What was the boss thinking?

Nobody knows how to do a job until they actually do it. You might’ve worked in the same field before and used similar equipment, but until your boss tells you the expectations of your new position, you won’t be able to fulfill them. 

The difficult thing about fast-paced service jobs is that often the quickest and most effective way to learn the ropes is to be thrown in the deep end. You show up for your first shift and are immediately put on the cash register, interacting with customers face-to-face. Your boss shouldn’t throw you in the deep end without a life jacket, of course. A green employee needs a more experienced coworker, if not their boss or direct manager, who can answer their questions and help them when something goes awry. No first shift is ever perfect, but if you are quick, adaptable, and have the right amount of oversight, you can master the basic tasks of your customer service job within a couple of hours.