Taco Bell

[Questella]

So we tried to go to Taco Bell today but they were closed because the manager said everybody up and quit so I'm thinking about going in tomorrow morning and asking for an interview, I was thinking even if it only lasts a couple weeks or maybe a few months then that's something that could help us out since I had to so suddenly quit dancing because of being pregnant and I just could not do the whole pregnant stripper thing again.

Has anybody ever worked at a fast food restaurant or Taco Bell in particular that could give me some hints on an interview or asking for an interview? I'm thinking of going in the morning, I have no resume and can't get one printed out this quickly, not that there would be anything on it anyways, I'm just totally hoping if they're desperate they'll give me a chance, at least until they get normal staffing again.

I know it's not an ideal job but I've never managed to really get, have or keep a job outside of the strip club so I thought that just maybe I could give it a try, at least try to get an interview. I could work a cash register I'm sure as I'm good with money from dancing for so long and it's not like the registers are anything hard, they're basically idiot proof from what I understand.

 

[MonolithImmortal]

Used to work for a fast food chain. Find out what Taco Bell's mission statement is and memorize it in advance. Quote it back to the interviewer during the interview and make up some ******** reason you believe in their mission statement.

"Taco Bell's full mission statement is: "We take pride in making the best Mexican style fast food providing fast, friendly, & accurate service. We are the employer of choice offering team members' opportunities for growth, advancement, & rewarding careers in a fun, safe working environment."

Fast food can be extremely stressful, especially if you are working drive through. The last time I quit working Fast food I swore I'd never go back. I hope you can manage it and work with a good crew.

 

[SailorMars1994]

Hmm.. although I commend you on your ambition to work I would be cautious. It is very very unusural for a whole crew to ''up and quit''. May have been a very toxic enviroment, or the manager actually fired them all or there could have been poor managment. Then again, weirder things have happened and they could have quit in happenstance. I would still advise caution and try to find out how everyone ''up and quit'' especially seeing you dont want your next work experience to be less then decent.

I was a manager at McDonalds at one point, a key holder/supervisor at this place called Smokes poutinerie (its a Canadian thing) and work at a place that is fast food but most of our food is actually cooked and prepared freash from scratch in store. I have also worked in sit down restraunts too. Both are stressful and very very fast. They, normally will give you training and give you the proper tools but it can still be stresfful and hard. I wish ya luck tho <3

 

[Gritches]

Nice. Anyway, here's what I got:

It sounds like it's the plan already, but always go to the site and get a paper application - never an online application.

With this kind of job, never include a resume - you can't win. It either makes you look bad or look overqualified.

When filling out the application, penmanship counts. It tells the employer you bothered to spend some time with filling out the app.

In particular, you want to make it look on the app and in the interview like you always show up on time, you never miss work without calling in, and ESPECIALLY that your available hours are open. These things, especially open availability, is by far the biggest factor the hiring manager will be looking for. They're replacing a whole workforce - management's hands will be unimaginably busy. Hiring someone with open availability means scheduling isn't an issue, as opposed to spending many hours playing a game of schedule-tetris trying to accommodate finicky schedules. As to whether or not your availability is actually open, don't worry about it. Your hours will likely be determined later in the process, with your input.

In an interview, fake friendliness as well as is comfortable to do. These places usually put women on cash registers, so their idea of a good female worker is one of those "there-is-no-way-you're-actually-that-happy" type of people. You don't have to go that far, but do try to project an image of friendliness. *barf*

For the interview, the only thing worth rehearsing is your responses when they ask about hours. Just remember those three things - punctuality, attendance, and availability. This is pretty much everything they're going to care about, so just relax and wait for those questions to come.

Also, it should go without saying, but don't mention autism at all. Even in a desperate situation, they can and will discriminate.

Hope that helps, if you have further questions just ask.

 

[Questella]

Nice. Anyway, here's what I got:

It sounds like it's the plan already, but always go to the site and get a paper application - never an online application.

With this kind of job, never include a resume - you can't win. It either makes you look bad or look overqualified.

When filling out the application, penmanship counts. It tells the employer you bothered to spend some time with filling out the app.

In particular, you want to make it look on the app and in the interview like you always show up on time, you never miss work without calling in, and ESPECIALLY that your available hours are open. These things, especially open availability, is by far the biggest factor the hiring manager will be looking for. They're replacing a whole workforce - management's hands will be unimaginably busy. Hiring someone with open availability means scheduling isn't an issue, as opposed to spending many hours playing a game of schedule-tetris trying to accommodate finicky schedules. As to whether or not your availability is actually open, don't worry about it. Your hours will likely be determined later in the process, with your input.

In an interview, fake friendliness as well as is comfortable to do. These places usually put women on cash registers, so their idea of a good female worker is one of those "there-is-no-way-you're-actually-that-happy" type of people. You don't have to go that far, but do try to project an image of friendliness. *barf*

For the interview, the only thing worth rehearsing is your responses when they ask about hours. Just remember those three things - punctuality, attendance, and availability. This is pretty much everything they're going to care about, so just relax and wait for those questions to come.

Also, it should go without saying, but don't mention autism at all. Even in a desperate situation, they can and will discriminate.

Hope that helps, if you have further questions just ask.

Unfortunately I have no way to get a paper application printed by tomorrow... Hopefully they still have some in the restaurant I can grab?

And with my son and his dad's schedule I def don't have an completely open schedule... should I not be up front about this? :/ This is all so confusing.

And about me being pregnant, is that something else I should avoid telling them upfront? Back when I was pregnant in high school and was looking for a job places straight up said they couldn't and wouldn't hire pregnant girls.

