last Friday night, the headset is the number one communication device. Outside of work, you find yourself instinctively reaching for a headset to talk with your friends, especially when the topic of choice is of utmost importance but also can’t be uttered too loudly.
3. You say your drive through greeting when answering phone
You say your drive through greeting countless times in a shift. You hear the tone that a customer is at the speaker and you immediately click your headset on and rattle off a string of words that now are tattooed into you brain. Now, you’re home and the phone rings. Of course when you answer the phone the first thing out of your mouth is your drive through greeting. Just ask whoever is on the other end to hang up and try again later.
4. You patience is unmatched
You have dealt with the worst in humanity. Whether you’ve been screamed at about a charge on nugget sauces or dealt with an entire family taking roughly 12 years to order in the drive through, you have seen it all. You can handle just about anything, now…especially if you can just talk about it over your headset immediately after.
5. You use store lingo that no one else understands
Trying to relay stories to your friends and family are basically impossible. Lingo that you use in the store will make no sense to people in the outside world. You can say “full rack” to your team during breakfast and they immediately know you mean hash browns. Any other person would have no idea what was going on. It’s only useful in the store and explaining it to others just takes too long.
6. You appreciate cold weather and can’t stand when it’s hot
No matter the weather, it is always incredibly hot behind the counter. The AC may work in the lobby, but it barely takes the edge off in the grill area. You have zero tolerance for when it’s hot out and always feeling sweaty. But, when it’s cold you’re as happy as a clam at high tide. No one appreciates a good breeze like you do.
7. You make the best sandwiches
You make sandwiches all day. Of course, you’re the best at it even when you’re at home. You know all the secrets of condiment building and you already know what the best sandwiches are made of.
8. You have burns on every finger and compare them with fellow fast food slaves
Everything in the store is hot. No fast food worker can go unscathed. Spend enough time working and you’ll have battle scars on every finger. On your down time, you and your coworkers will circle up and compare burns and scars. Most times, you all have at least a couple matching ones. The new crew members just watch in horror.
9. There is one drawer that is only for your uniform
You can’t mix your uniform with your “people clothes”. There is a grease smell that will never come out. If it gets too close to your other clothes, they’ll be tainted as well. You have one drawer just for your uniforms. Even if you have just a few articles of clothing for work, they get a whole drawer. Even after you’ve quit, that drawer will remain vacant of clothes you actually like.
10. You’re time sensitive
Seconds mean everything in the fast food empire. You’ve become exceptionally good and counting them. Something will be up in 57 seconds? You’ll be there right when it comes up without ever having to check the time again. You can make that line one of your resume, really. It's impressive.
11. You use your customer voice outside of work
Any ounce of annoyance will bring out your “customer voice”. It’s higher than your normal voice and your eyes will have the look of murder in them.
12. You can jazz up any article of clothing
You’ve been given the ugliest uniform but you know just how to make it your own. You have to find individuality somehow among the sea of button down shirts and dress pants. If that means spicing up your uniform with a cute accessory or winging your eyeliner just a little more, you’ll do it.
