People who have known office romance or office dating describe it as a game where two lovers communicate their subtle interests until they become united through an informal or formal ceremony. Some companies frown upon love team workers. Companies that are buttoned-up tend to have stricter policies while media and IT companies are lax about office romance. Whatever your reasons for dating a coworker, it will help if you’re aware of what may go wrong if you spilt the beans or work while in a thorny relationship.   Pros: The positive side A dating opportunity - It can provide another opportunity for meeting a potential boyfriend or girlfriend. So, here you can add an office to find your Mr.Right or Miss Right.   Increased motivation/productivity - Seeing your lover every day can boost your motivation. It makes you feel zealous to work even during pressured and boring times. Who doesn’t want to see his/her crush daily? Now, being with your crush buddy can make a good vibe and thus make you want to stay in an office for long hours.   Your soulmate could be your working colleague - Successful office romances can lead to lifetime partners that work together towards the company’s goal and that can be a powerful team. Shared or related interests can unite couples - Mr. A is a web developer and Miss B is a graphic designer and vice versa. Cons: What could go wrong in an office romance The reason why some companies frown upon office romance is that dating between coworkers can affect performance and productivity. Things can go wrong if you and your love flame’s relationship break apart.  Stalking - Stalking refers to the repeated surveillance of one person to another person or group. If he/she consistently follows and watches you daily before and after working hours, and his/her behaviour makes you uncomfortable then that’s stalking. Stalking is one of the results of ongoing or failed relationships.   Breakups and broken heart - Seeing your ex daily at work after a fresh break up and even after months of a failed relationship is a tough experience. Yes, it’s awkward and it can quickly lose your work motivation as fast as a battery loses its charge. If you’re some sort of a guy or gal used to handle rejections then you can still survive the emotional storm while working towards your organization’s goal.   Favouritism - Your colleagues may perceive you as having favouritism whether he/she is a coworker, a subordinate or boss.  Favouritism can lead to issues such as office politics and back fighting such as manager - subordinate relationships.   Gossips - Even if it's kept secret, someone who could be your friend, a workmate or neighbour may reveal it.   Decreased productivity - Have you experienced being heartbroken? Being in that situation affects the same part of the brain during physical pain (being stung by a bee or pricked by a needle). According to medicalnewstoday - the same areas of the brain are affected in the presence of emotional and physical pain. Getting rejected could affect your self-esteem or self-worth and that could result in decreased productivity. Even if you try to mask it with liquor or any mantra while on your duty, the emotional pain of losing your love interest will always resonate in your head before, during and after your work.   Distraction - Yes, you got involved with a potential Mr. or Ms. Right and that means you may do some flirtations such as exchanging emoticons and emails. If your company is liberal with such policies then it could zap some minutes of your productivity.  Workplace Romance: A sample survey The Society For Human Resource Management made a survey of (2013) detailing organization/company response, types of office romance and the action taken by the organization. Here is a detailed survey. Source: SHRM. (2020). Workplace Romance. [online] The SHRM revealed that employers got stricter regarding office romance policies as seen in the increasing percentage of bar graphs from the year 2001. Breaking such policy could result in counselling, written reprimand, termination, removal from the position, transfer to another department, and suspension.    Why do some companies forbid workplace romance? While many companies are lax with regard to office romances, there are other companies who are strict. The reasons are: Perceived favouritism among co-workers Possible sexual harassment claims Possible legal action against the company Retaliation resulting from a failed relationship Decreased morale due to heart-breaks Possible leakage of confidential info such as trade secrets, recipes, salaries, list of vendors and business practices.  