December 17, 2006
My First Job: Michael Rawson, managing director
|
Current position: Managing director, Sorrento Hotel.
First job: Busboy at the Gasho of Japan restaurant in New York City in 1975. Began at age 15 and worked there for two years to save up for first year at Cornell University.
Pay: $2.75 an hour, plus tips.
How I got the job: A friend's mom was the cashier at the restaurant.
What I learned: That respect and responsibility are earned, not assumed; and to have patience and faith in myself. I worked extremely hard to get the coveted shifts, a feat that wasn't easy working among senior staff members. But I strived to be more attentive, more detailed and faster than my associates to earn their respect and to please customers. When I did not have the seniority for the weekend shifts, the waitresses demanded I be put back on Friday and Saturday nights. Culturally, there was also so much to learn, especially when I was the only Caucasian on staff.
Read more
Career Advice,
Resumes and Job Hunt
'Gray' jobs: How to tap into in-demand careers that support seniors
Coffee Talk
When’s the last time you received recognition at work?
Career Center Blog
How to succeed at any job, anywhere, anytime
Career Advice
Q&A: Time to break cycle of abuse at work
Cool Jobs
Ryan McNamee's cool cruise-line job
- career profile (164)
- cool jobs (68)
- education and training (61)
- entry level (70)
- etiquette (107)
- events (71)
- featured (416)
- finding your passion (96)
- health care (74)
- interviewing (88)
- job fairs (61)
- management (89)
- market trends (92)
- networking (274)
- resumes (102)
- salary (85)
- social media (91)
- technology (113)
- unemployment (55)
- work/life balance (91)