 

[Gritches]

Unfortunately I have no way to get a paper application printed by tomorrow... Hopefully they still have some in the restaurant I can grab?

They'll definitely have some paper applications, you said you found out about this from a manager, go back and ask them for one.

I take my "never" back, in this very specific and unusual set of circumstances - if you are totally unable to obtain a paper app - an online application would be a good idea. However, once that Taco Bell starts advertising that they are hiring (if they haven't already, maybe I'm assuming too much) it would be worth it to put in a paper application as well at that point.

And with my son and his dad's schedule I def don't have an completely open schedule... should I not be up front about this? :/ This is all so confusing.

Yeah I didn't figure your schedule was totally open, and indeed I meant not to be up front about it; availability is the part of the app that carries the most weight by far, and will make the difference. Wait until you're officially hired to discuss hours. Don't worry, they won't fire you when it comes out that you weren't totally up front, just use an excuse like "Something just came up and now I can only work the morning shift (or whatever)". Nobody will believe it but they won't be able to call you on it.

Dishonest, but that's Capitalism for you.

And about me being pregnant, is that something else I should avoid telling them upfront? Back when I was pregnant in high school and was looking for a job places straight up said they couldn't and wouldn't hire pregnant girls.

I guess I assumed you were noticeably showing, but if you can hide the fact, hide it and don't disclose it. There is absolutely nothing preventing employers from discriminating, and as with all authority figures: if they can do it, they will.

 

[Questella]

I can't lie for anything.
You would think that would matter.

I'm definitely showing but I'm not due until the first week of October so I have June, July, August, and half of September for being able to work. Some clothes I look way pregnant in some I really just look more bloated. Blah, I hate being pregnant, why can't we have maturation chambers?

 

[Questella]

Wow I tried to go into the laundry room to wash my only pair of black pants that fit me and a shirt and I can't even get in there, dude has laundry piled over three feet high and the light is broken and there is broken glass everywhere from him piling everything up on top of it... :<

Wow I really miss living alone.

 

[Datura]

My best advice is to emphasize transferable skills. Unfortunately, you can't use your experience as a stripper because people are stupid. What you can capitalize on, however, is your experience as a mother.

As a parent you probably cook and clean at home, which is always needed in a restaurant. If you ever deligate tasks, teach people new skills, make schedules, resolve conflicts, ext. then you can also leverage those skills to help land the job. Be sure to support your claimed skills with real examples of times you had to use them.

It is very very unusural for a whole crew to ''up and quit''.

I agree. If the whole staff quit it is likely because the manager or owner did something wrong. You should exercise caution.

 

[Danny 74]

Good luck in enquiring about the job.. Hope it goes well for you.....!

 

[Full Steam]

Good luck.

 

[ladybug]

Good luck...!!!
Yes emphasise your 'transferable skills'....
don't inform them you're pregnant... make them ask you...
Let us know how it goes....

 

[Ambi]

So we tried to go to Taco Bell today but they were closed because the manager said everybody up and quit so I'm thinking about going in tomorrow morning and asking for an interview, I was thinking even if it only lasts a couple weeks or maybe a few months then that's something that could help us out since I had to so suddenly quit dancing because of being pregnant and I just could not do the whole pregnant stripper thing again.

Has anybody ever worked at a fast food restaurant or Taco Bell in particular that could give me some hints on an interview or asking for an interview? I'm thinking of going in the morning, I have no resume and can't get one printed out this quickly, not that there would be anything on it anyways, I'm just totally hoping if they're desperate they'll give me a chance, at least until they get normal staffing again.

I know it's not an ideal job but I've never managed to really get, have or keep a job outside of the strip club so I thought that just maybe I could give it a try, at least try to get an interview. I could work a cash register I'm sure as I'm good with money from dancing for so long and it's not like the registers are anything hard, they're basically idiot proof from what I understand.

Good luck! I don't have much advice (I'm looking for work myself!), only that if there is a Costco near you, I would try to work there first. It is considered a very good place to work. Btw, it is illegal for them to ask you if you are pregnant, if you have kids, or how many kids you have, or if you plan to get pregnant.

Here are other examples:

• Do you have any children? If so, how many and what are their ages?
• Are you single, married, divorced, or engaged?
• What kind of childcare arrangements do you have in place?
• Are you currently taking any form of birth control or fertility treatment?
• What are your plans if you get pregnant?
• Does your spouse work? If so, what does your spouse do for a living?
• Should we refer to you as Mr., Miss, or Mrs.?

I just found those by googling. I'm not sure about that last one - most women I know can avoid it all by going by "Ms.", and I'm not sure what info "Mr." would give them other than properly understanding gender...?

 

[JackSkellington]

Good luck! I hope it goes well. Wish I had more to say on this

 

[SailorMars1994]

I will throw more of my 2 cents in and say again I wish you luck and yes, play up your transforable skills. Motherhood has more transferable skills then probably anything else in life. Use that to your advantage and give it all you got. Worst case senario if they suck you dont lose anything you dont already have, if they are good then you have a job !! and probably benefits and probably even discount tacos

But as others said dont use your experience as a stripper on your resume. Whereas I will not judge you there are a lot of people who may use that agasint you or create unflattering images in their own head to paint a picture of you that may not be.

Also, i see you said you are pregnant I would be careful to disclose that too quickly as you may get discrikination low key. I would say keep it on the down low, work your butt off as hard as you can.. within reason of course (dont do heavy lifting ect as it could hurt you and baby). In the case you may get tasked with something that could be harmful to you or your babys health let them know asap!!! A job comes and goes but there is only one you and one baby. Still, give it a shot and give them a reason to not just keep you, but be enthuisastic about seeing you!!...

You got this <3