Week 16 - 3 Steps to working at Wagamama

Step 1

I approach any random worker and say...


Peter: Hi. Is Sarah still the store manager here?

Random worker 1: (puzzled) No, the store manager is called Boris.

Peter: Oh, ok. Thanks.

Step 2
Ten minutes I come back and talk to a different worker...

Peter: Hi, I'm here to see Boris. He's not expecting me, but I was passing by and was wondering if he had a minute to spare.

Random worker 2: Just a moment (goes and checks)... Boris is busy at the moment, can you come back in ten minutes?

Peter: Yes, that will be fine

Step 3
Ten minutes later...

Peter: Hi, I'm here to see Boris. He's expecting me. 

Random worker 3: Just a moment please

Boris walks over

Boris: Hi, how can I help you?

Peter: Hi Boris, my name's Peter. I was given your name by the store manager at the Canary Wharf branch. I know you're busy so I'm not going to take up much of your time, but I just wanted to hand deliver my CV to you so you could put a face to it and know that I'm not some lazy job seeker handing out a million CVs to anywhere that will take them. This is the only place I've come in today and I'd love it if you'd consider me for any vacancies you have. Are there any at the moment?

Boris scans my CV, skeptically.

Boris: You should know that we don't usually hire university students

Peter: I understand and I wouldn't usually get a job during university, but I would love to work if it means I can work at Wagamama. I love this restaurant and I'm such a big fan.

Boris: I can see you're enthusiastic, but your time schedule means it would be part time. The main problem is that training part-timers takes twice as long as normal

Peter: That's fine with me, I learn twice as fast as normal. Plus I eat here all the time so I already know most of your menu. I've seen how your employees work and I know I could do just as amazing a job as they do.

Boris: Okay Peter. I'll give you a call later this week so you can come in to show me what you've got on a day when we're less busy.

Peter: Great! (shakes hand) I'll see you soon!


Later that week I was called back and invited to an on the job trial session in store. Of course, not every approach went as well as this. We were constantly told things like:

• "We're not recruiting at the moment"
• "The store manager is not here / busy / doesn't see customers"
• "Leave your CV and we'll get back to you"
• "It's all done online"

The trick is getting around these autopilot responses whenever you can, which are designed to weed out the lazy job seekers. These are basically road blocks stopping you from getting to the destination of working at the store. The only way to keep thinking of ways to get around those road blocks.