As an energetic and freshly graduated young man, you would expect him to enjoy a bright career future.  If not for the COVID-19, he would have been flying airplanes.  With the pandemic, lives have turned into mishaps.  However, Athitaphon "Note" Chanthanakul, did not give up.  He decided to look for a job that would keep him going until the pandemic is over.  Note switched to riding a bike and began a career that had never entered his mind before.

Crisis creates opportunities

Note earned a bachelor's degree in Airline Business Management from Stamford International University in Bangkok in 2020. Many careers have been put on hold as a result of the pandemic. Note, a recent graduate, is no exception. An outgoing individual by nature, during his studies he worked as a teaching assistant. After graduation, his professor asked him to teach aviation courses at the Phitsanulok Airport.  But due to the pandemic, travel bans were imposed all over the world, and Note was forced to seek alternative employment. Despite having his parents' financial support, he chose to be independent and try something new.

Being a rider is not a dream job. But with many careers have slowed down, being a rider is a job that interested him because he could be independent without having to strictly follow a nine-to-five office routine.  It would also allow him to generate good income during the pandemic.  Having just bought a new motorcycle, he saw it as a perfect time to see if he liked being a delivery rider, so he decided to use his new bike to become a full-time delivery rider from 7 am to 9 pm.  He did not work with any particular company or do only delivery jobs, but also accepted messenger jobs delivering documents and parcels.

Discover meaning in your work 

After running jobs with his new motorcycle for several months, Note heard about Robinhood's third rider recruitment. He didn't hesitate to apply.  Being a Robinhood rider, he had to undergo face-to-face training in order to absorb and understand Robinhood's principles of work etiquette, problem-solving, and dos and don’ts to ensure that the food reaching customers was in perfect condition. 

“After training with Robinhood, I better understood the essence of this profession.  Being a rider is more than just riding a motorcycle to deliver food, it is also a service that can deliver happiness to others.  If you pay enough attention, you will get that happiness in return," said Note.

At some shops that he is familiar with he will help with packing or help out in their kitchens.  If a shop has a long queue, he will call to let customers know.  When delivering a cake, he drives slowly and pays extra attention. And if the delivery route is bumpy, and the cake isn’t perfect despite his efforts, he will call customers to let them know.  From his experience, the most difficult critical part of the process is the packaging.  If not packed properly, food may look unappetizing when it reaches customers, and they may not be impressed.  Some meals may have several side dishes and be heavy, so Note will ask the shop to be sure to pack it properly. Note even prepares extra bags, just in case.  He once even pretended to be a customer’s friend to spring a surprise birthday on the customer’s mother who lived in another house.  These are a few of the things he can do to impress his customers and bring them happiness. 

Being a Robinhood rider not only makes Note feel good about his job, it is also more convenient for him as he doesn’t need to advance money to pay for food or handle cash.  He can accept orders with more peace of mind and doesn’t have to compete with anyone but himself.  He can send money to his account every day.  Because of these conveniences, Note mainly delivers for Robinhood. 

design my own working hours. I can do it whenever I want.  That’s freedom," Note said.

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes 

When asked about the difficulty of working as a rider, Note said that customer service is the most difficult because it requires understanding and care.

“I also use restaurant services.  Being a customer from time to time, I know their expectations and demands.  They want their food to be delivered quickly, while shop owners also want to get things done quickly and nicely.  Riders are intermediaries.  If you understand the process, you can work happily without pressure,” said Note.

Being a rider has taught Note to be more patient when waiting for food or to tolerate emotional restaurant staff and customers.  They don’t know which restaurants have long queues.  If they have to wait for a long time, riders might be blamed. Note, therefore, calls customers to let them know if there will be a long wait.  If the customer understands, there is usually no problem.  Sometimes, customers are not aware that riders have rules forbidding them from delivering food in a building.  The note has learned to be more flexible to assist some customers, if necessary.

Being a rider, problems can occur at any time.  “Whether I’m at fault or not, I’m always polite and explain things.  When customers see that we truly care, they are ready to listen and end disagreements nicely.” Note shared with us that he learned good service manners from his family, teachers, and Robinhood.  It helps him calm down and readies him to deal with every situation, whether it's about work or people. 

Another thing Note wants to share is, “When you meet hot-tempered people, you need to calm down first, listen, and solve their problems.  You should try to understand them.  When the problem is settled, nobody will be angry anymore.”

A beautiful aspect of an unexpected career

The note is a member of the new generation -- self-confident, hardworking, and eager to bond with those around him.  He once got into a conversation with a fellow rider who was waiting for food at an adjacent restaurant.  During the conversation, he learned that both of them had received orders from the same customer. So, he made a new friend riding to deliver food together.  Some restaurants that see Note waiting for orders have called him in to help in the evening and provide him with food.  There is also a nice aspect about customers.  Some of them order food for riders, and some have become friends because they see one another often and are ready to support each other when needed.  These are impressions that Note has received from a career that he had never dreamed of before.

Even now that the government has reopened the country and Note can return to his teaching career at the Phitsanulok Airport, he continues to come back to delivery service because it makes him happy. 

“I think I'm doing the right thing being a rider because I gain a lot of experience, and get to know new routes, restaurants, and people.  This career lets me meet good friends, new communities, and choose my own working hours.”