Nipomo, California, United States
I am a first-generation college graduate looking to find experience in the psychology/mental health field. I graduated magna cum laude from CSU Channel Islands and am planning to further my education until I receive my PhD. I am driven by helping others and developing connections. I am very detail-oriented and consider myself a hard worker seeking hands-on experience. I have a background in costumer service as well as food handling, and my position as an assistant manager has led me to develop extensive communication skills, as well as the ability to diffuse situations and step in whenever needed. I am constantly looking to learn more and be introduced to new experiences, as well as making meaningful connections with potential employers and clients.
With my first role in management, I learned a lot that I will carry with me into future positions of leadership. I was the second in command, and did my best to make sure the store manager wasn’t overwhelmed or had too much on their plate. I took over the store on their days off, and was quick to take charge when needed. I would always go above and beyond to make sure the store was running smoothly and that everything got completed in a timely manner. I got comfortable performing cash audits, making payroll forecasts, closing and opening the store alone, and making sure all money was being handled with accuracy. I would check in and helped associates, and always stepped in to handle tricky situations. I also kept in close contact with the District Manager, including daily emails and weekly zoom meetings - making sure that everything was approved by her. I learned how to use Excel and implement it into my daily routine. I felt comfortable being a leader within the store and always looked for opportunities to teach in the moment with our associates. I felt lucky to help them grow and be supportive and never judged when they were learning; I always made sure to remind myself that I was once in their shoes.
I was considered one of the top associates, meaning that I would be the first expected to hop on the register and complete transactions, especially on busy days where a line would wrap around the store. I handled money with complete accuracy, including dealing with returns, exchanges, and online website orders. I also floated on the floor, helping customers find products, answering any questions, and greeting customers with a friendly demeanor, always making them feel welcomed. During slow hours I made sure the store was clean and organized. There would also be days I was in charge of receiving new shipment and putting the product out onto floor. During closed hours I would assist in creating floor sets - which included knowing where product should go, how to organize product, and moving heavy hardware. I especially enjoyed this work, as I was able to implement my creativity and organization skills.
This was my third job in food service, and I renewed my food handler’s license once I was hired. On a daily basis I was making smoothies, acai bowls, and fresh vegetable juices for customers and memorized our long list of recipes. I worked under pressure, as our location was in the middle of a downtown area and a hot spot for tourists. I often worked alone for long periods of time and handled breakfast/lunch rushes with ease. I was able to maintain composer and friendly customer service skills when working in a very busy, fast-paced environment. I paid attention to customer requests and modifications for each item, as there were many instances that people would need to remove or add items to their orders. Food allergies were also a very important aspect that I paid close attention to. I worked at the register and handled money with complete accuracy. I also worked many different stations at once, including register, making the smoothies, serving customers, and dishwashing, all while by myself. I made sure the store was clean during slow times; I swept, mopped, wiped down counters, washed dishes, restocked items, etc. An important aspect of the job was to always find something to do while it was slow. I kept myself busy and was always able to find something to work on, meaning every corner of the store would be clean and organized.
I leaned a lot with this job, as it was quite different from my previous positions in retail and catering. My making job was scooping ice cream and curating the perfect sweet treat. for customers on a daily basis. I worked under pressure and in a busy setting, as most days there were lines of customers out the door. I assisted in shift-lead duties, including filling out order forms for customers, handling upset customers, and making sure every transaction went smooth. I was able to learn a plethora of different skills, including making waffle cones, banana splits, milkshakes, coffee, etc. I memorized how to make each different items and could successfully prepare them even under high pressure. I completed transactions and handled money with complete accuracy. In between customers I would clean tables, booths, counter tops, dipping cases, floors, bathrooms, etc. I would handle closing tasks: dishes, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping and mopping, cleaning windows, taking out trash, and making sure the parlor looked clean for the next day. It was a very fulfilling role, making children and families feel welcomed and preparing them a dessert that was guaranteed to bring them back to the shop.
This was my first official job, and I’m extremely grateful it was. I became very close with the manager and associates, and felt a lot of growth in this company. I helped out customers on a daily basis; greeted them, made sure they were finding everything alright, and answered any questions they might have. I worked the register and completed transactions, handling money with complete accuracy. As I became more of a long term employee, I assisted in manager duties, including training new associates, creating new floor sets, product returns/exchanges, etc. I always made sure to maintain a clean, organized store. I made sure the product was in the right location and looked tidy. I was chosen to be one of the few associates that handled shipment, I had extensive knowledge of our product and the way the floor was organized. I recovered product, meaning made sure clothing was folded and hung neatly, I wiped down counters/registers, cleaned windows, swept the floor, etc.