No one tells pre-meds to work in fast food.
But maybe we should.
As a doctor, I'm still using lessons I learned working at In-N-Out as a college student.
Here are six fast food lessons I'll keep forever:
1 - Show Up Ready to Work, Early
Do I have everything I need for my shift?
Am I dressed, fed, and watered?
Do I have my name badge?
Better be 5 minutes early!
2 - Sweep the Floor and Shuck the Lettuce
I'm not "too good" or "too smart" or "too special" for any aspect of the job.
• I clean up my messes
• When needed, I mop the OR floors.
• Patient needs a blanket? I grab it.
• Pre-op nurse running behind? I pull the pre-med.
3 - Actively Listen to the Customer
In fast food, you have to listen closely to get a customer's food order correctly.
If I'm busy thinking of the next thing I'm going to say, I'm not listening and will miss something important that matters to the patient.
4 - Repeat Back the Customer's Order
Knowing the patient's priorities makes a huge difference. Make sure you got everything right by repeating the order.
Miss something that matters to the patient? Now is the time to correct it - not later.
5 - Work Hard, Still Struggle To Make Ends Meet
I worked 38 hrs/week on top of a full course load in junior college. No benefits because I wasn't "full-time." I learned how hard it was to work while in school, pay rent, and stay afloat.
My patients and their parents often struggle to make ends meet, working in the service industry. Having little insight into those struggles helps me avoid assumptions about what financial worries a family may be facing.
6 - Team Work Makes All the Difference
Every day, my feet hurt & I smelled like a grill, but I was happy to go back each shift.
Who you work with matters.
Having a great manager and team makes every tough job easier and more fun. It makes every hard day a little better.
What valuable lessons did you learn in an entry-level job? Drop them in the comments below!
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