Paul Agostinelli’s Post

The bus driver, the admin, the food truck operator - could they hold the secret to a deeply fulfilling career? Discover the Zen of work. The Zen teacher Nyogen Senzaki made a living as a hotel attendant and elevator operator. Throughout history, there are many accounts of other deeply awakened individuals who lived modest ("professional") lives as tea sellers, wood gatherers, ferrymen, cooks and gardeners. Today there are countless awakened individuals serving equally humble roles. They may be bus drivers, administrative assistants, food truck operators... They are surely parents. Do you notice them? They notice you. Awakened individuals usually have a deep level of fulfillment in their lives because they have found meaning and flow in their work. It's a not always the kind of meaning you put into words. It's a felt sense of participating in the aliveness of the world. Of being connected to a force bigger than ourselves. Do you feel this way about your work? If not, then you may look for a guide or mentor to help you. And with all due respect, a traditional career counselor may not be it. If you're ready to explore a new perspective on work and meaning, I invite you to book a free discovery call with me. Together, we can start uncovering the Zen of your unique career path. The link to my calendar is in the comments.

🍟 One Job Every High Schooler Should Have During high school I worked as a Car Hop at a SONIC Drive-In. Although this job on the surface seems basic, it was more than just delivering food to cars, it was a crash course in adaptability and quick decision-making. Now the part I never fully got the hang of was the skating but that’s neither here nor there. From handling order mix-ups to dealing with spilled drinks because the car-hop had trouble getting off the curb (may or may not have been me), every day was an opportunity to navigate unexpected challenges. The experience taught me crucial skills that continue to shape my approach today. In my opinion, every high schooler should consider a stint in hospitality, whether as a waiter/waitress or in a similar role. The lessons you learn from managing expectations and effective communication, to ensuring customer satisfaction, are priceless. These early experiences serve as a foundation which offers invaluable reps that lay the groundwork for future success. So if anyone is on the lookout for a job that can build the foundation for a successful career, give the service industry a shot; where spills and surprises are just part of the job, and every challenge gives you an opportunity to grow. What was your first job? #expereince #firstjob #lifeskills #adaptability #customerservice

I was 17 when I had my first job – the receptionist at Pizza Hut Delivery 🍕 There are two reasons why I got this job: - My boyfriend at the time worked there - They needed a girl to answer phones and be front of house as EVERYONE who worked there was a man, and they wanted a friendly voice and face. It was great – I worked Friday and Saturday nights (6-9pm and then met my friends in town afterwards), I got free pizza every shift (and yes, I DID eat pizza every shift), and when I wasn’t working, I got 50% off! I was also a shy child – I’m sure my report cards and parents’ evenings always went the same way: ‘Zoe is a quiet student who gets on with her work’. The caveat, ‘She needs to participate more’. So, my first job really threw me into work life and trying to not be that shy girl. Being the ‘face’ of my Pizza Hut, I was constantly answering the phones, taking orders face to face, and building bonds with customers (especially our regulars) and my colleagues. I worked at Pizza Hut Delivery for a year before leaving to go to Uni, but there are things that I embraced whilst working that I took into my Uni life and further on when I started my career: -    Working there boosted my confidence – it forced me out of my comfort zone and thrust me into the world of customer service -    It taught me how to deal with issues and problems and resolve them - God forbid they had the wrong pizza!! -    It moulded my customer service skills -    It taught me about money - Not just spending it every time I got paid, but trying to save it too I absolutely loved this job (not just because I was the only woman!) but because it allowed me to meet different people from all walks of life. The number of times I would chat with customers waiting for their food, creating that positive experience for them so they return. I can still remember the phone and in-person regulars now, and this was 16 years ago! What was your first job? What skills did you take from it that you still implement today? #FirstJob #Storytime

