Feeling of satisfaction

Matthijs Hulst (2002) has been working at Mitland alongside his business studies for a year. He enjoys the variety, the contact with guests, and the team spirit.

“I ended up at Mitland through my friends. They told enthusiastic stories about the pleasant working atmosphere and that you work here with many peers. I wanted to try something new again after my job at a supermarket. Working at Mitland is much more varied. It's nice to be at the bowling alley, especially during busy evenings with many students. Then we can play a bit with the music and mostly play sing-alongs. Those are great evenings. It's also nice to be in the restaurant or make cocktails behind the bar.

No day at Mitland is the same. I recently got the final responsibility for the first time during an evening. As a supervisor, you are the point of contact for complaints or problems and ensure that everything runs smoothly. You have a lot of contact with the guests. When I'm behind the bar, I have nice conversations. I still remember well that on my first working day in the restaurant, I had to serve a table with four lawyers. I was still fumbling a bit awkwardly when opening the wine bottle. Then they asked if I had just started working here, and I might have been talking at their table for a quarter of an hour. They were very interested. You don't get that so quickly at other workplaces.

Before you start your first working day, you first follow a short internal online course at Mitland where you get acquainted with daily practice in various modules. So you know what to expect in practice. If I don't know something yet, I can always turn to my colleagues with my questions. At Mitland, not only many young people work, but also experienced staff from whom you learn a lot. We have an ideal mix. We work in the restaurant with a handheld, which is a device that allows us to easily take guests' orders. It has a handy search function, so you can quickly look up a specific drink when someone asks for it.

We are not scared of all that new technology because we grew up with a smartphone in our hands. An experienced colleague warned me at the start that it can be 'haunted' during busy evenings on the weekend. Then we sometimes really have to run in the back. But I don't find stress a problem. It keeps you sharp. It gives a satisfying feeling afterward when such a hectic evening has gone well because we fought as a team. The closing drink with colleagues is then even more fun. Because at Mitland, we always end the evening together. I missed something like that during my job at the supermarket. A little chat afterward.

The closing drink helps you get to know your colleagues much better and creates a team spirit. The working atmosphere at Mitland is particularly pleasant. There is room for a joke, but we are also serious when needed and very friendly to guests. Everyone does their utmost to meet the guests' wishes. Yes, I'll keep working here for a while.