For our
excursion, BlueDelicious took a trip to Johnny Rockets because we believed that
they provide their staff with a work experience unique to that of other
restaurants. We wanted to see what made Johnny Rockets different and how the
work environment encouraged their workers to perform at their potential and
above. And during the trip, we
observed how several aspects of work there can be related and applied to the
work that we do for New Student Orientation.
The moment we walked in, we felt an upbeat and friendly
atmosphere greet us. At first glance, you see people enjoying their meals,
waiters and waitresses joking around with each other and with customers, and
managers making sure that everyone is happy. This is something we want to give to new students. When they
step onto Livingston Campus on that first day of orientation, they should also
feel that same fun and welcoming environment. The first impression of
orientation (and perhaps even Rutgers University as a whole) should be similar to
my first impression of walking into Johnny Rockets in a way that people feel a
sense of comfort and excitement at the same time. We want students to see us laughing
around with each other, interacting with students, and most importantly, they
want to see other students also be excited about orientation. When new students
are surrounded by others who look forward to the program, they themselves are
more likely to feel the same way too. 
Our meal
at Johnny Rockets was very enjoyable. Our server, Dana, was all about smiles
and making sure we had everything we need. The very first thing she did after
greeting us at the table was that she drew out smiley faces on small bowls with ketchup. It was a small gesture, but it made things even more fun as we laughed
and joked about our bowls of ketchup. This is something that we must keep in
mind during the summer. Sometimes it is the little things that new students
will remember, like telling them a joke or going out your way to talk to students who are sitting by themselves.
At the end of the meal, we had the chance to ask her
specifically about her work environment and how she feels empowered by her job.
She talked about how her work turned into “play” as she began to see her job more as enjoyable work. She described how every day turns out to be something
different, that although she practically completes the same tasks, the customers
make it a new experience every time. I believe this is exactly what happens
during the summer. When asked about my summer job, I always tend to say the
same thing, “It’s like I get paid to have fun.” I really enjoyed being an
orientation leader, and it honestly were as if I did not “work a single day”
during the summer. We do pretty much the same schedule every session, but the
students make each session a unique one. And going into the workday looking
forward to a great session makes the long days go by so fast.
Another point Dana spoke to us about was how there is mutual
trust and respect amongst the waiters, cooks, and managers. This makes it
easier for everyone to fulfull their duties while having space to do their jobs
in their own way and style. In respect to New Student Orientation, we need to
be able to trust each other and know that everyone will do their part. At the
start of the day, we, orientation leaders, are given a schedule of what needs
to be done at what time. But the schedule does not tell us exactly how to lead
our group. This really encourages us to develop and experiment with our
personal leadership styles because it gives us space to learn and grow.
In all, the
trip to Johnny Rockets was a good experience. While enjoying a delicious meal,
we were able to point out how some features of the work environment at the
restaurant are similar to those of our work environment in the summer. This
excursion has reminded me about keeping up a positive and optimistic attitude
every session, remembering that each session is the first one for new students,
and that a work environment is at its best when everyone can depend on each
other. This is definitely what we should strive for during the summer.
- Ashley Aya
No comments:
Post a Comment