Name: Jihyun Hwang

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

Major: Accounting

Which engagement track did you follow?: Leadership project reporting & reflection

 

Do Volunteer work at Cafe

I had chosen the volunteer work at a cafe in my hometown during this summer as my EDGE project. While I was doing a volunteer work, I observed and learned big two types of aspects, how the owner managed his store and how he led his employees. By observing his management skills, I could learn the better way to deal with customers and how to provide better service as well. Also, I learned how he set his strategies to target his customers, and how he changed his strategies depending on the situation. I could add new menus that I suggested at the end of the work.  

Additionally, I learned how the owner led his employees. I was able to figure out what kind of leadership style that the owner had used during the project. I could observe what kind of ways that he used to encourage his employees, such as offering an incentive. Whenever he saw his employees felt tired, he encouraged them with full of compliment. Also, I could use my knowledge that I had studied in class in the real world by making tables which were related to the total amount of payments for the ingredient.

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A few years ago, one of my accounting professors told me that I will definitely meet a lot of diverse people as my clients in the future. Then, I realized that I need to have a practice meeting new people and should feel more comfortable with it. Before I graduate the university and get a job, I wondered how I could meet a variety of people, and provide them the service and deal with their complaints. The only way to think about it was that volunteering in the cafe. By this volunteer work, I could meet diverse people and learn a lot of things from the owner.

 

At the beginning of the project, I was extremely introverted and it was very difficult for me to meet diverse people. I actually really wanted to give up because of this problem at first. Whenever the rush hour began and orders kept piling up, I got easily lose my mind. Also, I got panicked when the customers complained about their dissatisfaction. However, as time goes by, I could learn how to deal with those complaints and handle it efficiently.

 

I did my best to provide a nice service to every customer. My effort could cause the customer to feel comfort and happiness. In fact, by providing them with warm bread and beverage with a clean space, the customers could feel comfort and happiness while they are staying in the cafe. I tried my best to make a nice atmosphere while I was working. Whenever co-workers look tired, I tried to encourage them and make the mood more active.

 

Due to my introverted personality, I was afraid to meet new people at first. It was too shameful to speak loud and I got often panicked whenever I made mistakes. However, as time went by, meeting new people have felt more comfortable and I could handle most of their wants. My personality has become more active than before. Also, I am still glad that I could satisfy the customers’ asks and they could stay with satisfaction.

 

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“Human is the one who can overcome their limitations.

If you keep going even you want to give up, you will find you who have developed than ever before.”

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