Never do a buffet on a Sunday..

Functions... when I agreed to be on this placement I knew this was going to be hard. I don't study functions at university and I sure as hell wasn't being taught it on my Event Management degree.

So now that I'm thinking about it, why on earth I even picked it is beyond me... But Jayne, the be all and end all of Function Managers, made it look so organised and smooth that the thought of me messing up on a regular basis seemed so far-fetched. I'm so organised. I have notepads for just about everything and my training went so well, I wrote everything I possibly could down in those three scattered days. I even trekked to Chislehurst!

However, as the old saying goes: saying something and doing it are completely different things. Because once I actually started to work as a Function Coordinator (I don't say Manager because I'm nowhere near there yet) and as soon as that happened.. it went downhill a bit.

My to-do lists became two pages long and took three weeks to complete, I wasn't spending all my time on Functions. I have done at least six functions in the three months I've been here. But I've also been the barmaid for a month, in the restaurant for a few weeks, a part-time receptionist and run-around for everyone since June. So, you can imagine, when I did have functions it would get put to the back of my mind. 

But although it sounds like I'm complaining or making excuses - I'm not. This is me learning about my place here at The Dukes Head, this is me learning about my placement and how it's COMPLETELY different to my studies. This also shows me that I'm better at events than at functions.

You may be wondering why I have a slightly strange but oddly fitting title but that's because 45 minutes ago I was told that we should never have a buffet on a Sunday because the kitchen has too much prep work for that day. I don't know about you but... I had no idea. Plus, it didn't help that with everything that's been going on lately, I totally forgot to tell my kitchen about this buffet. I'm not in his good books anyway.

So, I've come to this easy conclusion for myself and everyone else: it won't happen again. 
This week alone has been an absolute eye opener for myself and the world of functions. If you get it wrong, you really get it wrong. But cast your eyes back to the first paragraph. I didn't know anything about functions three months ago. Three months ago I was more worried about how I pronounce my words during interviews. And if I would be able to still go out drinking once I started placement (for the record: you don't.).

In conclusion, and in a way to finally feel better about myself so I don't go home crying at how crap this week has been, if I've only messed up a couple of times three months in then I'm doing okay. I'm not bad at this job and I know I can get better and learn more as the months fly by - the damage was small enough that it could be rectified quickly and noone died. I'm doing okay. As long as it's now and not on Christmas Day - we're all good!!!

So never do a buffet on a Sunday folks. Apparently in the World of Functions - that's a huge no-no.


Survival of a University Student =) Tweet

Placement so far..

I haven't blogged in what feels like years.

I miss blogging.

I have literally had no time for blogging. It sucks.

I'm sure you'll want to know what I've been up to! It's going to take a long read and a couple of posts but I will fill you in. Hopefully, you will learn from my silly mistakes and mishaps on everything I've done and been through.

I'm writing this because my 40 weeks of placement are over. I started, I tried, I conquered (somewhat) and now I can put up my boots and bow to the crowds.

But... I didn't sign up for a 40 weeks placement, I signed up for a year. But I feel like it's pretty amazing that I've survived 40 weeks being in a work environment without really knowing what to do, how to start and being pushed into the deep end of being in the Events/ Hospitality Industry.

Fellow Placement students will know how hard it is, you sit in the lectures when they tell you about the trials and tribulations but you roll your eyes and say "of course it's going to be hard."
But you really don't get it. You can only live it to realise.

Because it's bloody hard. And I'm exhausted.

So to congratulate myself and show you lot how hard this placement has been; Over the next couple of weeks I'm going to be posting blogs I've been trying to start and never finished on all things placements, working and me.

Stay tuned.

Survival of a University Student =) Tweet