As a current college student, I am fully aware I am not the only one having to endure the struggles of working at a fast food restaurant. In the world we live in, these jobs in the fast food industry are looked down upon and the employees are laughed at, treated poorly and ridiculed because "it's not a real job." However, I've learned more lessons about society and life in general from working in this business than any post college occupation can teach me. In fact, the majority of the people I know either currently are working in fast food or first began there. Everyone can agree that it doesn't take a whole lot of skill to serve coffee, take orders or flip burgers, but it does take a particular type of individual to deal with customers and the public. Working in the fast food industry requires a lot of patience and hard work. It definitely will make you a more humble individual, and working in fast food has had a major influence on shaping the caring individual I am today. Here are a few life lessons I've taken away from the wonderful world of fast food.
1. Contrary to the common belief, no, the customer is not always right, but fix it anyway.
Many times during a shift, an employee will have a situation dealing with a stubborn or angry customer who insists you have either incorrectly prepared their order, or you have forgotten a part of their order. This customer comes in every day and orders the same thing, and you time and time again make their order just as they say to. However, they continue to insist you make it wrong anyway; but hey, it is OK! I'll take it back and make it again, or give you that extra fry you forgot to order, and you can even taste it to make sure I did it right before you leave. So, the customer is always right, even though they're almost always wrong. Fixing the problem, regardless if they're right or wrong, will make the situation better than if you insist that you made their order correctly. Fast food taught me that the fight is never worth it. Just let it go and be wrong. Take the fall to make the customer happy.
2. Working with people you don't get along with is challenging, but not impossible.
We all have experience, worked with and know the one or few co-workers we can't stand working with. It may be from general laziness, their bad attitude or poor work ethic, but it's important to keep an open mind and remember that everyone has a story. Everyone is going through something different than the next person, and sometimes that plays out on their ability to work. Simply just do your best to act with kindness and crack a joke here and there. Keeping a positive attitude makes all the difference, and a little bit of kindness goes a long way!!
3. People are mean, but be kind anyway.
No matter how poorly a customer may treat you, you should absolutely always respond with the sincere kindness. Like I have said previously, you do not know what they may have experienced that particular hour, day, week or even month to make them act the way they are toward you. I once had an instance where a young mother came in alone with her two children and appeared to be crying. She was trying to carry all these cups and trays of food for her children and was having a hard time. I approached her and asked if I could hep her carry her meals to her seat. I then asked if she needed a hug to which she responded, "Yes." I She then thanked me and said that what I had done was the first kind thing someone had done for her all week! I did not know this woman, and I haven't seen her since this experience, but this just goes to show that a little kindness never hurts.
4. You have more patience than you think.
Any job that involves working and interacting with people will test your patience immensely. It is extremely important to stay patient. Patience is hard, yes. However, each time you practice and use it, it gets easier.
5. The value of a dollar.
My first paycheck ever at 15 years old, was probably one of the sweetest and most rewarding things I've ever been given. The countless hours of cleaning, cooking, counting cash and dealing with angry customers who put a damper on my mood all became worth it. From then on, every cent being made has become precious, and every item I buy with the money I make from this hard work means that much more to me, knowing I had to put in hard work for it. Also, not always having to hound my parents for money and having my own money was a victory in itself.
6. Team work is important.
I made some great friends at my first workplace. There was, at times, a lot of laughter about silly things, goofing off and memories made. There were inside jokes and certain looks we'd throw at one another when certain things would happen. But when things got tough and busy, we all needed to pull together and work as a team. You had to rely on the team around you to equally share the responsibility of completing the task at hand. You also know that if and when you were yelled at by a mother for not having the right happy meal toy, were harassed by a crazy creep in need of a Big Mac and a sexual encounter with a young lady like yourself, ran out of cups or you just smelled like a bunch French fries, you know your team will always be right there beside you, and that makes all the difference.
7. You get what you put in.
If you see a job as meaningless, then it will become meaningless. You will not care, have motivation or put any work into your job, and it will show. In the past, I've seen plenty of my co-workers do just this. Sure, it's only fast food, but it's still a job. You get what you put in, and everyone around you will notice. Have you ever noticed how those who say positive things about working in fast food are those who threw themselves into it? They truly cared about the quality of their service, cleanliness and value of the customer! Be the employee who will one day have only positive things to say about working in this business.
