Blog reflection #4

Job: Pizza maker at Your Pie Pizza

For context, this was a pizza place where the customers would go down the line and customize their pizza, starting with dough, and finishing with toppings. (Similar to Chipotle)

Skills, Habits, Roles:

To make the pizza for customers, I was required to learn how to spin out the dough properly without ripping it and the correct amount of toppings to use. I also gained social interaction skills to greet customers, take their pizza orders, and listen to their special requests. My role here was shift manager. I assigned tasks to other employees and led the closing procedures, ending with closing the register drawer. In this role, I took customers' orders, made their pizzas, rang them up, and ran the food to the customers. Some habits that I practiced include, facilitating the same closing routine in order, and making the pizza in the same order almost every time. 

Motivation, Values, Beliefs:

This job allowed me to help satisfy customers and deliver excellent customer service. I have always enjoyed making people smile, and I was able to do that at this job every day. I was able to meet the specific needs of these customers and make accommodations to their pizza if requested. 

Environment:

The restaurant was big, with an area designated for the employees to make the pizzas. and a prep area in the back. Dividing the pizza topping line from the customers was a large glass barrier. This often made it difficult to hear customer's requests, especially if they had a mask on. The oven for the pizzas was located directly behind the line which sometimes caused employees to bump into each other since they were facing opposite directions. 

Feedback:

I often received positive feedback from customers when I would make special accommodations for them, like adding extra cheese or putting the cheese on before the sauce without judgment. Receiving positive feedback motivated me to continue working hard and be personable with customers. As a shift manager, sometimes I would receive negative feedback from customers that was out of my control. For example, If there was a typo in an online order, or if the doordasher never delivered their meal, the customers would call and complain to me. This would sometimes frustrate me, but I learned how to handle these situations. When I first started this job, I received feedback from the owners on how to improve my pizza making.   

Overall, I loved working at Your Pie Pizza, and it truly has helped shape me into the individual and OT student I am today.