What to do when you’re involved in an office romance Ask human resources - Ask an HR personnel or supervisor regarding the company’s policy. Is the company lax or against it? And if they forbid workplace romance, what are the consequences? If your organization has no qualms against your romantic overtures, then it’s Ok. Dating is a mind game where both parties express signals that could mean interest or not and those mind games can linger in your mind for days and months. Keep it discreet - If you’re currently involved or eyeing someone for romantic movies, keep it secret or discreet or make sure that the person who knows your love affair is a trusted friend and not a blabbermouth and avoid displaying public display of affection (PDA). Take advantage of technology but be careful of using social media because posts can reach anyone. Show your romantic interest during off-office hours - You can still keep your darling interested by dating during day-offs and leaves. If you want to communicate your interest to your co-worker, make it discreet as much as possible.  Be ready for breakup or rejection - Whether you are a party involved in dating or someone wooing a girl or boy, be ready how to handle rejection and breakup because dating will not always end up as you wanted. Factors such as third party, temperament, personality, and the economy are life facts that affect the dating game. Maintain professionalism - Maintaining professionalism means still following the company’s policies and being in cordial relationships, even recent break-up. It’s leaving your emotional baggage behind while still showing up to perform duties.   Office romance: Should I take part in it? Dating someone in your team or your coworkers may or might carry risks depending on your company’s policy, culture and size. Risks refer to the possibility of sabotaging your job/career or affecting your concentration and performance. In the Philippines, rules on office romance can be vague as rules vary although the Filipino culture and society tolerate workplace romance. If your company is lax about office dating then you may go ahead in finding your possible fiancé. But if your company is strict and forbids office romance, then you can be discrete or stick with that policy.  Whether a company is lax or strict about romances - a workplace is always a place where people expect a level of decency (no hookup at office). Being professional at all times can save your time and day.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), poverty declined slowly over the past four decades owing to the great income inequality in Filipino society. While employment opportunities exist in the country, the fact remains - many Filipinos struggle to own a house or break free from the vicious cycle of renting (eats a huge chunk of monthly savings), worsening traffic, and low income. Despite this situation, you can still mitigate factors that you can control by following a frugal lifestyle.   1. Search for nearby, quality and rent-to-own house If you’re a minimum wage earner or earning just a little above a minimum wage, it will help if you go for affordable rent in an apartment, condo or single detached subdivision and weigh the factors essential for safe and quality living. If you can afford to settle down for a rent to own condo, single-detached or row house within metro manila or the nearest outskirts (Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal), then go for it. Make sure that your house has transport accessibility. Renting a housing is a temporary solution but if you’re going to work in the same place for more than 2+ years then it’s better to settle down for rent to own housing.   Factors to look for when renting a house Factors Description Fire safety The house should be fire safe and built with less combustible material and provided with a proper fire exit. Neighbourhood safety: A safe neighbourhood should be free from crime and the community has strong law enforcement and security in place: Gates, lighting and Barangay police (Tanod). Geological safety The place should be safe from flooding, landslide, and faults. Affordability The house rent should not be expensive and it should not take away a huge chunk of your monthly savings. Distance Your house should be near your office or working site, otherwise travelling could be taxing because of distance travel, heavy traffic, and reduced resting hours.   2. Settle down for a rent to own property. If you work for the long term (2 to 10 years), it’s advisable to look for a rent to own property such as a row house, single detached or condo unit. Renting a house is only a temporary solution but in the end, it’s a waste of money because after renting 5 or more years, that property will never be yours. Instead, look for affordable and nearby housing. Most row houses are priced less than single detached. You can also save money by choosing for foreclosed properties (PAG-IBIG has a comprehensive list of foreclosed properties). Finding an affordable rent to own housing near the business and working centre (Ortigas, Makati, Eastwood Libis) is not easy unless you already own a property or have a well-off family because of high property values within the metro manila and the nearest outskirts such as Cainta, Rizal, Bacoor, Cavite and Tungko, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.   