I started my first job in the food industry at a 'ma and pop' restaurant when I was 15. Since then, I have served tables at pizza pubs to sushi bars. The service industry is something you can only fully understand if you have really experienced it. Friendships, frustration, patience, hard-work, are just a few words that come to mind when reminiscing about my experience in this industry. Through it all though, I have learned many valuable life lessons that will follow me through life and my next job and career ventures.

1. Customer Service

Customer service in the service industry is doing your best to accomplish whatever it is that your guest wants. More water, of course. Another napkin, yes ma'am/sir. Dessert, gladly. Ultimately your goal is to make money for yourself and your business, so every request should be received politely with a smile.

My mom has worked in CS her whole life and I never understood the concept until I was older actually working with people. One of the most important aspects a business needs to thrive is good customer service. This is true for restaurants to retailers. If you do not have a staff that is friendly and willing to help to ultimately make you money, you have nothing.

2. Teamwork

This is so so SO important when it comes to the service industry. Without it, your restaurant will not be one people want to visit and you will not make money, lose-lose. To benefit you and everyone around you, help out! If someone needs you to run a refill on their table or help them get all of their food brought out, help them! They will, in return, help you out when you need it too.

This translates to any field. You will, most of the time, have coworkers in your profession that may sometimes need your help and vice versa. This even applies to spouses and family members. Teamwork and helping others is always good karma and can be used in any aspect of life.

3. Friendship

When you see someone for 20-40 hours a week, it is very likely that in some ways you will bond and form a friendship. At every job I have ever had I have made some sort of friendships that will last a lifetime. It is always nice to have someone to vent to or update about what is going on in your life with during downtime at work.

You can also count on these people to help you out when needed or let you know if there's something you need to fix to benefit yourself and everyone. It's also nice to have someone to grab a drink with after a hard day too.

Do not take these people for granted. Some of my closest family friends were met through jobs and are now like blood to me. You never know when you will meet someone who clicks with you and will be there for you when you think no one else is. Genuine friendships have no boundaries and can definitely be made in between filling up drinks.

4. Professionalism

Like everything in life, there is a time and a place for a professional attitude. My very first job was very laid back, I wore what I wanted, I acted how I wanted, etc.

This can be very different from an employer who may not like the shade of black you are wearing with your all-black uniform. The service industry teaches you when it is and is not appropriate to converse with customers or coworkers and when you really need to dot your I's and cross your T's.

This lesson is one that you will need for the rest of your life. It teaches you how to talk to your boss versus your BFF at work. It can also help with interviews, business meetings, anything really.

5. How To Treat Wait Staff

I have, in the past, quietly blamed my waiter for slow food, or been rude when they did not refill my drink right when it was empty. Yes, some should maybe look elsewhere for employment since it might not be the perfect fit for them. But when did anyone ever choose the right option the first time? You never know someone's circumstance, what kind of day they have had, what is going on in their life so kindness is so key.

When at dinner with my family and they complain about the food I always remind them of what could be happening and why they should cut our waiter some slack. Sometimes things just go all wrong and you just kind of have to give up on making that table's experience better because sh*t happens.

Now that I've experienced all of what could go wrong with a table, I am so much more understanding of the wait staff when I go out to eat.