Fun for awhile, but realizations sinks in and saw it as a horrible place
I've been working as an usher for three months at the Tanforan Mall located in San Bruno, CA and thought it'd be an excellent experience for a college student, but boy was I wrong. Management treats employees without respect and expects them to be familiar with concession stands within one day of training; an example of this was during Christmas Day, I had to operate the popcorn machine for the first time and when I burnt the popcorn, an assistant manager took over and told an Hispanic employee that I didn't know what I was doing in his native tongue. The Hispanic employee than tried to console me, by telling me that I was doing a "good job"; fortunately I am educated and realize that the employee was trying to send a positive reinforcement message and I responded with a smile. Unknowingly to both employees, I understood what the manager said in Spanish, since I took a beginning conversational Spanish class last semester. Either way what the manager did was unprofessional.
Also it is hard to impress management, no matter how hard an employee works, he/she will never get recognition. I guess its because majority of the managers are Filipinos and their culture is different from the Western Culture, but they do give preferential treatment to the ones who can speak Tagalog(Filipino), I should know because I am a Filipino American yet cannot converse in Tagalog, but can understand the language. Back to my point, if you cannot speak in Tagalog they'll management(Filipino Managers)
Prosfree drinks and popcorn. also if you're a college student that worked with them for a year, is elligible to apply for a schloarship.
Friendly employees and overall a good place to work
Typical day at work would be to: make sure everyone has their breaks, assist different positions in the theater if they need help. For example hop on a register in concession, get on a register in box office, help clean theaters with the ushers, then I go back to my duties as a manager. Almost every day,there is a customers who needs a managers assistance, it could be an employee compliment or complaint, a complaint about their movie, something happening in their movie, something that happened when buying tickets or food, I would do my best to solve their issue. Handle large amounts of cash and properly take it back to the vault. I also managed inventory. Counted thousands of items and managed the numbers of product flow every week. Answer many emails from corporate or customers. Speak with different people who have many different questions over the phone. I would also have responsibility of shutting down and properly locking up/setting alarms of the building.
I learned leadership skills, how to be a role model for my employees.
It was a great place to work because my employees were in a great mood a lot of the time. I tried my best to keep morale up because that is what I love to do most, make people happy. It really helps to keep everyone happy when things get very busy. I learned how to deal with frustrating and intense situations, for example a big fight or a very angry customer.
Hardest part of the job was seeing eye to eye with other management. Some have been there w
Prosfree movies, getting management experience, free movie posters
I will not be unfair and say that the whole job was overall a horrible experience when truly, it wasn’t. However, I will say that the way employees get treated sometimes is unfair.
You got decent benefits like free movies. However, this job can be very impractical. Ushers get barely and hours. My coworkers would constantly complain about this. I got no real training and had to learn a lot of things on my own. I got no job orientation. I didn’t even mind this! But I’d recommend management works on this.
Concessions workers are the ones that got the most hours. I got paid around $9 an hour and it was my first job. However, there was a strict policy that if you can’t work EVERY SINGLE HOLIDAY including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Memorial Day, you get fired. And they will NOT be nice about it. You’re extremely replaceable.
I requested off for Christmas and Christmas Eve WEEKS in advance because my parents made plans to go out of state to spend the holidays with family I hadn’t seen in ages. I’d have no way to get to and from work. I’m a smaller girl and my parents also weren’t comfortable with me getting Uber’s. (Look at statistics on how unsafe they can be) And if I stayed, I’d miss Christmas with my family.
