For those of you who don't know, the "fast casual" food industry is the idea of providing high quality food at a relatively cheap price in a quick setting. (Think Panera and Noodles & Co.) Although I have never worked in a typical restraurant with a professional chef, nor have I worked in the fast food industry, I think working in the fast casual industry has it's own unique experience. But maybe I'm wrong. This is what I have learned, do you agree?

1. Patience is key

Patience with the customer that is taking five minutes to decide what to eat and not letting people go ahead of them in line. Patience with your manager after they give you your sixth cleaning task of the night. Patience with the guy who comes in five minutes before close and doesn't order to go.

2. Go were you are needed.

Your co-workers are your teammates. Together you form a well-oiled machine that takes orders, makes dishes, delivers food and washes bowls in what is (hopefully) a seamless cycle. But it never actually works this way so you need to be able to figure out what position you can fill that will benefit the team most.

3. A positive attitude is key.

There is no way you be able to get through a shift if you don't go in with a positive outlook. Having a smile will make customers happier (so they will treat you better) and boost the team's moral.

4. You can always be cleaning something.

Sweep the floor, wipe down the drink station, stock the cooler, refill the fork station, check the bathrooms, wipe down tables. Then repeat! Closing the store will be faster if you do!

5. At the end of the night, you get free food.

At Panera, it's the leftover bagels. At Noodles & Co, it's the giant rice crispies.

6. If you work there long enough, going without the menu will make you homesick.

When I went off to college, I started to miss my Penne Rosa almost as much as I did my mom's lasagna.

7. Mistakes are not always bad.

Someone ordered that WITHOUT Parmesan cheese? Looks like we have to make a new one, but I will just take the mess up to the back for my own dinner later...

Maybe I will miss working in the restaurant... Actually no I won't, just the great discount.