The women of Caffè Ernani: Martina

Hi Martina! First of all, thank you for taking the time to interview me.

You joined the team in October 2023. In these months you have already demonstrated so much and especially your eagerness to learn.

Now I’ll ask you straight away: what are your first impressions?

Hello to you too Marti, so I will finally have my own page on the Ernani site too!

You may have heard these things from my colleagues before, but it’s the truth, so first impressions were positive, the team in fact is super friendly, welcoming and open. No unpleasant situations are created, as often happens in other venues, of hazing or exclusion of the latest arrival. In fact, it is quite the opposite here!

In fact, I enjoyed the work from day one, thanks in large part to my colleagues, as just mentioned. I felt in no time that I was competent and ready to tackle counter or cashier work with total autonomy.

In addition, the hours are flexible and the work during the day is dynamic, I could not ask for more to balance work and personal life.

A thousand times thank you for your words. You are smart and that cannot be denied, to then hear your respect and pride for being part of such a cohesive team makes me proud too!

It took us a long time, but we did it!

Coming back to us for a moment, what were the jobs or experiences that brought you here?

On this question he assures you that we do it quickly!

In fact, I am class of 2003, so I have not accumulated a lot of experience, but still they have already left me and taught me something useful.

I began my journey by graduating from the Sant’Ambrogio Professional Institute for Commercial Tourism in Milan.

Here the main themes were economics and law, as you might guess, aimed at understanding the Italian tourism industry.

I am to this day still very happy with the choice I made and with my address, because at the end of the day it is the area in which to this day I work and I am doing well. In addition, it allowed me to look at it not only from a practical point of view, but also and especially from a bureaucratic point of view.

So now in good mind the internal logic of the industry.

Soon after my first work experience was as an animator at a summer camp. Here I learned how to approach all kinds of people, of all age groups, as well as the management of a group for full days.

There were many responsibilities, and I realized that I also enjoyed having them!

After that I was only a waitress for a couple of months in a restaurant on the Navigli in Milan. Here, too, I developed and improved my communication skills, customer approach, food sales and communication with tourists and foreigners as well.

As short-lived as the experience was, it had left me with much to think about.

Finally, I concluded my previous experiences by working one year in the clothing store right across the street from the Ernani Roastery. I used to be a cashier, and what she taught me were always the same topics mentioned above, especially delving also into cash management, which is too often taken for granted, but requires great care and precision.

Here this latest work has really left me with an attention to detail.

You are very young, but already with nice background, which made you realize early on the precision and attention that professional work requires.

So how did you get to Cafe Ernani?

Unfortunately, in the last company they made staff cuts, but since we are all customers here at Cafe Ernani, I immediately noticed the “staff wanted” sign. My former employer also recommended me to Fabio, the former bar manager, who immediately scheduled my interview.

First and foremost, I needed to work, as one of my personal goals is to grow quickly in a job I liked. Plus Ernani seemed like a very good company and I wanted to try to do this work as well!

Here in fact I could learn another role, the counter and espresso machinist, as well as deepen my cashier and sales skills.

I wanted to try, so here I am!

I am happy about that! Also because this work, as stressful as it can be, is dynamic and energetic. You get to know so many people and have the opportunity to grow. I had made the same choice at your age!

Having arrived here, I then ask you about your goal for the future, although you have already hinted at it in part.

At the moment I don’t actually have a specific goal in mind. As I told you, I am young and I still have to figure out my path well.

Of course in general I would like to grow within the restaurant world, and then get to apply the business part that I learned theoretically in school as well.

So I would tell you that I would like to become a figure with even an office part during the day, with more responsibility and slowly detach myself a little bit from customer contact. To date, it is a part that I really enjoy, however, I would like to experience more of what happens behind an activity as well.

True! Customer contact is always nice, and when you are also good at it you really get a lot of satisfaction and compliments. Just as good, though, is the management and administrative part, when you realize what a company really needs to function and be sustainable over time. You feel more inside the “gears” we can say.

If you don’t mind now, while we’re on the personal side, I would ask if you have any hobbies or passions outside of the coffee shop.

Actually I don’t have many hobbies, I don’t play sports at the moment, and I don’t have any extra-work activities.

Most of my free time is spent hanging out with friends and going dancing. I like to experiment, have new experiences, discover the world, try new places and restaurants, and be surprised by what I don’t know yet.

I wish I could enjoy this age as much as possible!

In the past I played a beautiful team sport, volleyball, which also taught me a lot, which is useful for current teamwork. Supporting and helping each other to work cohesively is in my opinion the key ingredient why the work is going so well for everyone!

To conclude, and then I’ll leave you to your work, I would ask you the usual usual questions:

– What do you like best about Ernani?
– What would you change instead?

Here I admit that you catch me a moment unprepared.

I definitely like the fact that I come to work with a smile and willingly. It is never a burden; in fact, sometimes I really enjoy it!

These feelings always make me feel equal and comfortable, both with colleagues and clients.

Also learning I am always doing it willingly, because everyone who has more experience than me in the field is leaving me so much, and especially valuable notions and knowledge, which I will definitely apply in the future anywhere else.

While I’m honest, at the moment I wouldn’t change anything, I don’t see and haven’t noticed any striking things that I would like to change in the immediate term. I am satisfied and happy with things as they are now.

However, I would like to conclude by sharing the latest news: I have just been brought to a permanent contract, the realization of my first professional goal.

I am happy to have achieved it with Caffè Ernani, and I am satisfied that I got there so young.

Now I want to celebrate!!!

Congratulations indeed! This is a great achievement and enjoy this happiness for as long as possible!

What can I say Martina, thank you so much again for your time and for telling us so much about yourself.

I wish you all the best in your future!

See you soon in Torrefazione!