For the summer, I decided to go back to work as a seasonal employee at the cute coffee shop near my house. I figured I would just get through it and make some money to add to my savings, but it ended up being one of the highlights of my summer. I learned so much from working in a restaurant and from my co-workers AKA best friends, but these were the most important.
1. Make friends with your co-workers.
Easily the most important on this list, at least in my opinion. If you are friends with the people you see at work all week, getting to work won't feel like such a "job," but rather a fun time. I even started to enjoy waking up at 8 a.m. on a Saturday because I knew I was headed to see some of the funniest people I know. It makes your shift fly by when you enjoy who you have to work with for hours. Making friends with your co-workers means having someone to goof around with when it's slow, cover your shifts when you need help, share your discounted meals with and communicate telepathically across the restaurant when a customer drives you crazy. Basically, you have a whole crew to support you and make you smile.
2. Be nice to everyone.
Whether it's hosts, servers, baristas, kitchen staff, support staff or managers — just be nice. Everyone is doing their job and is crucial to the team's overall performance.
3. Some people suck.
Yep, there will always be some rude customers during your shift. Just take a deep breath, smile and get through it.
4. But not all people suck.
THANK GOD! I love customers that come in with a smile and don't make it their goal to complain about all things possible. Some people can be so delightful and can brighten your day. I love when customers can be understanding to us when we are short staffed or when the kitchen is slammed. After all, we're only human.
5. Communication is key.
This is great advice for the restaurant world and the real world. Always communicate with your managers for days you need to request off, emergencies and with the rest of your staff when you need some help. Your co-workers are your friends!
6. Be flexible.
Sometimes when it's super busy you'll get thrown into doing some job you aren't used to, or really anything to help out. Other times, you need to take your co-worker's shift because you know they'd do it for you.
7. Enjoy your job.
Although I had just a summer job and it was not something I plan on making my career, I can happily say that I loved going to work. I am so sad that I have to leave my job when I go back to school, but sadly it was just a seasonal gig. Enjoying what you do makes work feel like fun. I love my co-workers, our customers and basically everything and everyone at my job.
