My First Job: Amanda Dometrovich

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re doing a series on recruitAbility employees’ first jobs and the lessons they learned. Below we hear from Amanda Dometrovich, senior technical recruiter at recruitAbility. To read other posts in this series, click here.

I grew up near the Bay Area in Blackhawk, Calif., where I got my first job at 16 years old. 

I earned $8.25/hour plus tips as a hostess at a Mexican restaurant. I worked on the weekends and a few days a week after school throughout high school. My job duties included welcoming guests, seating and managing the dining areas, monitoring the activity in the restaurant to optimize the customer flow and seating, and handling reservation and event requests. 

From that early age, I loved working with people. I created some incredible relationships with my colleagues at the restaurant. We had so much fun. That’s what I remember the most. 

I also learned quickly about customer service. Dealing with “hangry” people who complained when it took too long for their table to be ready taught me a lot. Interacting with upset customers in a diplomatic manner was an essential part of the job.

The “customer is always right” mentality was ingrained in me, and I learned how to be a more attentive listener. To become solutions-oriented at such a young age was hugely valuable to me, and it’s paid off in my professional career. 

In recruiting, communication is everything. Learning what our clients want in a potential candidate and discovering what a candidate seeks in a new role sounds simple, but these are skills that must be cultivated. So I feel grateful that I learned these skills early in my career. 

If I could do it all over again, I’d pick the exact same job as my first role. I loved how fast-paced it was in the restaurant industry, and it helped shape my career in a variety of ways.

Learn more about Amanda in this employee spotlight.