Lunch Orders/Coffee Runs
From my understanding, as an S&T intern, when you make these runs you could be doing it for up to 20 people at once. I also understand that you really shouldn't mess up a single one of these orders, so I was hoping you guys could clear up some parts of the process before I begin my internship in a few days.
They must all communally order for one or maybe two restaurants right? Seems like they would have to wait ages if they shipped us interns off to 8+ restaurants for their orders.
They couldn't really make the orders all that complicated/differentiated (whether coffee or lunch) at the start, otherwise how could an intern remember 20 different types of food/coffee on his first day?
Why wouldn't an intern just turn on voice recording on his phone, put it in his front pocket then stand up and ask the desk what they would want for coffee or lunch? Seems to be more of a test of not fucking shit up rather than memory, so it seems like a very effective/logical way to go about it.
I really just want to nail it for the first couple of days because that will create the first impression, and after 2-3 days I'll just remember what each of them wants through repetition.
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People on here are such idiots and seriously make the lunch and coffee run thing stressful. Just go around and ask your desk what they want, and write it down. You don't need to try and memorize it. Orders will be closer to 5-8 people in my experience, depending on the size of your desk.
The lunch and coffee thing is not stressful and is not a test. All the people on here who say that have not worked in S&T
Not necessarily true, during my IB SA stint an intern would regularly screw up dinner orders and it was a big part of why people didn't like her and why she didn't get a return offer.
Which is why you write things down.....
When I first started they didn't have much for me to do so the executive teams sectary would order lunch for everyone and I'd have to go pick it up, I'd get a free lunch out of it every time - I was more then happy to take a paid break and get a free lunch for it.
Its no big deal really, if you sweat over getting lunch how are e you going to cope with actually moving money around etc. Just do like normal people do and write it down, no need to over think this here.
Everyone writes it down. Anyone can order whatever he/she wants, and you're writing it down, so they do expect you get it right. It's not a test, it's a task. Probably one of the few times you will feel valuable during the week since you're not bugging them at their desk and are actually doing something that needs to be taken care of. Only had issues with one guy on a desk, he'd order something then change his mind after I left (obv doesn't have my cell to get a hold of me), only to rant for 20 seconds when I'd bring him what he ordered. Even then, the guy sitting next to him would tell him to F'off and lay off the intern.
This has to be a troll post.
Had I not discovered WSO, I would not have thought anything of it but there are so many posts on this website saying that you cannot write it down in front of them and you must memorise it because its actually a test etc.
It's because one person probably said it a long time ago, and then it just got regurgitated by all the other monkeys who haven't worked on a desk. Don't stress, 99.9% of traders are really nice people who wont judge you for writing down orders. And if they do, they are not the kind of people you want to work with. Lunches are not a test, your just saving them time that could be spent making money.
Just repeat their order to them, like at a restaurant. That way you'll remember it.
You are way over thinking this. Just relax. Good luck
When I was intern, I occasionally got lunch for PMs and the traders... I wrote it down... You're making this too hard. Don't mess up...
I think you're stressing too much over this. Just write down the orders, repeat back if you need to before leaving to pick-up and go from there.
I suggest telling them to get their own dam motha F***** coffee and lunch
If you cant take a lunch order then what makes you think you can take an order from a customer (Sales Traders), or from a PM (Buyside Trader). DO NOT screw up on lunch orders its a quick way to being disliked on the desk. As ridiculous as this sounds i am being 100% serious.
DO NOT take their change and if they do short you bite the bullet and consider it an investment in your future. Their will be opportunities to recoup these losses later.
Your comment with going to multiple places and being it time inefficient, thats your problem to sort out. Lunch is expected at a certain time, if you need to go to a lot of places you need to make sure you leave early enough to get back in time. From experience ppl dont take well to interns that keep them hungry.
These points have probably been touched upon, but quick summary advice for all interns:
Read the desk. Some desks take the whole food thing seriously, some dont. I have been on desks where you are expected to start taking orders at 11:30, organizing places etc etc. On the other hand, i have had desks where they would get annoyed when i kept asking if they wanted anything.
The strategy isnt to memorize or to write it down batantly. The strategy is to not wrtie it down in front of the person. So they give u the order, and as they turn back around you write down their order sneakily before u ask the next guy. Dont ever compromise accurateness for trying to impress with memory. Plenty of ppl with sh1t memories in this business
Do it with a smile and NEVER be miserable doing it, use the time to joke around with the time.
Thanks a lot! Basically what I was looking for.
If you screw up and someone starts shouting throw their lunch in their face and tell them to order it themselves. Guaranteed to earn the respect of your co-workers and no one will give you shit again (just make sure its not your manager).
Just request them to order from the same place and note it down on a paper.
You should start noticing the time of day people on the desk place their coffee and lunch orders, just being proactive by asking if anyone needs anything will go further than you think.
SA Lunchrun (Originally Posted: 04/29/2012)
This is probably a stupid Q but what's the procedure for SA's getting lunch for traders on their desk/floor. I've read that it can sometimes be for 15+ traders. So how is it all worked out in terms of money. Is the SA expected to buy it everyday (thus requiring having $100 plus in your pocket each day) and then the traders pay the SA when they receive their food?
Thanks!
Just don't steal from the cafeteria. The SEC is watching.
Hahaha
I get it!!!!!!!!!!!! haha, we're friends now, right?????
At the desk I was on the first year analyst would foot the bill initially, and then would keep track of money via excel. Once it would hit a certain point he would collect from the traders. Much easier than trying to figure out exact change and shit. Not sure what it was like at other places though. This happened at 2 of the 3 desks I was on. The other one was really small and everyone just got lunch themselves. But generally speaking the SA gets the credit card of the first year analyst and pays with that. Or he may tell you to ask someone else for their card (definitely felt uneasy asking the MD for their credit card because they owe a lot in lunch money haha)
Cheers for reply man. Yea that makes sense, I just had no clue what the procedure would be. Yeah wouldn't fancy asking an MD for their card either! haha
Also are you meant to offer to get lunch on your first day or they just like ''hey kid get my f*cking lunch''?
Just make sure you dont touch the floor boss's pizza, even though he might act like he doesn't want it when you deliver.
the first year analyst will generally come up and talk to you about lunch duties. that will be the first thing youll probably hear, since the first year analyst is really excited about finally being able to pass on the duty haha
Haha cheers for insight dude!
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