[nfb-talk] Some Job Questions...

Fri Nov 22 19:47:44 UTC 2013

I think you're on the right track if you think about how to do a job rather
than how to get the job.  Because, once you're comfortable that you can do
it, you can more likely get it.
So, go down to your local Business Enterprise cafeteria and ask them to let
you learn how to run the dishwasher and operate the cash register.  Maybe at
first you just start out with the dishwasher and get comfortable with how it
works and then where the dishes go, Etc.
Then, you ask for more responsibility.  Along the way they may or may not
pay you.  But you shouldn't focus on that.  Just focus on learning what a
food service kitchen and operation is all about.
I've owned several restaurants and started out in the Randolph-Shepard
(Business Enterprise) program.
As far as making pretzels, try to read some things about how pretzels are
made and see if they help you see what's involved in doing it.  Then, go to
a pretzel making place and ask them to show you how they make them.
If they do it by hand or machine it will be different, or, if they do it
Like Ben and I did it, like buying them frozen, that's different as well.
Most modern places make them themselves.
The reason I would start out with business enterprise is that they're going
to be more comfortable with a blind guy.
Even today, even having run several food operations for ten or fifteen
years, I'm not sure your average restaurant manager would be comfortable
with me wandering around in his kitchen.  The average employer doesn't know
what you can do and will be nervous about it.  If you are comfortable that
you can do things, that helps grately.
Cash registers in the average business don't talk, so, unless you get very
lucky, that's going to be a problem.  Although, I do hear some talking
registers now and then.  Otherwise, they're all digital and not accessible
without substantial modification that costs far more money than a minimum
wage employee is worth.  But, again, you have the business enterprise
program to learn at because they will have talking cash registers, or, some
very old cash registers that don't talk, but also don't do much else, like
tracking inventory as it is sold, or processing credit cards.
I'd be glad to talk with you more about this off line.  It's a very doable
thing you want to do, but, you'll have to know your strengths and skills if
you want the average restaurant or pretzel seller manager to hire you.
Mike Bullis
Baltimore 
Bullis.michael at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Prows,
Bennett (HHS/OCR)
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 1:46 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Some Job Questions...

Kerri and Listers,

There are a lot of blind folks in the food industry. The "business
enterprises" programs in your state could probably answer some of your
questions. I don't know the ins and outs of running a food business, but
there are devices that will help a blind person function nicely at a cash
register, cooking, etc. 

Not knowing the pretzel making duties, I wouldn't' advise in any way, but
imagine that it isn't hard to use alternative techniques to make them. I
know, that the NFB of Oregon sold "hot soft pretzels" at an October fest for
several years, and that only required the microwaving of the pretzels after
preparing the frozen pretzel with proper amounts of salt, etc. But that's
about as much info as I have on the whole subject. I'm sure there are others
on the list that can and will respond. 

If you are interested in food businesses, contact our Blind Merchants
Division for much more help than I have been.

/s/

Bennett Prows

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kerri
Kosten
Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2013 3:12 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list; Blind Talk Mailing
List; NFB Talk Mailing List; Ed McDonald
Subject: [nfb-talk] Some Job Questions...

Hi Everyone:

I am considering applying for some jobs and had a few questions.
Antians Pretzels (a pretzel place in the mall) is looking for "crew
members." I have been told this means someone to make the pretzels and serve
them to the customers, and someone to likely run the register and take the
pretzel orders.
There is a restaurant called Panara Bread (a popular sandwich chain) opening
soon in my area and they are hiring for all positions.
I am considering applying at these places.
Is there any way a blind person can run a cash register?
Is there actually anything I could do at these places as a blind person or
will they immediately look at my blindness and turn me away?
I won't go into full details on a listserve, but I am trying to turn my life
around and one of the ways I thought I could do this was to find a simple
job that would give me confidence, something to do, and to show me that I
can in fact work.
I'll admit, this is my first time applying for a job. If I apply, and they
ask me to come in for an interview, and they say something like "So, what
can you do?" if I'm not sure myself what I can do how do I respond?
In the past I've just made the excuse that because of my blindness there is
nothing I could do when looking for jobs and just given up but if I want to
turn things around I have to do something and applying for jobs is one of
the things I can think of to do.
Thanks,
Kerri

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