When your best friend tells you she got a job, you get excited for her. When she then tells you her job is in fast-food, you laugh a little.
Well, I know I did when Nina told me that. Throughout the last couple of months I’ve heard countless stories of bizarre requests, irresponsible co-workers and important lessons she has been taught. I sat down with Nina to discuss how working at this fast food facility has taught her a lot.
When did you start working, and what are your hours like?
I started in February of 2020, for the first few months or so I was working one three-hour shift a week. I then went on to work three six-hour shifts a week, which quickly became exhausting, as you can imagine. Currently I work two six-hour shifts a week – Friday nights and Sunday during the day.
What was your first day like?
As an introduction, I had to go into the store to do a couple of learning modules, which was when I realised how much beeping occurred inside a fast food restaurant. I remember wondering how anyone could possibly concentrate with how noisy it was inside the store. However, I was fortunate on my first shift to be working with my older sister, who showed me the ropes. Within my three-hour shift, I don’t think I had enough confidence to take an order for at least the first two hours, but even then I had a co-worker standing right beside me.
I wouldn’t be your best friend if I didn’t embarrass you, what was your worst mistake?
OK, so this was maybe my 5th shift, a Friday night and my older sister was having one of her first shifts as a manager. We have a car parked for a large order, as well as another car waiting for another meal, as well as many other miscellaneous cars parked in the car park outside the store. The fried food for the large order is finally cooked, so I go out to the customers to give them their food. I go up to the car and hand them the food, and they drive off. I think everything’s OK only to go in and be asked if I’ve seen the 40 pieces of fried food. I had a sudden ‘oh no’ moment as I realised my mistake. Not only had I given a huge amount of fried food to the wrong person, but I had handed it to someone who hadn’t even ordered from our store.
In contrast to that, was there ever a moment of gratitude you had while working?
Something that I really appreciate about working at a fast food store is that although you’re doing essentially the same thing every shift, there is not one shift that is identical. It always changes and never really seems boring. As well as that, it’s just nice to have customers that show you basic respect, like a smile, a ‘thank-you’ or just a customer making conversation with you. It makes pushing through a long shift so much easier.
Nina continues to work at her fast food store, and I continue to laugh at her.