#MeetMetroCruise: This month we introduce you to Ian Jason! Ian is a valued member of our team who in the last 8 years has moved from a Trainee Superintendent to Operations Manager, working to ensure a safe and successful stevedoring operation at the historic Long Beach Cruise Terminal.   Let’s hear more from Ian -   Q: As an Operations Manager, what would you say is the most important aspect of your job?   A: The most important aspect is to make sure my team is prepared for a vessel operation and that we execute our plan safely and effectively. This can lead to juggling many things at once in a single day as we discharge and then load back the ship with provisions, hotel supplies, and luggage for boarding passengers within a 9–10-hour window.   As a Stevedore Operations Manager I am the point of contact for the vessel's crew, our ILWU Labor, Terminal Staff, Ground Guest Services, and Security, so being able to build relationships and working together with these groups is vital to a successful full-turn operation which can see anywhere from 5,000-10,000 passengers moving through the terminal.   Q: That seems like a huge feat for a 9–10-hour workday. What’s the trick to getting it all done seamlessly?   A: The key to accomplishing everything during this window is to do anything we can to keep everything flowing and make sure pallets are discharged and loaded in a particular order. For example, we get the hotel supplies loaded before luggage due to space on board, and for provisions we load what the ship needs to put away in their frozen and fridge lockers first.   Q: You must have a great team. What’s it like working with them?   A: There’s a culture of mutual respect. We all come from different backgrounds, but we have a synergy that helps us achieve a collective goal. I have been doing this for 8 years and recognize there are always new things to learn and ways to improve in this role. My direct supervisor and ILWU partners have been working cruise vessel operations for over 20 years and I consider it a huge benefit to learn from their experiences. We are always collaborating and striving to provide an excellent service.    Q: Describe a perfect day at work.   A: The perfect day includes the ship and all our delivery trucks arriving on time and warm sunny weather. Thankfully this happens often at our Long Beach site.   Q: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?   A: Although I board cruise ships daily while on the job, I have yet to set sail on one.    Q: What would you want people who are considering a job at Metro Cruise Services to know? A: We have a great team, there is room for growth, and the work is very satisfying! ⚓ Port of Long Beach Carnival Cruise Line Shawn Bundy Anthony Newman

Curious if this is common or not. While yes my job title/position etc. has changed, what I do & which skills/traits I use these days are more or less the same as when I was 16-21 working various jobs: - student: researching, writing, summarizing info and making sense of various complicated items; - waiter/cook: serving people figuratively at work & literally at home; - customer service rep: responding to questions/inquiries, solving issues; - teacher's assistant: research, presenting, assisting... I could go on. Do most of you feel that you did in fact take skills, interests, passions, comparative advantages etc. and weave them into a living?

"What is something you learned from your first job?" I ask this question to every client during my onboarding process because I think we all carry something from our first work experience, whether we realize it or not. My first job was at 15 years old as a server for a banquet hall. After a few months there, I learned the head waitress was taking 80% of the tips for herself and 20% would be split among the rest of us. Since so many of us were all under 18, many working our first jobs, we didn't know any better. But there was one waitress who was a little bit older and had experience working at another banquet hall. She sussed out what was going on and told us. She even confronted the owner, and you know what he did? Nothing. He said tips go based on seniority (translation: the head waitress was his friend and long-time employee, and we were just kids who were too young to have many job options). I learned from that job that "fairness" doesn't really exist in the work world, and every job has its unspoken house rules that you have to learn and comply with ASAP to survive.

The Thirteen Floor. My first formal employment letter as a waiter in 1987, I didnt care about the salary or benefits, because any renumeration was helpful for my school pocket money as we were struggling financially. During probation, I was taught by the F&B Captain how to excel in my tasks, the do's and dont's including memorizing the menu. What he didn't taught me was how to get tips, I soon found out that it comes with great customer service experience and very soon I was earning more tips than my basic salary. When I received my confirmation letter, I was over the moon as it meant a lot to me, hence I kept that letter in mint condition to this day. On my first night shift, when the thirteen floor guest ordered room service, as a junior I got arrowed to serve and my older colleagues were trying to frighten me with superstitous stories and rumours about past sightings. I ended up getting a $10 tip which was a tidy sum back then, came back down and kept my mouth shut about the tip then played along with the superstition. Henceforth whenever there was night shift vacancy, I volunteered and needless to say 13th floor room service order. Soon I was earning tips many times more than my basic salary. Never did I knew it was actually my training ground to be a future salesman. You don't get tip just by serving customer or going up 13th floor, you need to provide a positive customer service experience and do some small talk. #salesman #excellentcustomerservice #positiveexperience

Questions to ask when applying for job in the hotel industry If you are a first timer interviewing for a job in hospitality and if you are unsure, please do not hesitate to ask questions, so that you are prepared for some possible changes in your own life schedule 1. What will a typical shift schedule look like? 2. Are off days fixed or changes every week? 3. How far in advance is the schedule done? 4. What will a typical work day look like? 5. What tasks, other than obviously serving guests, are expected of you? 6. How is your performance measured? 7. What is the department management structure? Also ask about if there is room for growth in the company and also furthering your job related education like certifications (fire safety, online/corporate training, etc) to possibly increase your salary or position.

Beekeeper partnered with 9 industry leaders in the HR & Comms space to create this easy-to-read graphic novel with actionable insights on keeping your frontline employees happy, productive, and engaged. Here's what you'll learn: 1) Team building secrets from the best in the business 2) Tips for creating consistent employee experiences that reduce turnover 3) How to save time + get rid of administrative burdens so you can get back to helping your people Download and share with your team below 👇👇👇 #beekeeper #hr #comms #teambuilding #employeeretention

Serving is a great intro, but for many, it's just the beginning of their journey. The hospitality industry offers so much more! Read our article to explore exciting career paths➡️ https://lnkd.in/e_X7iZGu #hospitalitycareers #careergrowth #waiter #careertips #oysterlink