3. Reduce wants and keep your needs. Wants refer to things that you wish to have but not absolutely necessary to live. Needs are things that you need to survive. You can reduce your cost of living by reducing wants. Here is the table of wants versus needs. Basically, if you’re a caveman or living in a rural area, your only needs are food, water, clothing and shelter. But because you’re now living in an urbanized society, such needs are more than such four basics. The needs below are adjusted for urban living conditions.   Needs Wants Home packed lunch Dining in fast food or fine dining restaurant Access to clean tap water Mineral water Used and basic clothing and shoes Expensive and branded clothing and shoes   Movie and video streaming service Internet (necessary if you’re in freelance business) Internet (only for video streaming and gaming) Inexpensive phone Expensive phone   4. Save money for tomorrow The future is both exciting and frightening because you’ll never know if you are heading to a utopian or dystopian society unless you possess a future-telling power. If you don’t have money when crisis knocks at your doorstep, you’ll go broke. You may never know if you can depend on your relatives. Saving money for an emergency fund can help you cover during these future plans and unfortunate situations:   Future plans Unfortunate situations Career change Unforeseen health issues Start a small and medium-size business Company bankruptcy Early retirement Accidents Buying a property Natural disasters Resignation and transition to a new job   You can save money safely by: Saving in a stable bank  - Separate your checking from savings accounts for steady savings. Saving in a cooperative - A cooperative shares its profits to members and help them during emergency needs. Investing in insurance - Find a stable insurance company and get a suitable plan.   5. Get a side income Earning a side income, a part-time or freelance can earn you extra money while working a full-time job. It includes selling your products and services.  Advances in the internet and technology made working at home possible. Capitalize on your skills and creativity. Here are the side income ideas. A reminder, make sure that your side income is not in conflict with your full-time job which is the main focus of your time and effort.   Side income Essentials and Investment Copywriting, News Writing, Technical Writing Writing skills, graphic software skills, time manager, Stable internet connection, laptop, modem, comfortable office chair and table. Graphic design Graphic software skills, laptop, stable internet connection, modem, comfortable office chair and table. Surveys Time management, laptop, stable internet connection Blog Writing skills, graphic software skills, time management, laptop, stable internet connection Crafts and trade  Machines materials used in making crafts, marketing and social media  Food (condiments, pastry, sausages or longganisa ) Ingredients, cooking wares, marketing and social media Forex  Upfront money investment, forex trade training

Some jobs are riskier than others because of machines, chemicals or the way the tasks are carried out.  A number of these occupations require highly skilled or trained individuals who choose to dedicate their lives for their higher inner calling.  1. Firemen Photo by Pexels Firemen respond to fire and extinguish it with chemical or water means. They must also use ladders and climb stairs and rescue trapped people. Risks they could face include falling hot debris, suffocation from smoke, electrocution, and explosion. Safety measures:  Wearing heat resistant suit Strategic firefighting  Use of advance fire fighting equipment Carrying emergency kit such as portable oxygen  Wearing a face mask Following safety protocols   2. Foundry Worker Photo by form PxHere Foundry workers make mould castings and melt metals using a very high-temperature furnace. They may use a large and cup-like holder to carry molten metal and pour them into moulds. The foundry produces products such as steel and alloys used in cars, buildings, shipbuilding and semiconductors. Foundry work is hard and perilous as workers face noise, high temperatures, chemicals, possible accidents, explosion, and constant exposure to fumes. It’s hard to imagine what damage can be made by molten metal pouring like water. Safety measures:  Wearing heat resistant clothing Wearing ear muffler Using radio telecommunication equipment Following foundry safety measures  Use of