707 Bay Street, Port Orchard, WA 98366, US
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Working Interview
First Day
So there are times when we don't officially schedule a working interview, but we jump you right in on a shift of 4 hours or so. If during that time you decide the energy is too high, there's too much Gordon Ramsey energy or too much joking that you want to report to HR you are free to leave and we'll just pretend today never happened.
During the first days I'll ask you at least once, how you are doing.
Its not the time to be polite.
I'm not just asking like you ask the check out line at Fred Myers, to hear "fine thanks, how are you" . Its to see how you feel about the situation you are in.
It's a real question, I want a real answer.
Because
We can spend a little more time letting you adjust to the real world of a fast paced kitchen if we see potential.
But...
This is not high school. It does matter if you don't show up to work. There are other people depending on you being here. They must work harder when you are not there. Or if you are not up to the tasks.
So we'd rather that you decide on Day One whether you are a good fit and to get that answer it's better to let you experience the reality earlier than later.
Training
Training is hard. It's harder than it will be in 2 weeks when you know things and don't need to ask where shit is and how shit is supposed to be done.
And believe it or not, the person training you is not necessarily going to be highly experienced at training... so while you are being trained by a 19 year old, there's someone pointing out to that person how to train better.
My training method is going to include seeing what you can do and where you are starting from.
Before i show you something, odds are good that I'll ask you what we should do next. It's to see what you know, and also to get you thinking. Engaging your brain is helpful to get you to remember things.
And, I'll likely just say to put the bowl on the kitchenaide mixer to see if you can figure out how it goes on. And I'll let you work it out for 30 seconds while i stand nearby trying not to look like I'm paying any attention. Someone else might want to jump in and do it for you, but you'll learn better without their help.
I'm told that it makes people feel stupid. Do not feel stupid about not already knowing something. Only feel bad when you stop trying.
So, for the application and interview process,
Be Ready
to show a high energy personality that can cope with a loud fast environment with high expectations and productivity starting Day One.
A few Guidelines
are that we don't have septum jewelry, although other nose piercings are grudgingly acceptable. Long fingernails don't usually work out in kitchens, and jewelry all over your fingers don't either. Tattoos need to be tasteful. or covered up. Long hair needs to be under control.
Writing on T shirts is subject to approval.
Questions?
Typically folks ask about hours and pay. We need everyone available on weekends. there are shifts starting 7 or 8 am that are usually scheduled up to 8 hours but might end up going home early or asking to stay late depending on if someone called out that day or we were slower or busier than usual. The afternoon shift starts 3 or 4 and goes until closing, which can take up to an hour (or more, again depending on whether everyone showed up ready to work that day) after posted closing times.
during the summer there is usually at least one mid day person who might come in at 12 or 1 and stay up to 8 hours.
Most everyone starts out working the front counter.
But everyone gets to experience most of the job areas. Folks working a shift mainly in the kitchen go up front for rushes. Front counter staff come around the corner and pitch in on the prep table once everything is perfect up front ~ stocked and clean, tables cleaned, bus tubs or garbage not overflowing, dishes caught up.
Pay is going to depend on your skills/ abilities/energy level/quality of work.
Everyone starts off at minimum wage and high school kids who mostly work the front counter usually stay there a few months until they are working more or less independently. Folks with impressive resumes with lots of kitchen experience please bring the topic up during the interview process. We can set the expectation of a higher wage after 2 week break-in period. The risk there is that if you are not living up to expectations we won't keep you. Or after 2 weeks offer less than what we talked about.
Tips
We have most excellent customers.
Tips will add 3 or 4 or even 5 dollars an hour. I do not keep track of that so i cannot tell you precisely, and of course that varies day to day. Tips are split ~ folks working in the back get the same as those in front, since we are a team and all contribute. The kitchen skills contribute as much to the tip jar as the person plating cakes and bagging truffles. (The reporting to the IRS is between you are your tax preparer and the government.)
If, after reading all this, you still want to apply, please
work involves working
As mentioned, the folks who have energy, take pride in their work, and can take correction do very well in this environment.
High school kids on their first job, even many of them do very well.
But those whose parents have coddled them, tend to fail out after a day or 2. I have had parents tell me that their high school kid needs to be treated differently, with a lower set of expectations than someone making the same wage who actually gets shit done. I'm not going to coddle you when you show up to work. We are not Marine Boot Camp, but we do expect jumping in. And we use language common to kitchens, some times gruff but nothing that high school students have not heard daily already. Unless you are from a catholic school perhaps.
While you are being trained on Day One, the person training you is also being trained to train. Because that is another set of skills that we all need to develop, and while he's training you I'll be suggesting to him how to involve you more in the doing more than the watching. 4 hours of standing behind someone going "yeah ok" is not as effective as having tools put in your hand and instructions on how not to fuck up a project.
Anyway, now you may proceed with a more realistic set of expectations on how you might fit in.
We want folks to contribute, to feel proud of their accomplishments and be able to work up to high standards of positive energy and quality.
And since I'm largely talking to the generation that skips to the end to check the box giving a software giant access to all your personal information when you check the Terms & Conditions box, here are the bullet points once again:
*Have a high energy outlook on the job. All day every day.
*Be ready for instructions and corrections. Not just during 2 weeks of training but for as long as you are here
*No Septum jewelry
* Control your hair
* If you can work and talk do both. If you have to choose between the two, choose wisely.
* Day One is a no-fault day. If you decide not to carry on working at Carters we can just pretend it never happened.