The head manager suspended me for a week or two JUST FOR PUTTING IN A REQUEST. She told me I was suspended in the lobby in front of coworkers and customers. She didn’t even bring me back to her office. She gave me the option right there to wor
A typical day at work would be clocking in first thing , check the communication log to catch up on any news, check new emails, and go straight to my department to check on the staff. If the restaurant or concession stand need to be stocked, I get everything needed to stock them entirely. Then I help run for the employees when lines start forming to help guests in a faster, more efficient way. If there are any guest concerns I will quickly tend to them and help them to the best of my abilities to ensure 100% guest satisfaction, as the company standards state. I have learned a great deal of things for the past three years working for Cinemark, from making sales and properly cleaning the concession stand when I started as a concessionist, to actually managing and running the concession and restaurant departments. I have learned to keep track of inventory, basic booth operations, keep track of paperwork, handle events and many other skills and responsibilities. My coworkers have become my friends; I truly enjoy their company and although we have established good personal relationships among all of us, we all know to keep it all professional in front of guests and in the workplace in general. Working as a team is essential and we can all be more efficient by doing so. As a member of the management team, I can say that we all give it our best to run the theater smoothly and keep our guests and staff members happy. We have a strong management team, and we all work together to think
ProsFree movies, concession and restaurant discounts during break, flexible schedule
ConsNo overtime during long shifts, distance from home
This is by far my favorite job I've ever had. I started off as a concessionist in March of this year but they are quick to cross-train people into the usher position as well, which is awesome as it gives more opportunities to pick up hours. I left for about a month due to personal issues (unrelated to Cinemark itself) and when I asked for my job back, my GM was very welcoming.
The hiring/interview process can take a little while, depending on how in need they are of more staff. When I applied, it took about a month to hear back (even with an employee referral), and then another few weeks to a month to actually start the job. The interview was fairly easy, with the standard interview question (strengths/weaknesses, experience, examples of handling customer concerns, etc.). Interview dress code was jeans and a t-shirt, although I recommend going business casual to get some bonus points.
Weekends are the busiest part of the week, of course, but management usually keeps the theatre well-staffed, so everything typically goes fairly smoothly. It isn't uncommon for management and/or other staff to help out if they aren't busy and other departments are (i.e. concessionists helping ushers if they're behind, box employees helping concession if they're super busy, etc.). Management are typically welcoming to new ideas. Overall, a great atmosphere.
There's the occasional rude employee/customer, but they're few and far between; most people are very understanding and patient, even
4.0
Customer Service Representative | Louisville, KY | Jan 4, 2016
Customer Service Associate
I work at Cinemark usually over 40 hours per week. Here I am considered one of the most valued employees because I am very versatile; I can work the concession stand (mainly what I am assigned to do), I can work the box office, I can work behind our quick-service restaurant, and I can be an usher as well. In short, the only job in the theater that I cannot do is work the bar, for obvious reasons.
In this job, I have learned that good customer service is always the best way to assure yourself a good day at work. Even if the customer walks up with an attitude, smiles are contagious.
The majority of the management staff here is pleasant to be around. I am one of the few employees that actually respects them sadly because I am one of the few that is not lazy and when the management does their job and gives us a task, I do not huff and puff- I do what I am told with respect and a good attitude.
The hardest part of my job is having to be the person that everyone goes to for answers when I am busy solving my own problems. I understand that this is because, as I mentioned before, I am one of the most valued employees and have been there much longer than almost all of the others, but it gets frustrating. For example, say I am working on my own order, two #2 discount combos (which in total is four large drinks and two large popcorn, and of course the customers always want layered butter) and I have just started this order and someone at the end of the stand yells, "Hanna! I need y
Pros2 free tickets per movie (you and a friend), 50% off non-cinemark branded items during lunch breaks, full 30 minute breaks if over 5 hours and 15 minutes if under, clean environment, etc.
Cons50% is only when on break and on non-cinemark branded items
Fun and pretty easy, yet productive and educational
My job was pretty easy. I would get through lines pretty quick and it was a lot of fun. I learned communication skills, how to upsell, and how to be fast and efficient while making the customer feel good. All of my managers were awesome and I got to know them on a professional and personal level. They were also very efficient and understanding. My first general manager was absolutely amazing. Whenever it was busy he would always help where help was needed and he was very friendly and understanding. He made everyone feel good, and also was very professional and was good at his job. My second general manager was good at taking care of employees. He put a couch in the break room, he let us spin a prize wheel if we were mentioned on a survey, he put food we wanted in the vending machines, and a bunch of other things. The hardest part of the job was when it was the first Tuesday of a big movie. In box, I would have to make sure people weren't leaving single seats and kids 1+ got a ticket. I would have to get through lines as fast as possible while making sure I was making the customer feel good. I would smile until my face hurt because I was talking so much while being super sweet. In concessions on those days, there are lines that seem to have no end. It's also a lot harder to hear what the customer is saying because there is so much going on and the machines are pretty loud too. In concessions, I would have to be running around and making sure I was getting the customer everythi
ProsFree movies, cheaper concessions, guest passes, fun
ConsNo insurance, pay, rude/dull customers, lines, discounts only when working (except tickets), temperature (too cold in box, too hot in concessions)
I learned the MOST about guest services at this job. I definitely had more pleasant experiences than not. Guest services has always meant a lot to me, but here is where I was able to exercise everything I knew about customer service, as well as how to not take some guest's comments personally. I learned how to remain professional during the worst days and always try to make the customer happy before the left. Being a manager at the movie theater put me in a great position to be close to my employees but yet gain their respect as their superior. I wasn't their 'friend' so much as their manager. I had to draw lines where situations could have teetered the fence of what to let slide at work. During a typical day, I'd count down the safe, including all drawers inside the safe and distribute drawers to the cashiers for my shift. I would make sure my employees were on time and were in dress code. Once a rush would start, I would 'float' making sure movies started on time, concession items were stocked and maintained, the box office employees were up to speed on any last minute movie schedule changes and the overall appearance of the theater was kept up. I also did inventory, counting every cup, lid and drink to prepare for what was needed for the following week. I worked very long hours sometimes but did not mind because I loved my job. My co-workers and I were around the same age so we experienced some of the same obstacles, which made working there flow easier. I would say the ch
Interesting one of a kind place, with all the movies you can watch.
I have had a wonderful time in my five years at Cinemark. During my time there I was not only able to advance my people skills, but grow as a person overall. I learned how to work well with others as a team, how to get things done in a productive manor without having to be told to do so.
Since I have been there over five years, I have seen many managers come and go, and with new manager came a different way of handling situations. From each of the manager that I have had through out the years they have taught me something . That regardless of your current title that you have the power to make or break someone day. That you can make a customs smile simply with having a smile yourself.
At times the hardest part of my job would be the motivation, not on myself but on others who simple saw this job as a way to pass time and an easy pay check. Since this is a part time job , many of the individuals are rather young and do tend to bring in problems into work from high school. Which at times this can be problem-some because we are not there to fight with one another.
Overall, I have had a wonderul time at Cinemark, the friends you make and the things you learn are really priceless. The most enjoable thing for me has really been meeting some many different people. Greeting customers and asking them which movies they enjoy is a great part because you learn some much from a person when they are just there waiting in line for their movie to start. The quite amazing thing that i
Good, easy summer job as long as you don't have bills to pay
The work environment was very relaxed and the coworkers were very nice. Most of them were students. It was a great summer job because free movie tickets and it was easy to get a lot of hours. It was also no problem if you had to travel during the summer for less than a month because you can easily request time off. During the school year, it was hard to get more than 20 hours of work per week. The pay was bad, it started at minimum wage then you got little raises (that could never exceed 25¢) after 3,6, and 12 months of working. I don't think anyone has ever gotten the 25¢ raise. Tips are only for people tending the bar after getting trained. The tasks in the job were very easy to do. Emotionally is a different story. Eight hours is a long time to stand, smile, and deal with crazy boulder people for minimum wage. The hours can get pretty late so you could leave around 1-3am. We got trained to do all of the jobs so we were never completely stuck in one job. For a few periods during the night, work was chaotic and difficult. Most assistant managers were former employees so I really liked them. Corporate told us we couldn't donate leftover food at the end of the night. They also declared that sitting is "unprofessional" so you are expected to stand during your entire 8 hour shift so I wouldn't recommend this job for people who would struggle with that. Books are also unprofessional so try not to get caught doing homework. I'm glad I worked there as my first official job but I do
ProsFree tickets (not on Disney movies), discounted food, coworkers, flexible schedule
ConsLack of pay, lack of advancement, uncaring corporate, crazy Boulderites
Eu chegava e ia direto para minha área, na minha área o gerente nos entregava um papel que mostrava os horários que as salas iriam sair, isso nos fazia em dois grupos de três pessoas, sempre que havia um tempo maior para uma sala sair, o gerente pedia para nos limpar o banheiro e limpar corredor, um de cada grupo ia fazer isso, alguns limpava a frente do cinema.
Eu aprendi que no cinema você para trabalhar la precisa ser muito agiu, porquê o trabalho é bem corrido, mas foi uma experiencia muito boa para mim, porquê me ajudou muito e me ensinou muito, aprendi também a montar estratégias porquê como é muito corrido tinha vezes que havia poucos funcionários, o seu trabalho multiplicava, então nos tinha que montar uma estratégia, para conseguir fazer as coisas.
A gerência em algumas partes é boa e em outras muito ruim, a parte boa é que alguns gerentes respeitam alguns funcionários da mesma forma que os respeitamos, mas outros gerentes em maioria, humilhava nos, chingava no rádio e isso é muito ruim, e nunca levantamos a cabeça para chingar também mas sempre chamava atenção em um site do RH.
Na parte dos colegas, então em qualquer trabalho tem atrito entre os colegas mas nos sempre separava a vida pessoas com a de trabalho, sempre fazia tudo certinho mas do lado de fora era cada um para o seu canto, e outros muitos amigos dentro e fora da empresa que tenho amizades até hoje, fiz amizades muito boas la dentro.
A parte mais difícil do trabalho é que era muito puxado
Prospagamento sempre em dia
Constrabalhava muito e recebia pouco
Questions And Answers about Cinemark
What is the interview process like at Cinemark?
Asked Jul 18, 2016
Very nice. The manager is super kind and understanding.
Answered Feb 24, 2021
Pretty simple. They asked you how would you deal with a customers concerns or a customer who isn’t complacent. They ask you what’s your favorite movie !
Answered May 27, 2018
How long does it take to get hired from start to finish at Cinemark? What are the steps along the way?
Asked Jul 18, 2016
Took 3 months to get a call then another month before you are officially hired.
Answered Oct 26, 2021
I applied online and got a call 4 hours later and was told to come in for an interview the next day. My first shift was like 3 or 4 days after applying.
Answered Jan 15, 2020
What is the best part of working at Cinemark?
Asked Dec 3, 2019
Free movies
Answered Oct 15, 2020
Free movie passes, free popcorn, and the coworkers
Answered Oct 10, 2020
What is the work environment and culture like at Cinemark?
Asked Aug 23, 2016
I would like to work at whatsoever job that is available as soon as possible and I will work whatsoever schedule that is available
Answered Oct 12, 2017
Showing up on time and do my work follow instructions.
Answered Oct 7, 2017
What advice would you give the CEO of Cinemark about how to improve it?
Asked Sep 1, 2017
Make sure your employees know they are valued and not replaceable.
Answered Feb 11, 2020
Would you consider good customer experience to be closing the box office before the previews to the last movie have ended or even worse whenever the manager on duty feels like it (like 5 minutes after the last movie's previews have started when customer expects at least 10)? What about if customer presented Guest Pass (given because of prior problems at theater) and was told that is not a ticket, first by the Security Guard who threatens to call police and then by Assistant Manager who closed the Box Office early?