robotic/mechanical aids. 3. Linemen for powerlines Photo by alcangel144 from Pixabay Linemen install and fix power lines and its transformers (those hanging cylinder objects). They work for private or government-controlled energy companies and restore power outages. Risks they may face include electrocution falls, explosions, fires, fractures, sprains and adverse weather conditions. Some power companies that don’t use a lineman crane are more vulnerable to falls as their employees manually climb power poles. Safety measures Use of safety gears such as hardhat, electricity resistant gloves, insulated sleeves, composite toe boots, face shields, goggles, trousers and fire-resistant clothing Use of power line cranes   4. Lumberjack Photo by Abby Savage from Unsplash Lumberjacks identify a hardwood or softwood tree and cut them into different sizes, logs that are further processed into furniture, cabinets, paper and wood products. This job is dangerous since they are using a chainsaw - a power tool that if not handled properly could cause kickback (a sudden upward motion chainsaw) that leads to cuts and gory injuries.  Safety measures:  Following correct use of a chain saw.  Wearing safety gear such as hard hats, kevlar/steel gloves sleeves, clothing and booths. Use of a robotic-like lumberjack machine named ECOlog that uses an extendable claw with circular saw and clamp to hold and cut trees in a few seconds to minutes. The robotic arm uses wheels to move the log and debranch it. 5. Meat Processor/Butchers Photo by the US Department of Agriculture and a public domain photo Meat processors use cutting machines and sort meat (pork, beef, tuna, venison, chicken) into various parts.  They work in the meat section of supermarkets and commercial meat factories. The machines they work with include a dicing machine, meat shredder, meat slicers and meat saw cutter - all use very sharp rotating or moving blades. Any accidents while operating these devices could send someone on a quick trip to the hospital.  Safety measures:  Wearing Kevlar and steel gloves, hard hat and arms shielding  Use of cutting for large pieces of meat from cattle Following safety measures such as proper use of machine 6. Miners Photo by Ahtammar from Pixabay Smartphones are increasingly becoming sophisticated featuring dual cameras and sharp screens, but did you know they won’t exist if not for miners? These guys are overlooked. Miners are responsible for retrieving rare earth minerals such as gold, platinum, silver, palladium, copper, terbium, neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, lithium, lanthanum - all used in integrated circuits, batteries, speakers, displays, circuit boards.  Miners constantly face dangers such as exposure to heavy metals and the breathing of coal dust. Deep inside the mine, the oxygen concentrations are lower than 19.5%. There’s a possibility of landslides and extreme heat. The whole body vibration WBV or daily exposure to vibration caused by jackhammer can cause musculoskeletal problems and female reproductive problems. Unsafe handling of explosives to carve identified mining sites can be disastrous. Safety measures:  Wearing a hard hat, face shield, goggles, and a facepiece dust mask to filter ambient dust.  Use of flame-resistant coveralls, harnesses, belts, thermal socks.  Use of wireless communication devices and GPS tracker for easy access and prevention of deadly situations during accidents.  Use of drones to access areas deemed inaccessible or too dangerous for humans. The safety kit provides portable oxygen, bandages and first aid tools for an emergency. 7. Mortician Photo by Davidrase and licensed under creative commons Morticians or embalmers prepare bodies to forestall decomposition and make sure that the deceased have their dignity before burial. While they work like those people preserving biological specimens (lizards, frogs) in a jar of chemicals and working in a silent and tiled room (so safe area), the chemicals and bloodborne pathogens in the bodies are a source of concern. Formalin, an embalming fluid, contains formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde- both listed as a probable carcinogen. The chemicals smell so strong that it packs a pickle-like odour. Its odour still lingers even after you leave a lab site. A seeping and free-flowing formaldehyde can contaminate groundwater. Glutaraldehyde is used as a fixative, disinfectant, and sterilizing agent for surgical tools. Hospital chemicals use it in products such as Aldesen, Cidex, Matricide, Hospex and Omnicide.  Safety measures:  Wearing protective masks, goggles and gloves Proper disposal of wastes such as body fluids, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. Correct use of embalming chemicals and cleaning of instruments.  Use of a less toxic chemical.   8. Structural Workers Photo by bridgeward from Pixabay Structural workers make up those demolition men, window cleaners, foremen, power tool workers, crane operators and riggers who all do the manual labour planned by engineers. They face risks of falls, cuts, ricocheting projectiles from a nail gun, burns and heat stroke during summer time especially in middle eastern countries. During the winter season in temperate countries, they could suffer hypothermia. Accidents such as falling metal bars and falls could occur in unsafe construction sites. Safety measures:  Proper use of safety protocol and scaffolding Wearing of harness, goggles, full face shields, long work pants, gloves, vest, long sleeves, safety shoes and hard hat Use of harness to prevent fall accidents Use of safety signages Use of radio devices for communication

The food, beverage and hospitality industry is among the thriving industries in the Philippines due to the increase in international and domestic tourism. Likewise, a number of food retailers, food manufacturing restaurants, hotels, and resorts have already been rising in Metro Manila outskirts and provinces. If you’re eyeing a career in food and hospitality, these 12 jobs info may help you get started.   1. Executive Chef  Photo by Kyle tsui and licensed under creative commons   Chefs make up a number of hierarchical positions in the hotel and restaurant industry and the highest is the executive chef. You manage a number of restaurants headed by sous chefs under your supervision. Your job is more administrative or managerial and you may do little cooking. Being in this role, you’ll: Make menus and design food presentations. Make food costing by quantifying food wastages (weighing) to monitor and bring down food wastages. Delegate food costing tasks to CDPs and kitchen commissaries to quantify food wastages and measure the weight of ingredients. Make sure that HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) is followed. Oversee kitchen operation to ensure smooth flow, make dishes, design presentations and garnishing.  Make sure that mise en place standards are followed by CDPs and junior chefs. The French term refers to the preparation of ingredients such as chopping parsley, dicing carrots, washing vegetables, deseeding olives and peeling potatoes etc. May write for magazines (for chefs who have writing skills). May do some computer-related tasks such as populating spreadsheets on food costing and contacting suppliers.  Ensure that the received and ordered goods are in good condition. Tolerate a high-pressure environment especially if you work in busy hotels and restaurants. Set standards of mise en place (ingredient preparation) and cooking. Human resources Interview applicants for chef positions. Conduct screening of candidates. ​Train and orient newly hired chefs. 2. Chef de partie A Japanese Chef Photo by Dengeki Bunko from Piqsels.com Chef de partie is the third in command of chefs. They are subordinate to chefs as they only oversee a kitchen section such as salad, bread, pizza. So there are CDPs each assigned for salad, pasta, pizza and Japanese cuisine sections. You’ll likely work in a hotel, restaurants specialized kitchens (military, prison, hospital), and resorts. Here are the lists of tasks that you’ll likely encounter in a typical fine dining restaurant. Handle purchase order in the absence of the chef.  ​Follow preservation standards. Replace expiration dates, supervise kitchen commissaries/junior chefs  Make mise en place (preparation of ingredients). You’ll uphold hygiene practices recommended by the HACCP. You may monitor temperature, follow chopping board colour codes and safety measures.   3. Junior chef (Kitchen commissary) Photo by Pixfuel and licensed under creative commons Junior chefs rank below the chef de partie and demi chef de partie. Most of the cooks who took this job are either kitchen newbies or transferees from other restaurants. Likewise, this is an entry-level role in culinary arts. In a la carte restaurants such as fine diners, you’ll do the following tasks: Make mise en place.  Follow HACCP guidelines such as using the right chopping boards and knife colours (red for meat, white for dairy, green for vegetables) and maintaining sanitation procedures. Rotate stored ingredients or first in and first out.  Place stickers onto food containers to avoid spoilage. Monitor chiller temperatures. Make sure that no foreign things go into pasta, salad or sandwich. 