BY JACK WATSON
Getting a part-time job at Dunkin’—the American fast-food chain famous for its donuts and coffee—was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Instead of spending my summer holidays as a nocturnal teenager glued to video games or parties, I took advice from my grandma and the editor of this magazine to create a CV and apply online (everything’s digital these days).
At the time, I had just taken my GCSEs, so my CV was fairly sparse. I also didn’t have many friends to hang out with—I was just too cool for them, apparently—so I needed something productive to fill my time. Despite competing against applicants with far more experience, I decided to take a shot and applied for a few local vacancies. Within days, I received an interview offer from Dunkin’. Little did I know that this interview would change the direction of my life.
Many teenagers my age find this stage intimidating, but let me assure you—it’s not as daunting as it seems. My palms were sweaty and I was nervous, but the process turned out to be straightforward. They asked a few questions about myself and what I could bring to the role. If you answer them well, the rest is a breeze. I later had another meeting with the store manager online, and it went just as smoothly.
The key is to make them like you. Avoid generic, clichéd responses—they’ve heard those a hundred times. Stand out. Be different. That’s exactly what I did. I slipped in a few facts about the business, started my own conversations, asked questions about them (which they appreciate), and always expanded on their questions. Instead of letting them do all the talking, I carried some of the conversation myself, which showed confidence and strong communication skills. They liked that. I’ve now been a team member for over a year.
Learning the ropes was tough, but the environment was friendly and welcoming. The staff were patient and supportive as I learned. Most of them were young—many at university—so we were all in a similar boat: trying to earn money while studying. It didn’t take long for me to bond with them, and they eventually became a group of people I could call friends.
I learned a lot from each of them, as they came from different backgrounds and had unique life experiences. This helped me better understand others—why they hold certain views or act differently due to their upbringing or challenges. These colleagues turned into my close friends, and we now spend much of our free time together. That, without a doubt, was the best thing I gained from working at Dunkin’.
But I didn’t just build friendships—I also developed valuable skills and gained real experience. It gave me a newfound respect and admiration for workers everywhere. There’s no denying that working is hard, and sometimes the pay doesn’t feel worth it (I’m currently on £8 an hour). I also began to understand why people hold certain political views about work and money. While my own opinions didn’t change, I gained a deeper perspective I never had before.
I also strengthened my teamwork and communication skills. In a fast-paced environment, we often face busy rushes that can be stressful. The best way to handle them? Build strong relationships with your colleagues, so you can push through with laughter and less tension. The worst feeling during those moments is being out of sync with your team—it creates friction and adds to the stress. Connecting with everyone outside of work really improves performance when you’re on the bar facing a long list of orders. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than working through a rush with someone who doesn’t feel comfortable communicating with you. I’ve managed to fit into the team and genuinely enjoy working with everyone.
Has it been difficult? Absolutely. I’ve made countless mistakes—and still do. I’ve had arguments, bad days, confrontations with customers, nearly flooded the store five minutes before closing, dropped milk cartons, spilled drinks in front of customers, and thought about quitting more than once. But this job taught me how to overcome challenges. Every mistake became a learning opportunity.
That helped me eventually learn to enjoy my job. I had to push through the errors and tough moments, but doing so helped me grow into a better version of myself. These skills have translated into the real world, too.
I started that summer with a thin CV, little life experience, and not many friends. Fast forward a year: I have money in a savings account, a loyal group of friends, something solid to put on my CV, and a new set of skills and understanding of people and the working world.
All of this came from simply applying for a job online and putting in the effort. So, to anyone who’s just finished secondary school—do yourself a favour: write a CV and apply for jobs. You’ll thank yourself later. I certainly do.
Jack Watson is a 17 year-old student in Year 12 at Wyke College, Hull. You can read his Substack about following Hull City FC here. Follow him on X here.