I’m referring to a journal that is required to be passed for any OJT subject, each student taking this course had to document the things they had learned for EACH day. In my case I have 450 hours to be done, that is 57 days for 8hours a day. If you are reading this (one of my closest friends) then you know how studious I am - definitely NOT motivated enough doing that every day.
That’s why I decided to use my co-practicumer’s journal. We’re assigned in the same job, why not? Instead of having mine! It’s not that bad, our days is ALMOST the same. Emphasis on “almost” but then of course it’s “totally” not, the journal that I will pass to my adviser is a total lie. It’s just a matter of “complying”, you know what I mean.
IN CASE you are reading above rightly, you will be confuse enough, “how come it’s totally different journal in the same job?”.
I’m gonna share to you the tally of the real first day . On my own language - it means no formality.
Two weeks after thesis, I applied in every 5star hotel around metro manila. I can say “every” because I barely count how many resumes I printed for 2days? and it’s all gone at the end of both days. Why hotel? Well I know, not the best one for a tourism student. But it has the higher chances for me to be assigned in operations instead of offices. Forget about the usual office who will take advantage of practicumers assigning them there! Whatever your major is, the bottom line of your work is being a clerk. (Exception to those who let them do the real job)
After days of heart breaking and hopeless applying, one hotel called. That day I already knew, I won’t end up jobless in my ojt season. I attended the interview, had the required medicals, and finally the call for attending the orientation. From then I knew, I’ll finish 450 solid hours on that place, oh well, that is 3 months for me to be done.
The first question in my head is “where I’ll be assigned?” I wanted to interact with other people, whatever it will be, so the best place is in the food and beverage department. To my own surprise, HRD assigned me there. So the start was just great, fate has come to my way without making me a control freak. I was excited then, “this is something totally new” said to myself.
First day, I have no idea what will it be, but I’m pretty sure this is where I wanted to be. One casual employee taught us on how everything should be. Like , what the store offer, where things are placed, what is usually being asked, what should we do and what not. So it’s totally JUST basic, no need using extra-mental energy. But you know what? - It’s the physical energy.
I didn’t know what I’ve been into until it’s the 6th hour of my first day. I’m wearing heels in full grooming, so WHAT about that?! I can’t literally stand anymore! My feet is killing me! I can’t barely stand that is enough for me to go home! That time I was thinking,” this is it for EVERYDAY? How goddamn hell I’ll finish this? How the hell these existing employees comply in that? This is ridiculous!!”.
The policy for every attendant is “at least” 8 hours a day 6days a week and a 30-minute break, including holidays and Sundays. I didn’t know about that. What if I have to go to laundry, it’s already closed until I got back to cubao until end of duty?. What if I want to go to mass and novena every Thursday in St. Jude? What if there’s a seminar, required for me to go to school? HOW WILL I TAKE A REST and get back all the sleeping hours I’ve missed?
So see? It can’t be all done for one single day. So define “busy”, now you know how my social life is dead for that past 3months, for every single end of the day, my body is drained, I just literally SLEEP THEN GO BACK, I didn’t even have enough time to go home with my family.
The policy for every attendant is “at least” 8 hours a day 6days a week and a 30-minute break, including holidays and Sundays. I didn’t know about that. What if I have to go to laundry, it’s already closed until I got back to cubao until end of duty?. What if I want to go to mass and novena every Thursday in St. Jude? What if there’s a seminar, required for me to go to school? HOW WILL I TAKE A REST and get back all the sleeping hours I’ve missed?
So see? It can’t be all done for one single day. So define “busy”, now you know how my social life is dead for that past 3months, for every single end of the day, my body is drained, I just literally SLEEP THEN GO BACK, I didn’t even have enough time to go home with my family.
I’ll admit, from my starting day till the end, the only thing I learned is what I learned from the 1st day. No progression had happened aside from brewing japanese coffee, and describing the ingredients of numerous-pricey slices of cakes rightly to guest that I actually never tasted (hahaha). No mixing of beverages or operating the POS. I don’t know but, the only thing I assigned myself for everyday is to be in charge in the dining area. Then I think, why? I don’t feel any willingness or drive for me to take the next step. I always wanted to learn, right? To stop the confusion, I listed the things why ON THE FIRST PLACE and WHAT I WAS THINKING ON THAT FIRST DAY - that can mostly be answered “enough” in the dining area.
- I wanted to serve and give full service – which is I’ve never done before. I mean, will I really comply?
- I wanted to test my patience. How truly short it is? Haha
- To observe the difference of people in different nationalities? (The way they act and behave)
- Do they let the praticumers do the real job?
- Can I really fake a smile? Because we all know, in hospitality, it’s a must!
- Why should I be nice to everyone here?
- See how it will be the output of my English skills (verbal)
- To observe people in the way they treat others whenever they know they are the authority (guests to waiter/waitresses)
- Will I have additional quality friends?
- Do I really have a pleasing personality?
- Is rich Filipinos is nicer to those foreigners with fellow Filipinos who serve them?
- How much is the starting salary?
- How will people here treat practicumers?
- Does the management treat the employees rightly? In terms of salary
- How fast is the integration from casual to regular?
- How does the crew treat a cruel guest?
- Is the costing of each products is good enough for quality?
- How will casual employees treat their cruel boss?
- What was it like, when I’ve done something controversial? I mean, how will news spread?
- Is the employment policy they had discussed during the orientation, really apply to observe it fair and equality among the employees?
These questions wasn’t something my OJT adviser lend us in a piece of paper labeled as “OBJECTIVES” or “GUIDE QUESTIONS”. It is something my curiosity bought me producing it when I was still a full time academic student; that had got a chance and experienced it in the real place.I may be had no progression at all for straight 3months. But I have my questions rightly observed by myself. And I can say it’s the best fulfillment of objective I ever had.
