seeks YOU to join their staff.

Banquet Captain, job description: Communicate service needs to chefs and stewards throughout functions. Total charges for group functions, and prepare and present checks to group contacts for payment. Ensure banquet rooms, restaurants, and coffee breaks are ready for service. Ensure proper centerpieces are displayed on every table.Inspect the cleanliness and presentation of all china, glass, and silver prior to use. Check in with guests to ensure satisfaction. Set tables according to type of event and service standards. Communicate additional meal requirements, allergies, dietary needs, and special requests to the kitchen. Maintain cleanliness of work areas throughout the day. Follow all company and safety and security policies and procedures; report accidents, injuries, and unsafe work conditions to manager; and complete safety training and certifications. Ensure uniform and personal appearance are clean and professional, maintain confidentiality of proprietary information, and protect company assets. Welcome and acknowledge all guests according to company standards. Speak with others using clear and professional language, and answer telephones using appropriate etiquette. Develop and maintain positive working relationships with others, support team to reach common goals, and listen and respond appropriately to the concerns of other employees. Ensure adherence to quality expectations and standards. Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 25 pounds without assistance. Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period of time. Perform other reasonable job duties as requested by Supervisors.

If I had to find a job right now, this would be the one. It's lower-level management (woo-hoo, minimal responsibility!) and completely right up my alley. Honestly, I wish I could drop out of school, quit my current job and apply for this one. But sadly, I think I'm destined for operational management and I must complete my degree. FUCK BALLS. Speaking of which, if things don't go my way in a year I might have to consider a short stint in the world of restaurants. Fingers crossed the gods of occupations keep me in mind when it's time for me to be grown-up job hunting. Fingers crossed.

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I've taken a cue from the current job conditions and the status of the unemployed and the very generous bloggers/experts/writers-that-write-because-they're-desperate-for-attention-ers on the HuffPost on how to prepare myself for the daunting task of finding a job (that is hopefully more in line with being a career, as opposed to just another job).

As a 20-something, I worry about the backlash that recent grads have been facing in their search for employment. I took specific care (and an extra three years of my short life) to pick a college major that would give me a solid foundation of knowledge that I could couple with my practical skills to prepare myself for the post-graduation professional transition. I worry that I might be passed over in an interview in favor for an older individual with many more years of work experience, perhaps someone who has been out of work for an extended time and desperate enough to undercut my desired salary.

As a non-traditional student (yes, I'm still a sprightly 24 years of age, but I feel like I'm removed enough from the typical college experience to be able to classify as "non-traditional"), I worry about my resumé. I am far removed from the days of joining clubs and partaking in random sporadic volunteer events and having summer internships. I never joined a social sorority or a professional fraternity, I'm not part of Big Brothers Big Sisters and I never spent a summer in Boston or New York or LA working for some fancy-pants company.

As an inconsistent scholar, I worry that my up-and-down grades and my frequent changes in study might discourage a prospective employer. I fear that my transcripts might give the impression that I struggle with making commitments, or that I have a short attention span, or worse, that I am inept.

I constantly make observations of myself (believe me, it's harder than it sounds) on how to improve for the future. This week's topic for improvement: cover letters. I have never written one because the few times I have needed to submit a resumé, the "objective" section is typically enough to get my point across. For the purpose of avoiding the cliché efficient-optimizing-eager-hard-worker-team-player-with-multiple-office-related-talents kind of cover letter, I have decided to follow a less traditional method.

Part of the purpose of this blog is to put my job in better perspective for myself, mainly to keep my molehills from turning into mountains. When I lose temper with a guest or a situation and blog about it, I have the grand fortune of being able to read my entries with a clearer mind, and I have to admit that I usually feel pretty stupid and mad at myself for being so petty. In the same fashion, when I write about events I have a record of the situations that I have had to handle.

To address my previously stated concerns regarding my future (search for) employment, I think the cover letter will be my salvation. More specifically, what I choose to include and how I execute it. For now, I plan to keep a bulleted list of the more challenging things I do on a daily basis. One day, I hope to turn this list into salary, but for now I'll just enjoy the nostalgia.

• Maintenance: plumbing, heating, and electrical. Regularly unclogging toilets, small repairs. Water flow issues: have had to replace a water heater, flooded carpet, flooded laundry room, burst pipes in subzero temperatures during winter months. Replaced broken thermostat, arranged for furnace repairs, purchased individual heating/AC units for rooms. Familiar with electrical circuit breakers, replacing electrical outlets. Once responsible for property as a whole during a 18 hour electrical outage, made alternate arrangements for in-house guests, maintained contact with the City and with the electric company regarding reestablishment of services.
• Billing: Negotiated contracts with hospitals, construction companies (PCI, Belfor), American Red Cross, FEMA, various local Churches. Maintained Accounts Receivable, settled past-due balances with companies directly and with collection agencies.
• Inventory purchases: maintained supply of products such as toiletries, linens, breakfast supplies.
• Computers and Electronics: Extensive training in MS Office and mastery of all Microsoft Operating systems, familiar with Apple OS. Familiarity with HTML web design. Managed the front desk during a computer virus that resulted in replacement of the computer and complete loss of all guest records. Proficient in several hotel software suites (details upon request), and well rehearsed keeping manual hotel records (reservations, in-house guest lists, housekeeping lists, phone authorization of travelers' cheques/credit cards including physical carbon copy swipe). Capable of programming televisions and remote controls. Replaced and upgraded the Front Desk phone system. Changed Front Desk printer and implemented a paper recycling program and a cost-cutting program for printer toner usage.
• Special Events: designated peak flow dates, applied specially increased rates, supervised for 16 continuous hours during special events. Implemented one week cancellation policy, advanced pre-authorization policy, email confirmation policy. Particularly skilled in high traffic situations - including athletic events, University events, natural disasters, extreme weather.
• Conflict Resolution: Specially trained to maintain high customer satisfaction while minimizing refunds. Experience in inebriated/uncooperative guests, dealing with local authorities.
• Bookkeeping: Responsible for bi-weekly payroll, and maintaining records on business-related expenses paid by cheque (operational expenses such as utility bills, property taxes, property maintenance, and employee payroll expenses). Educated in financial and managerial accounting.
• Space for more to come.