Once I moved to Tallahassee, I set out looking for my first job. I didn’t really know what to expect, I was just trying to make some extra cash in order to pay for whatever I needed/wanted. Fresh out of high school, I didn’t realize how expensive it was to live on your own.
I applied to numerous positions in hopes of getting a call from one of them. Since I lived across the street, Jimmy John's seemed like the best course of action. I could easily wake up 15 minutes before my shift, walk over and still be on time.
As of this month, I have worked there for a year and five months. Here’s what I’ve learned during my time there:
1. There are three rules at JJ's:
One: Don’t run out of bread
Two: Have fun.
Three: If a fire starts, make sure it burns down the store.
2. Sampling is the best job.
As a sampler, I walk around campus or visit businesses to hand out free subs as a way of promoting the store. Who can resist FREE FOOD?!?! Putting a smile on someone’s face is one of the best feelings in the world. A simple sandwich can make their day and I’m thrilled that I get to do it. Next time I’m on campus, watch out for me.
3. If you can’t give your coworker crap, are they really your coworker?
A normal Jimmy John's’ shift will only be complete if we all give each other crap for at least one thing. "You're not done with that yet?" is a popular one when making sandwiches. Sassiness is a requirement at Jimmy John's; it comes with the job. The more sass involved, the more fun it is.
4. A lot of the drivers are complete idiots.
Hence, why they’re driving and not in the store. There’s less to mess up on the road. However, there are exceptions. Some of the drivers actually have brain cells.
5. Lunch rush = hell.
IT IS SO BUSY. If you’re on the table, you’re making back-to-back sandwiches for at least an hour. Deliveries, drive-thru, and in-shop are all blowing up. If you’re on the road, you could be taking three or four deliveries at a time. It's exhausting trying to keep up with it all.
6. READ the menu.
DO NOT ORDER A TURKEY TOM AND ADD BACON, that is a number 16. It is cheaper to get the 16. Watch out for this when you order. Adding meat to a sandwich can instantly turn it into another sandwich. There are only a few combinations of meats that aren't already on the menu.
7. Working hard can mean free food.
If the managers feel like being nice, they’ll give you food for coming in early or working an extra shift for them. It’s appreciated when you don’t want to spend money and don’t have any food. It also shows that you’re a valued employee.
8. Closing shifts are the worst shifts.
My whole first semester, I had to close FRIDAYS and SATURDAYS. WE DON'T CLOSE UNTIL 3:15 AM which means you don’t leave until at least 4 am! If I’m up that late, the last place I want to be is at work. Last semester, I closed on Monday nights and then had to be up at 9 am; the sleep deprivation was too real.
9. If you get an unwich, load it up.
With a lack of bread, unwiches can be bland. To spice it up, just add…EVERYTHING (all the freebies). The more meat and condiments, the better.
10. If you aren’t doing anything, CLEAN, CLEAN & CLEAN.
There’s always something to clean at JJ's. Whether it is the dishes, the floors, or any other surface in the store, the cleaning never ends. When you think you’re done, there’s a new mess to sweep up and more dishes to wash. It's unremitting.
11. The bar rush.
DRUNK PEOPLE! At 2 am, the bar rush starts and everyone looks for food after a night out. Being one of the few places open at that time of the night, the drunks flock to us. We experience an assortment ranging from calm to happy go lucky to wild. Most of them tend to leave a mess for us to clean up.
12. If you’re looking for something cheap, go for the slim.
It’s only meat and bread but simple sandwiches can be pretty damn good.
13. Slicing for days.
Don’t get me started on how much slicing gets done. During a regular day, we slice anywhere between 2-3 hams, 1-3 cheese, 1-2 vito, and 5-7 turkeys. It’s an endless process. My favorite is ham because it’s easily completed and not messy. My least favorite is vito because it takes a long time. I have the pleasure of knowing how to slice all of them.
14. Tuna prep...
...is messy and a little gross but the finished product is fantastic. I get to take my aggression out by smashing onions and mixing everything together. After adding mayonnaise, it becomes super squishy and low-key fun to mix. If you haven’t tried our tuna, I would highly recommend it.
15. When I leave, it'll be THEIR loss.
I have a love/hate relationship with working at JJ's. I say, “I quit” at least 5 times a shift and although I'm joking, my managers worry that I'm serious. Sometimes I wish I was. I may make mistakes and break the rules every once and a while but I'm one of the best. So "when I'm gone, when I'm gone, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone."
