r/KitchenConfidential • u/Onaweyempumbafu • 2h ago

Question Struggling as kitchen hand

Greetings everyone. I have a criminal record so I struggle to find decent jobs. I love working as a kitchen hand and I have done so many times in the past. After being homeless for a while, I found a place and a job as a kitchenhand and I have been here for a month. I have been exemplary at all my kitchen hand roles but this restaurant is super busy, I have been finishing 2 hours after rostered time and I don’t really feel like letting down the other kitchen hands and chefs. What should I do?

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u/FlashyEarth8374 2h ago

talk to your chef and tell him you're worried you're not pulling your weight.

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u/WishLeading5468 1h ago

Chef's probably already noticed you're staying late, and if they haven't pulled you aside yet it's because they see you grinding. Asking for feedback shows you give a damn, and that goes a long way in a kitchen.

Just frame it as wanting to get faster without cutting corners. Maybe there's a step in your close you're overcomplicating, or you're restocking in a weird order that eats up time. Worth a quick chat before you burn yourself out.

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u/Onaweyempumbafu 2h ago

Thanks for the advice!

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u/m_i_r 2h ago

Ask for advice from others for tips and hacks to speed up. You're still new, and if no one has taken issue with going over on hours, i'd guess they're giving you time to improve and not worried about it. But you have nothing to lose by talking to whoever your "boss" is and checking in.

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u/Complete-Start-623 2h ago

This is how you learn the trade. Just ask. Can I prep veg, can I bulk prep, can I learn this or that or this a second time, can I portion for service, how’s pantry and the walk-in?
You’re making yourself useful to labor AND learning. You got this boss. This is an opportunity for a lifelong invaluable skill.