Keeping Up With Village Inn

Clayton Dines
Sep 8, 2018 · 4 min read

Overview

Working at Village Inn can be one of the best ways to expose a teenager to different kinds of people, attitudes, and skills. Each day possesses a new kind of challenge, whether that be physical, mental, or emotional. Some days will leave you with sadness. Some days will leave you with anger. Some days will leave you with laughter. Some days will leave you with downright fear. There will never be a day that you walk into Village Inn, knowing exactly what will happen before leaving. There will never be a day that you walk in, where everything goes as anticipated. The best way to get through each day is to simply role with the punches. “Expect The Unexpected” should be a slogan Village Inn managers use, as they sit down to interview new employees for positions in the store.

Finding The Job

I can speak from experience. After leaving my old job at Texas Roadhouse, I asked other kids at school what jobs they have enjoyed working. I talked to kids who worked at Sonic, Qdoba, Chili’s, Jimmy John’s, and everything in between. After catching up with a girl who I had previous work experience with, she told me that Village Inn was in desperate need of hosts/bussers. She explained to me the basics of the job (answering the phone, taking orders, helping buss tables etc.). Knowing and understanding her for many years, I trusted what she had to say. That is the day I decided to apply to my local Village Inn (August 22, 2017). I went into the store, interviewed with one of the assistant managers, and they hired me on the spot.

Taking Action

What I did not expect, is that they would have me work the minute I was hired (literally). They told me to start bussing tables, help servers carry drinks out of the kitchen, and answer the phones at the front counter. I had never worked a day in my life at Village Inn and knew absolutely nothing about the way the restaurant works. That night was extremely stressful, but valuable at the same time. I learned the names of many of the servers, the customs the restaurant uses to greet people, and particular ways in which to go about the job. Keeping up with the demands of guests proved to be a considerable task for me, as I figured out how to manage my time. I learned more about that restaurant in one night, than I did the entire rest of the time I worked there. Looking back, I wouldn’t have learned how to go about the job with urgency, if I was just eased into the process slowly.

Resiliency

The rest of my days at Village Inn were much like the first. Some days I would come into work, knowing that I had to buss tables and keep up. Other days I would show up, to find that the dishwasher did not show up, and I was left with that task for the day (happened all the time). Weeks would go by where we were short on hosts/bussers, so I would have to divide my time between finding dirty tables and greeting guests at the door. Every so often, the manager on duty would have me help the servers. I could just be finishing my shift at midnight (our Village Inn closes at 2:00AM) and a group of 100 kids from one of the local high schools would come in. Often times, I would just end up staying until the store closed. Working holidays was a common aspect of the job as well. While some parts of the job demanded a significant amount of time and energy, I enjoyed the late night grinds and long hours. Working was the best way for me to stay active and engaged in conversation with others.

The People

That being said, the people were the biggest reason I loved my job. I generally found that most of my co-workers had a great attitude about helping others. I remember the times when we were so busy, that we could never catch a break, and one of the managers would step in. I remember the times sitting in the break room and laughing with co-workers about an odd experience with a guest. I remember my general manager, who could be considered one of the most influential people in my working teenage years. She was extremely strict and had zero tolerance for laziness, but taught me what it takes to work hard and stay resilient. I still keep up with her today, even though she has moved on to a new job as general manager at IHOP.

What I Got Out Of The Experience

Having left Village Inn (March 11, 2018), to move across town with my dad, and graduate from high school, I miss the days I spent there. I discovered that I can carry over the same work ethic that I used in school to get good grades, into an interactive/practical setting. My time at Village Inn showcased that building relationships with others can make you a happier and fulfilled contributor to society. Overall, the greatest takeaway from my experience was to not be afraid of engaging with new ideas or people. The social skills that I learned from Village Inn will be used for the rest of my life, as I discover new adventures to seek.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade