Among the many hats that millenniala wear are those of waitresses, waiters and bar tenders. Young people seem to be dominating the food service industry, and among those who work 11 to 11, there's some common ground. From the stories of horrible customers to the tricks and trades of back relief. The following are ten sure-fire signs that you're a member of this over-worked club.
1. You always have an ample stack of $1's in your wallet.
And you've gotten used to explaining that you aren't a stripper, you just haven't been to the bank to drop off your tips yet.
2. You stack your plates when you're finished with your food.
Yes, it's technically the waiters job but you know how it is. Bigger plates on the bottom, silverware goes in the cups.
3. Your work clothes always smell like the food you serve.
Regardless of how much you wash them, the smell won't come out. You could even try dropping a flower bomb on them and those suckers would still smell like cheese fries and guac.
4. Your balance skills could rival that of Cinderella.
Remember the part of the movie when she balances all of those dishes on her head and arms? Yeah, get back to me when you can carry 4 sizzling plates to a table without a tray. Or, when you can bring out five cocktails in two hands.
5. You secretly loath the people who order water with a huge bowl of lemons.
Why? Because 9 times out of 10 they're going to attempt to make their own lemonade with ALL of the sugar on the table. All in the sake of saving 1.75.
6. Posts about why people don't tip automatically make you think less of that person.
After all, you know what it's like to live solely on tips. Also, for any non-servers, here's a word of advice. Leaving $1 at a sit down restaurant is the same thing as leaving nothing.
7. You'll always have a soft spot in your heart for other servers.
The random guy you just met on the plane used to wait tables at Ruby Tuesday's, you automatically have half a dozen things to talk about. It's like rushing a sorority or frat. Well, except instead of sharing stories about swanky parties and cute t-shirts to a fellow member, you're reminiscing about eating food that table 6 sent back and wearing all black every day.
8. Your short hand print is amazingly quick.
Yes, it also probably looks like a doctor's chicken scratch, but that's not the point. You can take down an order from a 25 top in less that a minute. Taking notes in class becomes a breeze after all of that. It's truly a hidden art.
9. You know every trick in the book for sore feet and an aching back.
From pulling double shifts a.k.a spending 11+ hours on your feet, you know the power of Dr. Scholls and the importance of supportive forward. Not to mention, you probably keep Epsom salt near your bath, to soak your sore little piggies at night.
10. Dealing with a horrible boss, or a rude neighbor is a breeze compared to the people that you had to wait on.
From getting curse-words thrown at you like daggers, to having the manager called over because someone wanted their asparagus shaped like a tee-pee because it's "all about presentation", you know how to smile through it all. Now that you're free, you can grin and bear it no matter what awful things people say to you.
So, if you count yourself among the unlucky few who knows the struggles listed above, may you're shifts be blessed with bountiful tips and customers who are happy with what they are given.
