Experience DETAILED - Customer Service/ Catering

Catering Assistant, Tasty Toasty Mobile Catering Unit.
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(Please Note: I also created and maintained this promotional group)

Tasty toasty is a mobile catering unit that serves a variety of hot toasted sandwiches, hot and cold drinks and snacks at various festivals and events in the UK. My responsibilities on the trailer included: preparing ingredients, cleaning and maintaining the inside and outside of the trailer, cleaning utensils, making toasted sandwiches on an industrial machine, counter service, cash handling and vending, stock rotation/ re-stocking, cleaning machines such as coffee and toasty machines and any other jobs as necessary. I was required to work to a strict cleaning schedule, and comply to all health and safety/hygiene rules, as well as undergoing training in heavy lifting and Safe food Hygiene.

I was required to work under pressure in a consistently busy, compact environment. I developed team-working skills, and helped to train new members of staff and supervise whilst the manager was off-duty. Our ethos was to provide a fast, friendly service to make customers want to return. I gained many customer service skills including the ability to keep a smile on my face whilst working in difficult, challenging conditions.I was complimented by my employer for my hard work, efficient skills working on the industrial machine and sense of humour/personality that I brought to the job, she has offered me work next summer.

What I enjoyed most about the job: The fact that we moved around and got to visit lots of different places meant every shift was different and I got to experience some new things.

What I enjoyed least about the job: Sometimes I would have to work 18 hour shifts, and this was very difficult when not getting much sleep at a noisy festival!

Fine Dining Waitress, The Chamberlain Hotel, London. http://www.fullershotels.com/rte.asp?id=13

I was recruited for the early morning breakfast/lunch shift in the restaurant at this luxury hotel. My responsibilities included: preparing the restaurant for customer's arrival, food and beverage preparation for the continental buffet, welcoming and seating guests, taking orders, using the till/cash handling, serving food and drinks, re-stocking the buffet and communicating with kitchen when items were running low, dealing with queries and complaints, efficiently clearing and resetting tables to a high standard of presentation, preparing napkins etc. and cleaning and maintenance of Kitchen and Front of House areas including; cleaning surfaces, cleaning floors, polishing cutlery, cleaning machines such as coffee machine, hoovering, cleaning fridges, wiping menus etc. whilst adhering to a cleaning schedule. In the lunch period, I was responsible for increasing the standards of service to a Fine Dining level (for which I was trained) whilst seating customers, offering and serving drinks, removing unused glasses from tables, taking orders, serving food with the correct cutlery and condiments, checking back on the table, removing plates when all were finished and offering coffees/desserts before closing the bill. I also worked with the bar during this time; collecting glasses, serving drinks etc.

The most significant skills I gained in this position were problem solving skills and the ability to remain calm whilst working in very stressful conditions. To be honest, the restaurant was ill-equipped (with crockery, etc.) to deal with the amount of visitors, and the high standards which were expected. This meant that I had to contribute ideas to improve the smooth running of the breakfast period. I also gained bar experience, cleaning experience and increased appreciation for team work. I was praised by the managers for my team-working skills, and my friendly, outgoing approach towards staff and customers alike.

What I enjoyed most about the job: Most of the visitors were friendly, and I enjoyed delivering excellent customer service.

What I enjoyed least about the job: I felt that the management were very unprofessional and unaware of how to run a successful restaurant; for example the manager hired and kept on a friend's son who was incapable of doing the job.

Hospitality Staff, Admiral Recruitment, London E1 7HP. http://www.admiralgroup.com/

Admiral Group are Hospitality Recruitment Specialists based in East London. I worked as part of their team of high quality hospitality staff at local business offices, catering departments, events and functions. My responsibilities varied depending on each location.

Some of the positions I worked in involved working independently in the catering department of large office buildings; preparing and delivering food and hot & cold beverages to various offices around the building according to a schedule of meetings/conferences, serving hot and cold food (Silver Service) at conferences and clearing away promptly for the next meetings etc. This also required taking bookings, managing time correctly, and ensuring the correct standards of presentation were adhered to. On several occasions I was requested personally by offices, as I was able to settle in quickly and work efficiently.

I also regularly worked at events and functions; serving a variety of food and cold drinks including wine, champagne etc., canapes, and finger foods. I was required to maintain high standards of personal presentation, a formal, polite attitude and a pro-active, efficient manner of working. I also had to be willing to offer help in all areas often including packing up tables/chairs after events etc.

What I enjoyed most about the job: Every shift was different, and it was interesting to go to a variety of events and offices. I particularly enjoyed working in offices, as I was able to keep busy and input my creativity into ensuring high standards of presentation were met.

What I enjoyed least about the job: There wasn't much opportunity to build a good team-relationship as I moved around a lot.

General Assistant, Palace Bingo Clubs, Elephant and Castle, London. http://www.thepalaces.co.uk/london.php

As a general assistant I was hired on a flexible basis to work in various areas around the bingo club; varying each day.

I ran the snacks kiosk, whereby I opened and closed up, re-stocked and rotated the products, ordered in new products that were needed, took orders and used the till, prepared ice-creams, took deliveries, counted cash for the casino and ensured the area was kept clean and tidy. I also implemented strategies for pest control.

In the kitchen area, I was responsible for operating the till, handling cash, re-stocking snacks, condiments etc. serving food to customers and FOH and BOH cleaning. I was also required to serve people at their tables, collect bingo tickets and ensure all areas were kept clean and tidy.

I developed the ability to work on a flexible basis, and adapt to new roles quickly. I improved my customer service skills as I was able to build relationships with regular customers, and gained experience working to increase sales; by implementing POS advertising, up-selling, and good presentation of products on display.

What I enjoyed most about the job: The fact that I was given so much responsibility, and was able to run the kiosk alone.

What I enjoyed least about the job: The nature of bingo meant that you'd get rushes and lulls of people, and they could be very impatient.

Waitress, The Fox under the Hill, Shooters Hill Road, London. http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/pubsandbars/fox-under-the-hill-review-29170.html

I worked as part of a team of waiting staff at this family pub/restaurant. My responsibilities included: welcoming and seating guests, basic food preparation, serving food with correct side dishes/condiments etc, dealing with queries and complaints, clearing tables, cleaning and maintaining kitchen area, front of house and customer toilets. I was trained in Customer Service Excellence, Level 1 – 3 and received certificates.

This was my first paid job, and where I gained my first experience in customer service. I learned how to deal with difficult situations, work well under pressure, use my initiative and problem solving skills and work efficiently and accurately. I also learnt about POS advertising, up-selling, and using efforts to maximise sales.

What I enjoyed most about the job: I enjoyed the training and learning aspect of this experience, as I love to learn new things.

What I enjoyed least about the job: The chefs and managers could become very aggressive and intimidating, and I was very young and vulnerable at the time.