Milly Rayner

Although I have no direct experience in this industry, I do believe I have what it takes to thrive in this work environment. Previously working in hospitality has given me a strong set of transferable skills. My good communication allows me to work in a logical and organised way to ensure everyone is happy. I am resilient, driven and will give my all to any task i’m faced with.

I am looking for a role to build my future career, and I believe that this role will push me to learn new skills, whilst also developing ones I already have. I have worked as part of a team throughout my time working in the service industry, and it is something I really enjoy as everyone can learn from each other. I have to work proactively with my team to ensure good customer service, for example, I work with both the kitchen staff and other waiting staff so there is a smooth running of food service. While I am successful working in a team, I also work well independently to get a job done quickly and to a high standard. I am also resilient in high stress situations, which can happen in the restaurant when it is busy, and there are high expectations of the service. It is important that standards are kept high at all times for all customers, so my work must be consistently good. A very important skill in my current job is good communication. I am always friendly to our customers and communicate details of our menu – I must stay informed of menu changes and wine pairings and learn them as quickly as possible to ensure guests have the best experience. I also get to know customers on a personal level to ensure they feel comfortable and welcome at all times. There are also queries which I have to help solve – for example, allergies of guests. I have to check with the kitchen staff and make them aware of this and clearly communicate back to the guests their options. I am also a very organised person. Our restaurant can get busy, and I have to manage multiple tasks at the same time. I work in a logical way to ensure all of our customers are happy – this can range from making drinks, taking orders, and clearing tables. I do this by working quickly and efficiently and plan out each task in the correct order. This is extremely important as it can avoid conflicts, like complaints or long wait times. If this does occur, I stay calm and professional and try to level with the customer. This may be by apologising and offer them something in return (like a drink on the house) or to simply assure them the problem will not reoccur and we will fix the mistake without a fuss. This is a key example of problem solving and shows I am capable of thinking on my feet and resolving issues promptly. Furthermore, I have shown that I can step up and take lead in situations. For example, when the owner is away I’m often the only waitress and so take on more responsibilities like making sure everything in the restaurant is set up correctly, taking bookings and locking up. 

I believe I am confident and have a positive attitude, and I will give my all to any task I am given. It is important to be friendly to all our customers so they come back again, and good customer service is my priority. This skill is important in this job role so I can build relationships quickly, and support the team I would work with. It also shows I can adapt quickly to changing situations and somewhere I have not worked before.

Overall, I am strongly dedicated to helping others and I believe this job will help me do that.

I have 3 A-levels: psychology, criminology and photography. I achieved Bs in all 3.