What makes the BEST employee?

So there is a HUGE gap between a variety of different employees. You can tell the difference between an employee that doesn't care to one that is so into his/her job that it scares you. You can tell the difference between an employee that is faking it vs the one who could care less what you think. But how do you be the best employee without going to the extreme?
Well...lets investigate.

In the last part, I told you about my personal story of working at the Wendy's in Terre Haute Indiana.
Now, I do not want to toot-my-own-horn...but while I may not have much to show for it now (except the badges on my hat), I used to be one of the best employees in that building.
I took that position very seriously...and I want you (the worker)to do the same. It's not for the managers, its not for the costumers...if anything, it's for yourself.
The categories for employees look something like this:

• They do NOT care...why?

Many time I have noticed that an abundance of people working at a fast food place just do NOT care.
Teens get hired on at a job (by parents request) and stand around on their cell phones because they would rather be out and hanging with their friends. They do not have bills to pay, they do not have anything to save up for, they have their parents money...so they do not care about making your sandwich right, they do not care about the dress code, they do not care about clocking in on time, they just want the night to get over with so they can go home and get on Facebook. TRUE STORY!
And it's not just the teens. Older people as well get hired on a fast-food place, looking to get respect, and looking to be treated with superiority due to their age. But they are no better than the teens. They yell because they do not get the hours to make rent, but all they want to do is sit on their phone, steal food and eat it, call their ex-girlfriend/boyfriend, and lolligag around because they do not care!
A smaller percentage of the people that do not care are the people with second jobs. I have a second job myself and nowadays find my time at Wendy's to be somewhat wasted (at times) because I could be making 2 dollars more at my other job, had I not taken a weekend-only position. A few others I have known to be with this way.
They come in, looking to make a little extra spending money, then they do not get the hours because of their complex schedule. That or they get screwed over at the other job because they have been scheduled on a day where they had previously told the employer that they could not come in. It causes all sorts of drama and usually resolves when something is thrown and the employee walks out with a finger up on each hand and a very pissy GM (General Manager).
Other people that tend not to care are the drunks and drug addicts that fast-food joints tend to attract. Unfortunately, those type of people will never get too far in their pathetic lives. They come in high and cannot function, they come in drunk and get arrested, they cannot do their jobs properly because of what they have done to their body. And because they are broke, they often like to extend such services (like drugs and alcohol) to any buying customer...meaning the young and curious teens which are illegal as to buy such 'things' or even do them for that matter! Do not be like these people.

• The Butt-Kissers

There is such a thing as a 'teachers-pet' when it comes to jobs (only its just called 'pet')...especially in the fast-food business. Unfortunately, those are the most annoying people to be around a majority of the time. For instance, I worked with a butt-kisser that was a manager, and he came off as being the BEST EMPLOYEE EVER!!!
All he was...was a fake.
He would go around acting like he was friends with the employees and they began to trust him and tell him all their secrets about work. How they cheated on sandwich's, how they snuck food, pranks that they pulled in the office, people they had told off at the window, etc. etc. etc.
And all this man did was go to the General Manager and tell-all. He was instantly on the top after that. They changed the rules, people were busted, they were fired, and other things. But that is not all. The butt-kisser was also something of a slave driver. He would work the employee to the bone to make sure that the store was spotless, day-in-and-day-out. But while the employees were working themselves silly, the butt-kisser was taking all the credit for everyone else's work.  We were working...but what was he doing?
---He was talking on the phone to his g/f of the week.
---He was going out to smoke a cig every 10 minutes.
---He was hiding out in the office when things got busy.
---He was letting girls comes in to the dining room after hours.
He was doing everything that he was NOT supposed to do...and others were getting in trouble because of his actions. Soon there was a rebellion, the butt-kisser was no longer trusted by anyone, and he got so angry that he quit his job because he was no longer the superstar. It's sad...but its true. Don't [always] be the butt-kisser. No one will like you.

