I'm a sophmore in college this year and I'm looking to get a job. I figure I'll end up working as a waiter. I worked 2 years retail in high school and I don't really have any motivation to do that again (especially on the low wages that most college students get in my town). Anyone out there who has worked as a waiter/waitress have any stories? What should I expect?...I've never worked in the restaurant business. Is it pretty easy to pick up?
I'm glad you made this thread. I've been thinking about getting a job as a waiter as well.. probably sometime this summer though.. Where are the best places to work? What is expected of you? Any secrets to getting tips (or phone #s)? I'm not exactly sure I could do it cause I'm not a huge people person and I never was good at balancing crap on my shoulder.. but I think it's the best pay for the least amount of work for a college student like myself.
Gr8-1 should really answer this thread... know he waited tables for quite a while. It's not too bad on a short term basis. I did it for a summer a few years ago, and liked it at first, but got sick of it really quick. At first, you're going to make some stupid mistakes (at least I did). Just be really, really polite and honest about it... and most people will cut you some slack. Be nice to the hostesses, especially if they're seating. They can really screw you if you piss them off. Different types want to be treated differently, though I forget everything. Older women, in particular, like you to be very polite and almost talkative. Younger men want you to be professional, take their order, and leave. Secretaries on lunch are the worst - them, and church groups. Both are really awful, so take a break if you see them coming . Neither tips much at all...
I have waited tables off and on for a couple of years. Its definately its own type of job. Lets see advice. I would say #1 do not panic. It never never helps. I have seen people get so flustered its embarresing. Just do the best you can and stay calm and you will make it through. (sounds like im talking about war or something). Oh yeah another tip, ok say you are completely behind and you have ten things you need to do. You turn around and you have two brand new tables. I would advise you to go talk to them and tell them the place is really behind and if there in a rush they should probably go somewhere else. They will then know whats going on and wont get pissed off if everything takes a while. Im sure i can think of more. And as far a college age jobs its pretty decent money. Especially for the amount of hours you work. P.S. for all the jackasses that think you get minimum wage as a waiter. YOU DONT. you dont make crap so do be cheap. If you want to have someone serve you make sure you tip them. Or got to wendys or something.
I've worked as a waiter off and on since I was 18. The best restaurant(money and fun wise) was Floyd's on Shepard & Durham. The operating hours are reasonable and I made great money for the amount of total work I had to do. Some restaurants make you do tons of side work and managers are always b****ing about "looking busy" even when the place is dead. I hated when there was no one in the restaurant and some jackass manager handed me a rag and told me to find something to clean. Floyd's was always cool in that aspect. As long as your area was neat and tidy and the restaurant was setup, they were cool. They had people that were hired to do cleaning, rather than passing it off to their waiters.
i always hated working on sundays because of "churchies". i guess since they gave 10% at church they dont feel the need to tip. it may seem like a generalization, but those people have a serious problem with tips. they might say something like "god bless you on this glorious sunday" and leave you $1 on $30. i think everyone should be required to wait tables for at least 6 months. we could all use a good lesson in humility-how it feels to be on the other side. you will also learn more about proper time management and people skills than any other job out there. it will be a good experience, as long as you dont make a career out of it like so many of us. plus there is always the "hook-up with your co-workers" factor. easy money!
I started waiting tables at Pappas and moved to Birraparettis where I got a gig as a bartender. I bartended for 9 years...all through undergrad, and graduate school, and continued for 3 years after I got a real job a couple of nights a week to pay my student loans off early. It is a GREAT way to make money and meet fun people. I still plan on owning a bar some day, bartending was my favorite job by far....and that includes being a CEO. DD
I worked as a bartender in college, as well. If you worked at birraporetti's, I would assume you would know how to spell that also, dumbass, (Man, I'm grumpy today.)
Want to wait tables but don't like people? Do what I did- deliver pizzas! One of the greatest jobs I ever had... all I did was drive around all day listening to music and smoking weed. Papa John's paid me $5.50 an hour plus tips PLUS $1 for gas for every trip I made. That was some great part-time money. No side work and free pizza whenever. Bad parts: people in scary neighborhoods like pizza, too, and I used to deliver to some REAL shady apartments and such at 1 a.m. on weekends. It's likely you may be robbed at some point and definite that you'll feel scared sometimes. Also, stopping and starting so much can really be hell on your car. Most of the people I worked with left their engine running all the time to cut down on start-up wear and tear. If your car goes down, you can't work. It was still great.
one of the prereq's for waiting table is hating people. The best waiters hate everyone. That is why I was so damn good. Oh yeah, give your table an attitude. It psyche's them out and they tip better in the long run. Fatty, will you please check my spelling?
Waited table for 2 years of college, bartended for 1 year. "The Industry" is full of some of the coolest weirdest people out there. Work at a place that stays open late, that way you start partying at 3am while cleaning up and you have some of the best sunrise stories to tell. Plus find some good bars where Industry folk pay nada for beers. I highly recommend waiting tables at a drinking establishment over a chain restaurant. Bigger tips, no kids, and better war stories. I think everyone should work in the service industry for at least a year. Makes you realize what a tip is really worth to someone. Great humbling experience for those who need to be knocked down a few notches, too.
$50-180 per day/night for 4 - 7 hours of greeting tables, upselling food/drinks, running food, doing some MINOR cleanup and opening/closing duties. I've worked at alot of restaurants where the people partied on the daily/nightly and Floyd's wasn't the best in that department, but everything else made up for it. Yea, yea. WhatevA! You and Fatty should call ESPN about getting a gig MCing next years spelling bee.
