Griselda Matias was a sophomore in high school looking for a way to earn spending money of her own and gain a bit of financial independence from her parents when she applied to Portillo's. Matias, an honor student, had a busy school schedule on her plate already, and needed a job that could give her flexibility.
"I was sick of asking my parents for spending money," Matias said. "I wanted to have money that felt like my own, so when Portillo's hired me, I remember feeling so excited—it was so exciting to gain a little bit of independence for the first time."
Matias started as a Crew Member in Oak Lawn, IL, and was quickly noticed by management for her energy and commitment to taking care of her team and her guests. After a little under two years with Portillo's, Matias was promoted as a Trainer.
"My favorite part of my job has always been helping others," Matias said. "So this is the perfect role for me. My advice for new team members is to always take it slow when they're learning a new skill, and focus on doing it correctly before doing it quickly—the pace will pick up after they get more comfortable."
Matias is a senior in high school now and is still planning her future—but when she reflects on her past two years, she cites Portillo's as an important part of her growth.
"I've learned so much from working at Portillo's about what it means to work hard and have fun while you're at it," Matias said. "But Portillo's also gave me a community. I didn't go out that much, and then I met my group of friends who I hang out with all the time now at Portillo's. They pick me up when I'm down and we have a lot of fun—that's special."
