I have been working in the food service industry for almost five years and to this day I am still learning new things. The different positions that I have worked in a restaurant have given me skills that I am able to take outside of work and apply to my everyday life.
There are endless positions in the restaurant business. You could be working front of house as a bartender or back of house as a cook. Restaurants run a tight knit work place that involves every person to work together. One of the most important things I have realized is a functional restaurant comes from a stable atmosphere from all its workers.
Many people have negative things to say about working in the restaurant business. Because a waitresses income is tip based, and is never fully stable.
As a waitress, I have learned communication and presentation. While speaking with guests, it is important to talk professionally, as well as present yourself in a proficient manner. When you do this so often or even for hours at a time, you perfect this greeting and conversation. You then can take this skill outside of work and use it in job interviews or school presentations.
Another skill is time management. When it gets so busy at a restaurant, you don't have time to stop and breathe. In these situations you begin to learn to time manage and how to get as much done in the spare time you have.
Whether you are taking orders, cleaning tables, or helping a co-worker, you have a short amount of time to do it all. This skill can apply to the work you do in school or your job if you have deadlines. Being efficient in time management is a skill many businesses look for.
The skills I have mentioned before have given me excellent customer service skills. Every waitress has a bad story, whether it be their fault or not. The food service industry has taught me how to talk to people in situations that are calm or hectic. You have to be ready to go into shifts that may not have the best outcome and do your best to remain positive.
The food service industry will continue to help me with people skills the longer I stay in it. I am able to hone these skills with every shift and communicate with people both in and out of the workplace.
