Job Description

It was my senior year of high school and I was in desperate need of money. My friends and I were planning a graduation trip to Korea, but my bank account was sitting at a measly $87. I was discussing this dilemma at dinner with my best friend, Nick, and his dad. We were eating at local favorite - Pho Sure - a Vietnamese noodle restaurant. Nick's father is the type of person who somehow knows everyone in the city. Sure enough, he was good friends with the owner and asked if they were hiring. The next day, I was my first shift as a server at Pho Sure.

Being my first job, I wasn't sure of what to expect. Difficulties arose right off the bat - there was a language barrier as most of the staff in the kitchen were Vietnamese immigrants and didn't speak much English. Thankfully, the other servers were bilingual and were able to translate for me. Although communication was difficult for the first few months, it was a great experience to learn a new language and a new culture. As standard when learning a new language, they first taught me all the popular curse words and then moved onto basic phrases. Thankfully, the owners and staff were also very kind and accommodating. Additionally, I had frequented the restaurant so learning and memorizing the menu was not very difficult. 

My main responsibilities were to greet customers, explain the menu, take orders, bring the food out, and settle payments. During slow periods, I would also help out in the kitchen by cutting vegetables, restocking sauces, washing dishes, and stirring boba. I didn't have a strict or rigid set of responsibilities. As a family business, it was usually all hands on deck. This gave me the opportunity to learn about the operations of a restaurant in its entirety.

During the first couple months, the restaurant was always busy during rush hours but never packed. Therefore, I was able to easily acclimate to the environment and become comfortable within my role. However, as the weather got colder, more people started craving a hot bowl of pho and the restaurant began ton attract up to an hour wait during peak hours. With the influx of diner came extra pressure and workload which definitely made me feel overwhelmed at times; however, more customers lead to more tips which made the extra effort worthwhile. 

One of my favorite memories was playing cards after closing with my boss and other co-workers. It was a great bonding experience as we talked about everything from sports, future plans, and life stories. We got to know about each other on a deeper level and we always played as friends. During cards, there was no hierarchy but everyone freely joked around with each other. 

I learned a lot from my first job - customer service, how to cut jalapeños, Vietnamese culture, how to carry multiple plates, and what a W2 is. The experiences and lessons I learned were valuable. I still frequently visit the restaurant for dinner when I'm back in town.