Luca McDougle

- As a waiter at Nando's, I use my customer service skills in a fast-paced environment, ensuring my tasks are completed to a high standard.

- I am responsible for taking orders, providing recommendations, and promptly addressing customer inquiries and concerns. My role requires effective communication and teamwork with other co-workers. I developed strong problem solving skills by handling various situations with professionalism and efficiency, contributing to a warm, welcome environment.

- Trained as a Griller at Nando’s, where I developed strong cooking skills, food safety knowledge, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure. This role requires a high level of responsibility, as I must ensure every meal meets strict quality, hygiene, and safety standards, even in a fast-paced, high-demanding environment, for example handling over 20+ orders at once on busy nights.

- Working in a busy kitchen has strengthened my time management, attention to detail, and ability to stay focused under pressure, while also improving my teamwork and communication skills to keep operations running smoothly.

Garden Landscaper

- Working as a Garden Landscaper has given me hands-on experience in designing, building, and maintaining outdoor spaces, including tasks such as laying turf, planting, paving, fencing, and general garden upkeep.

- This role required strong communication and negotiation skills, as I often discussed project details with customers, addressed their concerns, and ensured their vision was met within their budget.

- Handling pricing discussions taught me how to balance customer expectations with material costs and labor time, finding solutions that worked for both parties. It also strengthened my problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and time management, as completing high-quality work within deadlines was very important in order to maintain the business image.

- Additionally, working in varied weather conditions and using different tools improved my adaptability, attention to detail, and ability to work efficiently under pressure.