As a college student it is hard to
find a good job, with good hours, and good pay. Most office jobs are
required to work morning or day hours. Which like me and many other
people, that is the time I am in class. With that being said, there
is very limited job options while in school that will pay you enough
to live off of. As we all know being a student is not cheap. I
decided to get into the customer service industry as a server. I
thought it would be great, I'd make tips and get to take home money
every night. Easy money right? I was oh so wrong.
When I was 18 is when I got my first serving job. Being inexperienced I was a bit nervous to start out. The girl who trained me made it look like a piece of cake. As long as you were friendly and prompt you would make a good tip. I was finally done training and ready to make some tips on my own. I did everything the girl told me to, was nice and my service was fast. The customers seemed to be happy the entire time. I gave them their credit card back and thanked them as they signed the slip and left. I go to look at the amount of gratuity left from a 55 dollar check and there is a whopping five dollars. This happened more often than not. Being new to serving I thought maybe it was just me. Maybe my service wasn’t as great as they wanted. Maybe I just needed some more experience.
I am 21 now and am still having the same problem. I have almost four years of serving experience, not to brag or anything but I know I am a good server most of the time. Even if I have had the worst day ever, I walk into work with the biggest smile on my face because that’s what servers are expected to do. Otherwise we wont get that tip.
It actually amazes me sometimes the level of rude people can get to in a restaurant. Lets just go over a few things of what not to do when you come into a restaurant. First, when you sit down and your server comes to your table to greet you please listen. Do not immediately say what you would like to drink. We will already hate you. Second, if you see that your server is busy, even if they aren’t that busy, please never snap at them to get their attention. We will act like we never saw you. Third, please stop chugging your drink. No one has time to constantly get refills. Fourth, if you place your order with your server and five minutes later try and change it we will tell you its fine, but it's really not. Lastly, DON'T TIP YOUR SERVER LESS THAN 20 PERCENT.
What I don't think people realize is that they are determining a servers income. We are barely getting paid hourly, and most of the time we will never see a paycheck. At most restaurants the server doesn't even get to keep the entire tip, we have to tip out other staff members regardless if we get a tip or not. So to those people who have left nothing, you’re welcome because I basically paid to serve you.
Serving is not my ideal job. I have one more year in college and hope I get a good job so I never have to go back to serving. For the time being though, serving is the fastest money and most convenient job considering the hours I am able to work due to being in school. College is expensive and living on your own is expensive, I have bills to pay just like customers who don't tip their servers. Serving is an exhausting and stressful job sometimes. Imagine running around for eight hours at a time and still having to act like your in the best mood ever. So please, next time you go into a restaurant remember these things, and tip your server.
