150 HOURS IN HOUSEKEEPING

During my first week of On-the-Job Training (OJT), I felt a mix of nervousness

and excitement. I wasn’t entirely prepared for what was ahead, but I was
determined to do my best and successfully complete the program. There were
only five of us OJT students, and we were split into different tasks. Three of us,
including myself, were assigned to the housekeeping department for the first
150 hours of our 300-hour training, while the remaining two were placed in
the dining area. After completing our initial hours, we would switch roles,
allowing us to gain experience in both areas.

At first, I found the work challenging, especially since I was still adjusting to the
new environment and responsibilities. My pace was slow, but I made sure to
observe and learn as much as possible. Thankfully, my senior was patient and
willing to guide me through the tasks. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions
whenever I was unsure about something, and little by little, I started to
understand the workflow.

Although I struggled during my first week, I could see myself improving each
day. The small progress I made gave me confidence and motivation to keep
going. I knew that with time and effort, I would be able to adapt and perform
my duties more efficiently. This experience was just the beginning, and I looked
forward to learning even more in the coming weeks.

During the second week of my OJT, my fellow housekeeping trainees and I

were rotated to different areas. We couldn’t stay in the same location for too
long, as it was important for us to gain experience in all sections of
housekeeping. This rotation helped us adapt to different work environments
and understand the unique challenges of each area.
By this time, I had started to recognize some of the employees. Our supervisor
had advised us to remember the names of all the staff members we were
working with, as it would help us communicate and work more efficiently.
While I had memorized a few names, I was still in the process of learning the
rest.

In my new housekeeping area, I noticed that the rooms were much smaller
than in my previous assignment. This made cleaning faster and more
manageable compared to the larger rooms, which required more time and
people to clean thoroughly. The senior assigned to this area was very kind, and
we quickly became close. Having a supportive senior made the learning
process easier, and I felt more comfortable asking for guidance when needed.

However, our supervisor was extremely strict when it came to cleanliness and
organization. She had high standards, which I understood since customer
satisfaction depended on how well we prepared the rooms. One day, after
finishing my cleaning duties, she inspected my work and immediately noticed a
single strand of hair left behind. She was not pleased and raised her voice at
me. Additionally, I had forgotten to properly arrange a table, which also made
her upset. These mistakes taught me an important lesson: even the smallest
details matter in housekeeping. From that moment on, I became extra careful,
ensuring that every part of the room was spotless and every piece of furniture
was perfectly arranged.

Though the experience was a bit stressful, I took it as a learning opportunity. I

realized that high expectations in this job were not meant to discourage me
but to push me to do better. Each mistake helped me improve, and I became
more focused on delivering excellent results in my tasks.

Today marked my final hours in the housekeeping department and my

appraisal day. My supervisor would observe me as I cleaned a single room,
evaluating my performance. I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness,
knowing this was my last task before transferring to the dining area.
 As I worked, I applied everything I had learned—ensuring the room was
spotless, the furniture perfectly arranged, and no detail overlooked. Unlike my
first week, where I was slow and unsure, I now moved with confidence and
efficiency.

After completing my task, my supervisor carefully inspected the room. I stood

anxiously as she checked every detail, remembering how strict she was about
cleanliness. To my relief, she nodded in approval, gave me a thumbs up, and
said, “Good job.” I had passed my appraisal, proving how much I had
improved.

With housekeeping now behind me, I was ready for the next challenge in the
dining area. Though I knew it would be different, I was excited to continue
learning and growing in my OJT journey.
 150 HOURS IN DINING AREA

As we entered the last 150 hours of our OJT, our department switched from
housekeeping to the dining area—a change that marked a fresh start for all of
us. My first week in the dining area felt like a complete learning phase. Unlike
my previous experience where I knew many of the housekeeping staff, I didn’t
know anyone here, so I had to quickly familiarize myself with my new
colleagues and the various tasks expected of me. The bustling environment
was both exciting and a bit overwhelming as I learned the ropes all over again.

Surprisingly, I discovered that I adapted more quickly than I thought. I soon

found myself becoming more skilled and efficient in this new setting. Delivering
food to customers and taking orders became part of my daily routine, and I
learned how to juggle multiple tasks at once—a real test of my multitasking
abilities. Every shift presented a fresh set of challenges that required energy
and focus, but I managed to keep up with the fast pace by observing others
and practicing constantly.

Despite the initial hurdles, I began to enjoy the experience. With each shift, I
noticed improvements in my speed, accuracy, and overall confidence. The
support from my new team helped me learn the flow of the dining area
quickly, and I started to appreciate the value of hard work and teamwork. I
knew that with determination and continued practice, I would keep growing in
this role, ready to face any challenge that came my way.
During my second week in the dining area, I was still trying to find my footing. I
had to learn the layout, remember all the different menu items, and get to
know the staff. Every shift brought a new challenge, and while I was starting to
see the flow of things, I was still adjusting to the fast pace of this busy
department.

Our daily tasks were pretty varied. We had to clean the dining area, take orders
from customers, deliver food quickly, and dry utensils and plates. Because I’m
a guy, I also ended up with some of the heavier tasks. For example, I often
carried cleaned utensils and plates from the back of the house to the front,
making sure everything was ready for the next round of customers. Refilling
the water dispensers was another challenge—those containers were no joke
and definitely required some muscle. And when customers placed large orders,
delivering food became even more demanding, which meant extra effort and
teamwork to keep everything running smoothly.

Even though the workload was tough and sometimes left me feeling
exhausted, I slowly got the hang of it. I learned how to juggle all my
responsibilities while working well with my teammates. The work was
physically demanding, but it was also incredibly rewarding to see myself
getting faster and more efficient every day. I left each shift feeling a bit more
confident and ready to take on whatever came next, knowing that every day
was a step forward in my learning process.

As Christmas approached, I requested a long break from my supervisor so I

could spend the holidays with my family. Thankfully, my request was
approved. However, when I returned after the break, I realized I had a lot of
hours left to complete since the other OJT students had continued working. I
knew I had to work harder to make up for the lost time.

To catch up, I gradually took on more overtime, increasing my daily hours from
8 to 10–11 hours. Some days were more demanding than others, especially
during peak hours when the dining area was extremely busy. The longest shift I
worked was 16 hours on New Year’s Eve, as the restaurant needed extra staff
for a fireworks display event. Though it was exhausting, I took it as a challenge
 and pushed myself to keep going. The fast-paced environment helped me
improve my efficiency and multitasking skills even further.

After completing my required hours, all that remained was my final appraisal
day. This was my last test to prove how much I had learned throughout my
OJT. I applied all the skills I had gained and worked with confidence. When my
supervisor evaluated my performance, I was relieved and proud to receive
good grades and positive feedback.

With that, my OJT journey officially came to an end. It was a challenging but
fulfilling experience that taught me discipline, time management, and the
importance of perseverance—lessons I will carry with me into my future
career.