4. Bartender Photo by gimballica from creativePxHere Movies and to some extent, dramas and soap operas, often show bartenders who serve alcoholic drinks and fruit cocktails while talking to customers. Bartenders work in bars, restaurants, resorts, hotels, cruise ships, night clubs, and casinos. What you’ll do in this role? Well, here is the list: Mix alcoholic and syrup recipes (such as piña colada, rusty nail, tequila sunrise, whisky sour, margarita, cosmopolitan, dry martini and negroni). ​Serve water with ice cubes. Keep the glassware, and alcoholic drinks stocked. Keep the bar clean by following HACCP practices. Operate a cash machine   5. Barista   Coffee is a well-loved beverage of people who wake up for work or folks who want to fight drowsiness.  At cafes, you can meet guys and gals working 8 hours who serve various coffee recipes. In this job, you’ll be the master of coffee-based drinks. You’ll make Cappuccino by drawing the right amount of an aromatic arabica coffee down right into a portafilter - a device used to filter coffee powder from the liquid. Pressing a button just above the portafilter will cause hot water to fall down into the device. This makes an espresso - a concentrated coffee liquid. On the other side of the coffee bar is the aluminium pot of milk.  You’ll turn this milk into foam by having a steamer nozzle submerged into the milk and pressing a button that releases a jet of steam which rotates and warms the milk (145 C)  and turns it into a foamy consistency. After the foaming process, you’ll pour this milk foam into an espresso mini mug.  Barista veterans say that a good espresso should make up this layer (a thick layer of foam on top, a thin layer of liquid in the middle mixed with espresso. If you’re artistic, you can make art of latte foam such as cats, dogs and birds.  You may also serve juices flavoured with different syrups such as orange, caramel etc. Here are the details of what goes in the daily life of a barista. Receive ordered supplies such as coffee beans, gas cartridges for whipping cream, jugs of full and skimmed milk, syrups, sugar sticks, sugar substitute sticks, take out paper cups, cup lids and paper bags. Restock coffee bar supplies by making a list of depleted items (milk, coffee etc) either on paper or via the system. In some large coffee chains, a cafe manager may do this restocking orders. Make bi-monthly inventories of cafe supplies. Operate cash or point of sale (POS) machines by keeping enough cash float and submitting details of the day’s sale. In large coffee chains, a cashier may handle this task but if you can multitask you may operate a POS and handle money. Make coffee and juice recipes according to the cafe’s standards. Popular recipes include macchiato (espresso with whipped cream on top) cappuccino (espresso with milk foam), an espresso shot. Keep the bar clean by daily cleaning of a coffee machine and its steam nozzle, portafilter, coffee grinder, glassware, pots.   6. Food Stylist Photo by Elke Wetzig and licensed under creative commons This one is uncommon like the sommelier. You have a flair in making food aesthetically pleasing in the eyes of diners. You’ll turn a heap of veggies meat into a food art ready for photography and videography. You may work for a team to transform that tonkatsu into a crispy and freshly fried one. You could make burger patties with a sizzling appearance by adding grill marks. The result of your creativity is mouthwatering and fresh looking food that can be placed on ads, magazines, shows and televisions. Your specialities could be poultry, ice cream, baked goods, meats and chocolate.   7. Kitchen steward Photo by Simcitywok and licensed under creative commons Kitchen stewards are also called Messman and sometimes dishwashers. They work in hotels, resorts, fine dining restaurants, and industrial food factories. In other hotels and restaurants, the kitchen steward is distinct from the dishwasher. This is mostly a manual role and you don’t need formal training in culinary arts except for the HACCP crash course. Large food factories also employ a steward supervisor who manages a group of dishwashers and stewards. Your responsibilities may include: Clean kitchen equipment (grill, fryer, pots, pans, oven). Update clean up monitoring checklist by populating it with checkmarks and dates corresponding to areas that need cleaning. May clean grease trap (a plumbing device used to filter waste cooking oil). Operate a dishwashing machine and organize plates and cutleries. Use professional sanitation chemicals (used for cleaning grills, grease trap, dishwasher, floors, fridge, and crockeries). Clean pots and pans.   8. Sommelier Photo by Eduardo Pavon and licensed under creative commons Fine dining isn’t complete without red and white wines. Certain foods taste better or the dining experience enhanced with a serving of wine. The knowledge of pairing and wines is the job of Sommelier.  Lists wines such as the brand, type and origin. Order wines. Organize wine tasting parties/events. Coordinate wine lists with chefs and restaurant managers. Inform guests about the availability and varieties of wine. Train waiters about wine pairings. Negotiate prices with sellers. Comply with HACCP (sanitation standards). Suggest wine to food pairings. Write articles about wines for wine websites and magazines.   