In search of the Perfect Employer

After working in a varied amount of fields I have had my fair share of employer types, still to this day I have yet to find the illusive perfect employer (I will never give up the hunt).

I have worked in everything from Restaurants as a server to taking on a position as Training and Support Coordinator for a major Canadian company and have collected a wide range a skill sets. I have changed jobs more than a few times because like in everything else in my life I refuse to settle.

I have found employers who started out amazing with big promises of nurturing new skills and amazing growth potential, only to be later used and walked all over. My biggest problem is that I have a problem saying no. I pick up new skills quickly, so learning a new job doesn’t take me much time, because of that I am an easy candidate to give extra duties (most time without any extra pay). For the longest time I put up with it because to me I was learning new skills and to me an opportunity to learn should not be wasted.  Unfortunately when you have that attitude it gets easy to be taken advantage of and that’s when jobs tend to turn south.

My Husband laughs at me all the time when I say that I’m bored and hate being at a job where I feel like I’m doing nothing, he always says “Babe if they are going to pay you to do nothing then do nothing”. I never listen and then end up in the same cycle of taking on extra duties outside of my pay grade and being taken advantage of all over again (you’d think id learn).

So my question is, is it really too much to ask to be challenged, to feel appreciated and noticed for work done?  I once had an employer who told me “if you don’t hear from me it’s a good thing, you don’t want to hear from me. I don’t stroke egos I don’t have time for that so we will talk when you do something wrong”; coming from the women who during my interview and job acceptance promised an environment that fostered growth and development.

I’m not naïve; I know every job has its ups and downs. I’m not asking for someone to tell me that everything I do is amazing at every moment of the day, but every once in a while would be nice. I am not asking for rainbows and gum drops; just as I would expect an employee to deliver on what they said in an interview I expect the same from the employer.  I feel like I have a lot to offer and I have a lot more I want to learn, so I would love to be in an environment where that is allowed. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be challenged and allowed to grow as an employee and an individual?

Well my hunt will continue, I will not stop… Perfect employer if you’re out there I’m coming, I will find you! To everyone else out there that knows what I’m talking about, don’t settle. I’m not telling you to get up and quit your job, but don’t settle. Know your worth and shoot for the stars. Never give up on your dreams and never stop learning and growing. Be the best you in everything you do and the rest will just fall into place.

Lotsa Love,

Tasha

How can I help you? Cue Douche.

WARNING! This post may be a rant! lol

It always amazes me how normally civilized people can become complete douches to people in the service industry. They go from talking in a normal tone to a condescending one in a second. Is it a chemical reaction or are some people just born with the douche gene? You know who I’m talking about, the ones who snap their fingers at servers who are obviously busy or yell at the girl at the counter at the local coffee shop because there is a line up.

 I have worked in the service industry off and on in varying positions for over 10 years, so this have given me much time to study and analyze these people.  I am definitely a strong willed person and trust me the “douchey customer” is definitely the hardest for me to deal with because they are not only impossible to please, they make your life hell and rarely tip (even if it did it wouldn’t really make it any better).

My “research” hasn’t narrowed down the “douchey customer” pay scale or class. It seems that no matter what economic group you belong to you can be susceptible to “doucheness.” I have watched countless numbers of tables interact completely normal with the company of their friends and as soon as the server approaches the table a switch is flicked and there is no going back.

 I have served tables where I can go over clear the table ask if anyone needs anything, attempt to make eye contact with someone because I’m being ignored, finally walk away and then within seconds get the snap/dirty look combo and get grief for not coming to the table for refills. This happened regularly. I have both seen and dealt with first hand things that no one else in any other industry would be expected to deal with…ok maybe customer service agents, they get the raw end of the deal on many occasions.

 So, this makes me wonder, what makes these people think that they can act the way they do? Do they think less because of the position or title? Are they so miserable in their own lives that they need an outlet or do they just not know any better? It wasn’t acceptable in kindergarten to treat your fellow classmates this way or the teacher, so how did they miss this very important lesson on manners when it’s taught so young?

 I used to always say that I thought everyone should be made to work in the service industry at some point in their lives in order to be allowed to enter a restaurant, maybe then they’d change.

I have to admit there are some people out there that should not be working in the industry and in that case speak with the manager, ask for another server. But treat them like the human being they are. Some of the smartest, most down to earth, nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of working with have been in the service industry and I bet anyone of them would have their fair share of horror stories.

I think it comes down to the saying we were taught as children “treat others as you wish to be treated”! I know we all have our bad days and need outlets for them, but trust me it should not be the counter girl or bartender. Remember they are the one who control your food/drink fate and I wouldn’t leave my order in the hands of a mistreated server.

“I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”

Jackie Robinson

Lotsa Love,

Natasha