Today was my first day of work at the Den, which is a sandwich shop combined with a Peet's Coffee. I spent my shift in the sandwich section, putting together wraps and spreading condiments on bagels. Our sandwich area faces customers, so if they are tall enough to look over the little plastic fence surrounding our station, they can watch us make their food. Slightly nervous at the sight of such a long line waiting for food, I quickly add veggies to bread, wrap sandwiches in tinfoil and spread cream cheese on bagels.

The pile of order slips beside me are stacking up as I try to keep up with the flow. I grab a toasted blueberry bagel and spread cream cheese on it. As I look up to get more cream cheese, I catch sight of the girl who ordered what I’m preparing. She looks impatient, annoyed and before I can spread more cheese, she brusquely says “It’s fine.” Maybe she’s in a hurry, I think to myself. I wrap up her breakfast in some wax paper, but as I complete the last fold, she demands “Can I just have it?” and reaches out for it. Taken back, I hand it over and turn to the next breakfast to prepare. But even as I spread shredded carrots over hummus or cheddar over eggs, my mind is running. Did I really take too long to spread cream cheese? Why am I even so concerned about something so trivial as cream cheese-spreading speed? But maybe I should have just moved faster.

I’m done with my shift now, and I’m looking back on the experience. It was my first real customer service interaction, and in many respects, it was how many people have described it. People want what they want, and when you’re ordering and paying for food, you expect service to be quick, clean, and tasty. Anything else is not worthy of payment. As an employee, I realize now that yes, efficiency when there’s a long line is essential, and that as a new hire, I was no doubt moving slower than others. But, as a customer with just one day of customer service experience, I also realize how easy it is for something to be different from what you ordered. I realized that, as a customer, it doesn’t hurt to give the employee a few minutes because who knows? Maybe it’s their first day!