9. Pastry chef    As artisans of bread and confectionery (desserts such as chocolates), pastry chefs are tasked to turn doughs and other ingredients into delicious morning pairs for coffees. If you have been to a bakery or cafe, you’ll see croissants, cakes, apple turnover, baguettes, rolls, ciabatta bread, danish pastries, pan de sal and bread loaves. You’ll likely work in a chain of a bakery, hotel, resorts, a fine dining restaurant or specialised kitchens. Inside a large bakers kitchen, you’ll do mixing, kneading, waiting for the dough to rise (fermentation) and operating sophisticated machines such as bread proofer, oven and dough kneader. Another related position to this job is the confectionery chef who specializes in making sweets such as macarons, ganaches, candies, and other gourmet desserts. Tasks  Supervise junior pastry chefs. Make food costing. Make sure that mise en place standards are followed. Make pastries according to standards set by the executive chef. For example, if you make a croissant, you’ll start in the preliminary steps such as mixing and folding layers of butter and dough. Make sure that the HACCP principles are followed.   10. Restaurant manager Photo by rawpixel from creative commons This job entails managing the workflow and profitability of restaurants as well as leading employees. In large restaurant chains, you may either manage one to two restaurants or report to a network manager who oversees restaurants. Your role here is primarily administrative and marketing as you help the company go in the right direction. Here are some of the errands that may go into your life as a restaurant manager. Administration: Coordinates with chef/sous chef and other kitchen staff with regards to menu planning and costing. Estimate food and beverage costs. Coordinates with baristas, waiters, and cooks to ensure a smooth and efficient flow of restaurant operation. Checks if the food preparation process and recipes conform to the standards - portions and the quality of ingredients. Checks if the sanitation standards are followed. Establish policies on tips sharing. Make sure that HACCP is followed. Make marketing strategies to increase restaurant sales.  Negotiate with vendors of food and beverage ingredients. Build a network of vendors. Ensure that all paperwork is coordinated and done. Such paperwork includes sanitary, business, fire safety permits and rental. Managerial and Human Resources Train restaurant staff. Supervise one or more supervisors. Promote teamwork among the staff. Interview new staff. Evaluate team performance.   11. Waiter   Photo by Jonathan Marin Posada from Pixabay   Being a waiter lets you work in the frontline of the restaurant. You also act as the restaurant’s salesman by inviting more diners and upselling food. The nature of your work and uniform depends on the type of restaurant. It could be - a fine dining, bar, sem-fine dining and fast-food.  In a fine dining setting, you’ll wear a bib apron, vests, ties, and black pants.  Arrange plates and cutleries according to plating guidelines. Bus tables or take out dirty dishes, take them to the dishwasher and replenish crockeries and cutleries. In large fine diners, a busboy or busgirl may handle bussing. Guide the customer by answering his/her questions regarding the menu.  Follow HACCP standards. Upsell the menu by suggesting relevant food and beverage offerings. Clean the table and floor after the busy and dining time. Take orders accurately. Use the POS system to identify customers’ tables and send their orders to the kitchen. You may follow up this verbally to chefs and kitchen commissaries (in larger restaurants). Deliver the ordered menus by carrying several plates.   12. Vegan Chef Photo by Guillermo Muro of Pixabay Since the awareness of animal welfare and the ill effects of meat, vegan dishes sprung up and so too specialty positions in vegan culinary jobs. A vegan chef is trained in making dishes made from 100% plant-derived ingredients. You could plan and cook faux meat-based recipes comparable to ham, tapas, barbeques, adobo, lechon and kebabs. How is that mock meat possible? Vegan meat is possible because of seitan or gluten which is a plant protein. Another best source is the textured vegetable protein (TVP) with a taste and texture of pork, beef or chicken. Now, as a vegan chef, you can turn such meat analogue into a delicious vegan chicken curry that your diners can mistakenly take for a roasted 45-day old chicken. Same with other kinds of chefs, you may: Make vegan dishes according to restaurant standards. Follow HACCP principles. Negotiate with vegan supply vendors.  Supervise a team of junior chefs.

