| Starting from a teenager, I worked primarily in | | | | assist in my wage, I worked in banquets, worked |
| the Restaurant Business as a Waitress. I've | | | | in the Restaurant as a Hostess and I was trained |
| worked at Bingo Halls, Ice Cream Shops, Fast | | | | in Accounting and the Front Desk. I did not |
| Food, Catering Halls and Fine Dining. For two years | | | | understand the importance of what was |
| I worked as a Bartender. | | | | happening and even why it was happening. I knew |
| I have always been around people and have been | | | | I got lucky and I believed that someone above |
| very successful making connections. Up selling, | | | | was paying me back for being a good person. |
| refilling their drinks and getting extra napkins | | | | As the inquires came in, I started dropping off |
| before they ask I found was very satisfying to | | | | menus at people's houses after work. Then my |
| me and job satisfaction is important. | | | | Director trained me to cover for her the Catering |
| I was in my late 20's and I was at a point where | | | | Events if she was busy. I loved every minute of |
| I didn't want to count on "tips" to make my rent | | | | it. |
| payments. While at a flea market, I found a | | | | I felt important, professional and worthy. This is |
| typewriter for $5.00 and I bought it. Taking typing | | | | just what I had wanted. And after a couple of |
| in High School, I thought I would remember what | | | | months I finally could walk better in those high |
| I learned but all I could do is chicken pluck and I | | | | heals! |
| had to look at every letter. | | | | One day my General Manager brought me into his |
| Not knowing where this would lead me, I spent | | | | office. I was scared and did not know what to |
| many hours learning and teaching myself how to | | | | expect. Was I being fired? |
| type. I took a couple of courses on Saturday's | | | | The Management Company was interviewing for |
| for additional education that I thought might make | | | | a Sales Manager position to sell the sleeping |
| me worthy of something ...but I didn't know | | | | rooms. He felt that I was a "diamond in the |
| worthy for what? | | | | rough" and offered his assistance to help prepare |
| Soon I upgraded and invested in a word | | | | me for the interview with the Vice President of |
| processor. Remember them? To teach myself I | | | | Sales. |
| put on my favorite music and tried to keep up | | | | For a week he taught me everything he could |
| with the words that I heard by typing them. Of | | | | "ADR, REVPAR, Occupancy, Budgets, Cold Calling, |
| course Metallica wasn't a good choice, I found that | | | | Qualifying" everything. I was overwhelmed. He |
| I got better and better and soon I had whole | | | | practiced with me and even made me cry a |
| songs typed out. Spelling has always been a | | | | couple of times when I couldn't give him the right |
| challenge for me and when "Spell Check" came | | | | answer. |
| out, I was extremely pleased and relieved. | | | | Finally my interview. I had met with my General |
| For two years I was working at a Red Lobster in | | | | Manager for one last class then off I went to |
| Maryland and making pretty good money as a | | | | knock them dead. Feeling fresh out of school, |
| Waitress. Sometimes I was given good tips, | | | | somehow I "wowed" her enough that she actually |
| sometimes I was left nothing. I won the "top | | | | hired me! My starting salary was $25,000 annually |
| revenue producer" almost every week and I | | | | with bonus potential, vacation, insurance and paid |
| enjoyed expediting and training new staff. | | | | sick days! |
| A friend of mine told me that a Holiday Inn was | | | | Although my Director was upset that I would no |
| desperate for a Sales Administrator. I interviewed | | | | longer be her assistant, she was proud of me. |
| in fear as I wondered if I could really do what she | | | | When I received my business cards, I actually hid |
| wants. I couldn't imagine answering the phone. I | | | | in the bathroom for 10 minutes and cried I was |
| had no idea about proper letter writing or anything | | | | so happy. |
| about the hotel business. My starting pay would | | | | My first week consisted of my General Manager |
| be $7.50 an hour. I made much more being a | | | | driving around Corporate Parks with me. At every |
| Waitress at Red Lobster. | | | | stop, he gave me advise and told me what to |
| I came to a point in my life where I wanted | | | | day. I went in and asked if they use any local |
| more. I knew that I would have to sacrifice. All of | | | | hotels. What ever they said, I wrote down. He |
| these years I had never had insurance, sick pay | | | | made a few sample calls in front of me to show |
| or other benefits that I heard existed. I passed | | | | me how to follow up. I paid close attention. |
| her "typing and other qualifications" and I decided | | | | My second week consisted of my General |
| to take the job. | | | | Manager driving around with me again. This time if |
| My fall back would be to simply go back to Red | | | | they had hotel needs I was to ask to speak to |
| Lobster or find another waitress position. During | | | | the person who could help me. This was pretty |
| my last two weeks at Red Lobster, I worked like | | | | fun and people were receptive. |
| a dog to get all of the extra income before I | | | | In my free time, I checked out the other hotels |
| started at Holiday Inn. | | | | in the area. Not being told to do that, I believe |
| Now I needed proper attire. Thank goodness I | | | | that the natural Sales Person came out |
| had some help. I was used to slip free sneakers, | | | | subconsciously. My first client I closed was Pitney |
| socks, pants, shirt and apron. To save on my | | | | Bowes. They qualified at 2,500 room nights a |
| expenditure, I shopped at the local thrift shops | | | | year. I found an addiction to this feeling of closing |
| and bought business clothes. The high heals | | | | a big one. I was sent flowers and a |
| terrified me and I could barely walk in them. So I | | | | congratulations letter from the VP of the |
| practiced at home on the hard wood floors. And | | | | Management Company. |
| the nylons, I hated them. | | | | After working this area for 6 months, I was |
| On my first day, I hobbled in looking professional | | | | asked to interview with another hotel that they |
| and feeling pretty good. I had a desk, phone and | | | | needed a Sales Person for that was in the area. It |
| a typewriter. Wow, I felt like a Queen. When the | | | | was larger and had much more meeting space |
| phone rang, I answered it. I had no idea what I | | | | and it was a $5,000 raise if I got it. Yes, I did. |
| was saying or what to say. I thought just be | | | | At this new hotel I succeed very well and made |
| friendly and write everything down. It was | | | | bonus every quarter. After one year, my name |
| important that I learn as fast as possible. | | | | was #1 compared to over 40 hotels in our |
| My Director of Catering was awesome. There | | | | Region. The Management Company sent me to |
| was no Room Sales Person and I didn't even | | | | many training classes through out the year and I |
| know about the position or what it consisted of. | | | | even was invited out for a trip to their Corporate |
| My Director taught me everything. She gave me | | | | Headquarters. I had never traveled by plane |
| examples of how to write a letter and took the | | | | before this. |
| time to teach me. What was a fax machine? I | | | | I did not have college education but I did graduate |
| am still to this day very grateful to her. Soon she | | | | on Honor Roll in High School. I was lucky that |
| introduced me to her clients, still I did not | | | | people were willing to invest their time in me to |
| understand what was going on or any hotel lingo. | | | | succeed. All of this starting from that $5.00 |
| Although my pay was terrible, I somehow made | | | | typewriter. It all paid off. |
| it through as I wanted to be something more. To | | | | |