• 06 Jun, 2025*

it’s summer break. uni has ended. i have time in between before my final year starts. i’ve applied for part-time jobs and got a server job at one of the newly opened restaurants in my city. after my last part-time job, i told myself, “i’m not doing customer service anymore, i think i’ve worked enough years of that, i want something more behind-the-scenes next time” as we all know, the hospitality industry is in dire need of staff, and i’ve got the experience. so here i am again.

although this time it’s different... a change in mindset?

i used to look at my part-time job as an obvious mean for money. i needed to save, pay my bills and rent. i get anxious when i think about work the next day, i can’t do anything before i start my shift. i drag my body out of bed to prepare for work. i clock in, my mind goes blank, i have a script that my mouth automatically says, my body moves and navigates the very familiar floor plan of the restaurant, the ding of orders at the bar or kitchen, drinks to be made, food to be served, receipts and card machines, cutlery to polish, and i clock out. the same thing over and over again. as robotic and mechanic as it sounds, that’s what the job felt like to me. anyways i’m ranting away from the main point of this blog.

right. in the current place i’m working at, we recently had a meeting and the owner said something that was so obvious that i never really have in mind while doing my job.

“when people come to our restaurant, we take care of them, look after them like our own family and friends”

that simple and obvious sentence struck me. of course, only a few people feel the same way. to anyone else work is just work. i never really intentionally took care of them as my own family or friends. i was just doing my job as a server. i keep a separate barrier between me and customers, as well as colleagues actually. but when i realised that and got to try to be intentional, it actually felt nice. looking at my customers in the eyes, talking to them a bit more. almost like i get to see them as people with their own life stories and not just my customers (again the mechanic feel).

i like my job. especially interacting with my customers. it’s always nice to have a chat. though of course, i have to read their body language and tone if they want to chat or not, whether they’re too immersed with their own conversations or when the mood is “off” then it’s better to keep it short.

it makes my heart full when i see my customers after their meal with a pleasant smile on their faces and they say they want to take a nap after all the good food they had. when their plates are clean. when they say thank you and goodbye with smiles on their faces and say they’ll definitely visit again.

knowing that my customers leave the restaurant with full bellies and a pleasant dining experience makes me happy.