Your career, your questions, your voice
Got a question about your career that’s bothering you?
Come across a situation that you’re not sure how to handle?
Get it off your chest. We’ve been there. Why not learn from others?
Fools learn from their own mistakes. Wise men learn from the mistakes of others. –George Bernard Shaw–
Career Questions
I have recently been asked to transfer. I’ll still be an assistant, but I get the strong feeling that I should take it. I can delay a couple of days, but I need to make a decision. Any advice?
Situations that we get in and how to handle them
You are an assistant manager and the manager on duty when a server tells you that a couple at a table has complained that a kid is running around disturbing them. You go out and sure enough, you find a kid around 4 years old running around the dining room. No one else has complained. What is the best way to handle this?
Go on. Ask a career or a situation question
Transfer question
Transfers are always tough. You and your family must deal with the hassles of selling and buying another house, finding and renting a new apartment, your significant other having to quit and then find a new job, kids leaving their friends, going to a new school, and so much more.
The answer is that you should not blindly accept a transfer, especially a lateral transfer because unfortunately, some “opportunities” are just a lateral move that does not benefit you, only the company. The problem, of course, is that these “opportunities” sound so good. Your supervisor and GM seem so excited about your opportunity, looks you right in the eyes, and says sincerely, “This will be great for your career and we appreciate you doing this”. You will receive several of these new and exciting opportunities during your career. You’ve got to look at each opportunity objectively. Does it move your career forward and how much impact does it have on your family?
Ask these questions:
Why will this move be great for my career? Is it because it is a new opening restaurant with new experiences? Is it a major leap in sales with a bigger bonus? Is it a promotion with more responsibility, bigger salary and bonus?
Have them tell you why it is not a lateral move. After you have all the information about the ‘whys’ of the move, go to your significant other and discuss the move.
Remember that all good companies will respect your decision to turn down a transfer unless it is part of the company’s culture that you knew when you joined.
It is always a good idea to communicate to your GM your willingness to move or not move sooner, rather than later.
Kid running around
We all hate confrontations. This is every manager’s nightmare and your classic lose-lose situation. But it doesn’t have to be.
The absolute best thing that you can do is to know what the company policy is BEFORE this happens (and it will happen). Your actions depend entirely on the company policy and its attitude towards problem kids. Once you know the policy, talk it over with your GM to make double sure that you and the GM are on the same page because it is essential that your GM has your back.