Learning refers to the process of getting new or modifying existing skills, knowledge, behaviour and values. It’s a common fact that traditional learning takes place during early teens and early adulthood. For most people learning stops at graduation but for some learning is continuous - middle and old age.  Here are the Filipinos who studied later in life. Abzonie Reño - Studied college at age 23 and graduated summa cum laude. Melchor Eda, a 62-year old grandfather who graduated in an alternative learning system highschool in Naga, Camarines Sur. Generito U. Yusores, a 64-year old tricycle driver who graduated with a degree of Education at Western Mindanao State University. Salvacion Flores Nacario, an 81-year-old grandmother who graduated high school at Fort Bonifacio High School Makati Rosita Majait - A 66 years old student of Negros Occidental High School. Lolo Benjamin, a 75-year-old from Pangasinan, who took Political science at the University of Pangasinan. Virgilio Pentacasi, a native of Tagbilaran City Bohol, enrolled in senior high school. On the international level, here are some late bloomers to inspire you: Momofuku Ando - Japanese-Taiwanese inventor of noodles. Vera Ellen Wang - American Wedding dress designer who only wrote fashion until 39. Joseph Conrad - English-Polish writer who spoke no English until 20. Grandma Moses -  American folk painter, who only started painting from the age of 78. Dave McClure - American businessman and Angel investor who did no investing until the age of 40. Fauja Singh - British-Indian centenarian (aged 108) who made a marathon record of 6 hours and 2 minutes. Vincent Van Gogh - Dutch painter who until 27 only drew and didn’t paint.   1.  You could benefit from previous experience Being at the middle adulthood or late adulthood stage, you may have already earned enough experiences on various aspects of life such as emotions, skills, work and portfolios. Such things can help you get prepared and establish a solid foundation to learn higher skills. 2.  You may change careers Changing careers is a transition or switching to another job/lifestyle that is similar or different from the previous one. Career changes are long-term that could be 5 years or a lifetime. When you switch to another new career, such a situation will present another opportunity for you to learn a new skill by learning at school or at home and earn a certification. Learning is a fact of life whether you are a new graduate or a middle career employee. 3.  You can upskill or add another degree It’s possible to learn while studying for a degree. In fact, some Philippine schools offer classes for student workers. For example, if you want to pursue law, the University of the Philippines College of Law offers evening classes so that you can work in the morning and study in the evening. Be reminded that juggling studying and working can be tough. Time management may help in this situation. 4.  You’re free what to do At some point, you may or might already have a side or full-time business. Likewise, you could have a part-time or full-time job that you can use to finance your education. Such freedom means you have time and money to pursue your education. 5.  You’re more disciplined Discipline is a noun related to another noun “disciple” or a follower of code and rules. Younger people (pre-pubescent ages) tend to be less disciplined compared to adults. Being disciplined is an essential trait if you want to succeed in learning another skill because you’ll have to endure countless hours and fight your procrastinating urges while on your way to finish studies/degrees. 6.  You can learn more from mistakes Mistakes/failures let you learn so that in the next opportunity you can identify what and what not to do.  Many quotes from celebrities and notable people told about that failure is a teacher and that’s true when you search in Google/Yandex search engine. Failures teach you to get used to challenges rather than being stuck in comfort zone and helps you to introspect. 7.  You could have networks You can find networks at school, bar, company, street, volunteer organizations, parties, seminars, job hunt, and social media (internet). They could be your friend, fiancé, customer, boss, work colleague, former classmates, former teacher, and people whom you met on the internet or social media. 8.  You can bring more value to the company Companies admire employees who want to upskill or upgrade their skills. For employers, such men and women striving to hone their trade will help the company improve productivity and the quality of products and services. Upskilling employees have more chances to get promotions and salary raises. Learning-related or another skill lets you avoid being stuck in a career/job and gives you confidence and readiness to go for a well-paying job.