In my previous article, I mentioned that there were many different things I had learned from working in various entry-level positions. One of the most interesting parts of these positions are the little tips, tricks and lessons you can learn from them. Here is a list of various things I learned from my first real job.
1. Huge Orders Should Really Not be Made Via the Drive Thru (Though it is hilarious)
(The dude from Epic Meal Time doesn't seem to grasp this.) The nightmares that resulted from making $70-$90 orders in the drive-thru line at Taco Bell still haunt me today. The reason being, most fast-food restaurants have a timed drive-thru. This means, with a 32 second average to meet and enormous orders being made in rapid succession, things can actually get pretty stressful. Though I remember laughing more than anything, it would just be better to make the order inside.
2. If a Mistake is Made With Your Order, I Promise it was not on Purpose
More than anything, the human-error that occurs is definitely accidental. I remember as a child, I was always the person to have his order made incorrectly and not realize it until I was home. After working at Taco Bell, I can say that those mistakes were not on purpose. Though we often caught each other when mistakes were made, it is not unreasonable to have a few items slip through the cracks when thousands of meals go out each day.
3. Not Ridiculing the Staff when your Order is Made Incorrectly is the Quickest Path to Getting the Best (Insert what you ordered here) You Have Ever Had
Nothing feels worse than screwing up someone's order with the knowledge that they had to turn around drive all the way back, and come inside. It feels even worse when the customer genuinely understands and just wants their order made correctly. Treating a mistake as it is, an accident, is the best way to getting the most perfectly made food you have ever received from that specific fast-food location.
4. If We Work Here, We Probably Eat Here, and If We Eat Here, We Can Recommend the Best Menu Items
Simple as that. *Psst* The Meal Deals at Taco Bell are probably the best value. (No longer $2 but still a great value at around $2.60)
5. Making the Promo Items is a Hilarious Disaster
(A few of these are extra fun) "It gets folded how?" "How much meat?" "I messed it up... again"
In summary, there are a lot of things most people do not understand about fast-food work. The employees really are not "stupid", accidents happen, but most importantly, they actually care and know what it's like to receive something made incorrectly.
