I started what has come to feel like an eternal career in the customer service industry as a waitress at 15 years old. I've waited tables, hosted, and worked as a barista. All three of those jobs have taught me valuable life lessons that I probably would never have learned otherwise. I am now here to share that knowledge and my two cents on the billion dollar industry from the perspective of someone at the bottom of the food chain.
1. Choose your table and your words wisely.
When a waitress tells you to pick whatever table you want to sit at, and there are dozens of brilliantly shiny tables to choose from and you choose to still sit at the one table that hasn't been bused, don't turn your nose up in disgust and make snide remarks about the cleanliness of the establishment.
2. Understand that we can't do it all at once.
Contrary to what Disney would have you think, we can't all carry trays on our heads. I promise that your pizza will be out as soon as I can grab it- in the mean time, please enjoy the six salads, four appetizers, and multiple refills I was able to bring you. Practice some patience. We can't all be Cinderella.
3. It's simple. Don't be a jerk. Your servers are human beings and deserve to be treated as such.
There's always that one demanding table that leaves you exhausted at the end of the night, but only leaves you a few dimes for "your trouble." Don't be that table. When you go out to eat, of course you can ask your server for what you need, but you can do so without belittling, cursing, or objectifying them. Also, be mindful that servers make well below minimum wage and still have to pay their bills.
4. Your drink order is not a good response to "How are you tonight?"
Imma let you finish -- but it would be great if you could acknowledge the greeting I just gave you with more than just your drink order.
5. We genuinely want you to have a good experience.
Most people working in this industry want you to enjoy your time with them. Customer service can be a fast-paced and demanding job and it's good to know we are good at what we do, customer's having a good experience is the number one way we see this. There are always exceptions to this rule but give your server the benefit of the doubt we things aren't going perfectly, they do care and your extra ranch dressing is coming as quickly as they can get it.
