by Mitzi Ting Have you ever thought of working in college or are you already a part-time worker? There are many ways to make money as a student. For example, I tutored English and swimming beginning in high school, but a few years later I wanted to try something I’d never done before, so I chose waitressing. However, it didn’t turn out as I expected. Below are some facts that I wish I knew before I began to work. Note that they are all quite personal, so it might not happen to everyone, but it’s always nice to be aware of everything. 1) No more holidays (or “myself” days)
Think about fancy dinners that couples worry about 2 weeks prior to the date or family reunions that Chinese people really love. New Year, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or even your own birthday, you’ll probably have to work. No more special days for you to keep as your own. In the restaurant I worked in, we had to give our available times two weeks beforehand, which means you have to foresee your future and you won’t be able to change things later. Even if you inform them when you are not available, they might still ask you to work if they can’t find others. Be prepared to turn down sudden party invitations, to stay up late to do homework, or practically anything you didn’t schedule two weeks ago. What to do: Pick the place where you work. Ask about their required times and check their work policies. Some companies have a more flexible working time, while others might provide a more relaxed atmosphere. It’s fine to interview for a few companies before choosing. Also, read before you sign any contract. You want to be aware of anything that might happen in the future. In the end, choose work places that meet your needs! 2) Making friends (or not) I worked in an American restaurant so I thought the work atmosphere would be more open-minded and easy-going. But once I started waitressing, I learned that how you feel as a customer is different from workers. The restaurant had about thirty employees, so it’s actually hard to expect everyone to be nice and friendly. Some were really helpful during my newbie period, like checking on me before anything went wrong or doing all the nasty/smelly work like taking out the garbage. Others took advantage of the fact that I was the “new kid” and tried to boss me around by making me do all the hard work and acted annoyed when I didn’t know how to do something (even on my first day). What to do: Well, there’s no way to avoid this. You just need to know in advance that not everyone is going to be your friend, and perhaps some luck is involved. My strategy was to finish whatever work I could handle and ignore the annoying workers. There were times when they crossed the line, but I tried to have a “keep calm and carry on” attitude. If most people don’t treat you nicely, then you should consider whether to stay or not. 3) Your background DOES make a difference On the day I was interviewed, the first question they asked was, “You study at NTU? Do your parents allow you to work? Are you sure you want to work here?” A few days later, one of the managers told me that she “didn’t really like it when smart people worked for her” (am I smart? I failed calculus…). I figured that not many workers studied at national universities, though it never even occurred to me that this would be an issue. The fact that some people considered me to be “different” made me feel uncomfortable. Being a waitress was never a matter of honor or dishonor, it’s a job open to everyone. I did it because I wanted the experience and it’s a common among job for college students. What to do: Remember everyone is unique but equal. It’s hard for society not to judge you based on where you come from, but these ideals can be changed once people know who you are and what you really do. It might take you some time to change their first impressions, but patience is key. I quit my job a few months later. If you ask me what I learned from my experience, I guess the biggest gain was to understand a bit of the restaurant environment and I finally know how to poach an egg! My time is definitely more valuable than 125 NT per hour (about 4 US dollars). Since I tried what I always wanted to experience, I should now save my time by tutoring for extra money. I personally don’t recommend you invest too much time working if you have many other important activities, but I understand it’s hard to accept advice before you try it for yourself! So if you’re still interested and want to give it a shot, stay open-minded and you might find something more interesting than I did! a
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May 2024
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