• The jesters and blunts---

Not that it is a bad category to be in...this is something of a 'normal' employee (I should say). The jesters are the people that do their job but bend the rules to be funny. These are the people who stand around and make perverted jokes, pull up funny noises on their cell phones, they throw pickles and make them stick in awkward laces, and they wear gloves just to wipe the white powder on your back.
They are fun to work with (no doubt) but sometimes they go a little too far. I feel bad, but I once got a jester fired. He was a jester that did not care...and came into work high (a lot)! He was wadding u raw meat and throwing it on the ceiling so that it would fall on other employees.
Not only was it disgusting...but it was a health-risk. And he wasn't doing his job...so I reported him to the GM and he was fired on the spot.
The blunts are not so bad either...its just that they tend to get into a lot of trouble for the things that come out of their mouths. They will say anything no matter who is listening, and this can always cause trouble. A blunt could say something and a customer might hear, then the GM is called over so that the customer can complain, and every suffers for what one person did. So while it is okay to have fun on the job and to be honest...find an equal balance of the two which don't require you to break company policy or break the rules.

• So what have we learned?

You have now seen two-different types of employees...and even a small third variety. So what have you learned? From my experience, there is only a certain way to be a top-employee...and that includes the things listed below. Take them in and let them be your guide...you will succeed...and you will be rewarded for all your efforts. Even if you do not see it right away~

1. Follow company rules---this means dress code and etc. Tuck in your shirt, wear a belt, have your hair tied up. This is a job, NOT a fashion statement.
2. Most jobs do not let you have a cell phone on you for a reason...don't text while you are working. It's hard, but if you get caught, the consequences will be dire. In case of an emergency, the store has a phone, and a good manager will let you use your cell if necessary.
3. Be resilient! Jobs are tough and you will get frustrated...so keep your emotions in check and just do as you are told. It's hard, but if you keep a cool temper and just do the job, you will get noticed and be admired for your efforts.
4. Be available...fast-food jobs are full of employees that just do NOT care. They will often call off work and in that case, you might be called in to fill a position. Even if you cannot make it all of the time, do make an effort to come in when the company needs help. Also, if asked to stay over for a shift...volunteer sometimes. It helps the company AND your managers will thank you.
5. Do NOT be a butt-kisser...sucking up to your boss can make life easy for awhile, but it earns you enemies faster than you can acquire rewards. It's juts not worth it.
6. Ask questions! Unfortunately, some employees are too proud to ask questions and make silly mistakes because of it. Asking questions shows that you care and that you are interested in your job...so do it, even if you feel stupid.
7. Be yourself but smile! Strangely enough, customers will understand when you are having a bad day, when you are sick, and etc. But that does not mean that you should take your emotions out on them. If you are a cashier, or have any interaction with the guests, continue to smile and try to provide them with the best service possible...even if they get mad at you, that only makes you the better person for being able to stick it out there and be the mature and stable one in the situation.
8. Be honest---Fast food places have a bunch of sneaky tricks up their sleeves to make people pay more money, and managers get in on this too. While this may not earn you points with your employer, it will help you as a person to be honest and to always tell the truth when asked a question by the guest. Self-satisfactory guaranteed.
9. The norms---come in to work on time, and even a few minutes early, come already dressed in your uniform and be ready for any position you are scheduled to be on. Know your schedule ahead of time so that you do not have to call in daily to know when you work. also, if you must call off because of an important reason, call in as soon as possible to guarantee that you can be replaced for that shift.
10. Attend work-related events! Fast-food places have Christmas parties, family-fun days, and host events to get people to work harder for rewards...go to all the meetings that you can make it to, and just get involved.
11. Don't be afraid to make friends at work and have fun! Work is about working (naturally), but talk to people, enjoy the time spent at work by trying to make it fun...just don't break the rules to do it. Sing on the line, dance while you're cleaning, the options are limitless.

((more to come as they come to me))