So about two months ago I applied for a part time job at my local DD. I applied a lot of places but DD was one of a few in particular I really wanted to get because it was summer time and I need the money for college next fall. A week or so after I applied for the job. I was called for an interview. I went in so nervous and totally over dressed but I was interviews as if the job was already given to me. It was fantastic! After two weeks of searching I had finally found something! To me it was the most spectacular thing ever . . . at the time.
The reality of it was, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. To say the least I was way over my head. I was making mistakes right and left, being yelled at, and in general just slowing everyone down in a restaurant in the world of "fast food". However I expected this because I was in training. I learned quickly, and I slowly become faster and faster at making an assortment of beverages of different types and styles. Now if you asked me for a hot coffee, I could make you one in two minutes flat, no questions asked. Despite this training was seriously difficult in this industry, because you have to be on the ball mentally and physically all the time. More mentally then physically, (so you don't mix up Caramel and Collatta) you get the idea.
For the next two weeks I went to DD with quickly diminishing happiness and energy and came home more stressed and tired then when I went there. Eventually I couldn't handle it anymore and decided that enough was enough and quit. I didn't quit because the work was hard, or my fellow employees/managers were mean. I quit because it was too much for me to handle, the job itself was essentially overwhelming. Despite what a lot of people think working in the fast food industry is HARD WORK. It takes a huge amount of mind body coordination and thought processing that not a lot of people possess, which I certainly don't. These workers earn every penny of their salary and honestly deserve a bit more.
What's funny is that people tend to treat them horrible. They are either super rude when they are ordering, talk down to them, or are so picky about their order and blame the employee rather then themselves for any errors. Having not made it up to the register yet I never really took the brunt of any mistreatment, but I watched it happen, and it was horrible. It was like nice ordinary people turn so rude and obnoxious when it comes to ordering for these people. Now of course for every rude person there is a polite, kind person to make things better, but the ratio is still there and it shouldn't be. Some days are worse then others but it still happens every day, and it shouldn't.
So I implore you, the next time you want to hit up a DD, Starbucks, McDonald's or Wendy's, remember to be nice to the employees who are at the register, and make your food. They put their blood sweat and tears into making it for you, and being absolutely sure its done right. The work they do, despite what you think, isn't easy and took time for them to learn and master. After two weeks, I could barely make drinks and DD without adding in the wrong ingredients or spilling the cup. haha
In any case I now have a new appreciation for the fast food industry. I also have a bunch of new acquaintances that I hope one day I'll reunite with again. Also I'm jobless . . . whoops . . .
