I will admit, there isn't a lot of glamour attached to the service industry. Cleaning dirty table after table, dealing with the worst kind of attitude a customer can bring, standing for hours on end behind a cash register — the list goes on as to why so many avoid working within it. They want excitement and mental stimulation in their work; it's hard to picture that when you're constantly cleaning up after customers' messes. Articles like ThoughtCatalog's "6 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Work In The Service Industry" detail other reasons why some are turned off by working service jobs. The specific reasons they cite are lower pay, demanding schedules, and "unprofessional" work environments. Many who have worked service jobs quit for these reasons and more, stating they will never go back.
I can't blame them.
Service jobs, particularly in food service and retail, can be immensely demanding and mentally exhausting, especially if you're more introverted and higher-paced energy drains you all on its own. Combine that with the stress of customers, and at the end of the day you're left crashing hard. I've felt that many times, being an introvert and easily worn out by the hubbub that is my job, a cashier at a bakery. It's tiring to wear a smile for hours when you're not feeling the most amicable. This summer marks my fourth year at this job, and while I adjusted to many aspects of my workplace that once overwhelmed me, there are some days that are still hard. From customers complaining about how "low" a loaf of bread is to those misunderstanding that we are not a restaurant, some instances still get on my nerves.
I'm still incredibly happy to return for every shift, and I will forever sing the praises of service industry jobs, and exactly how they help you in your career beyond them.
While I don't plan on making a career out of food service beyond this particular job, it's given me skills that I wouldn't have otherwise picked up anywhere else. As clichéd as this may sound, crazy customers and their crazy, high demands undoubtedly improved my problem-solving and conflict resolution skills, as well as my overall patience (holidays, in particular, really help with that). Working this job throughout high school and into my college years also helped me to become more attentive, building a work ethic that I would especially need in the latter. I'm not afraid to do more undesirable tasks, such as taking out big barrels of trash and cleaning bathrooms at their worst. In addition, delegating and communicating tasks with coworkers help things run more smoothly and builds a trust that can't be found anywhere else. My friends and family who have worked in the service industry agree, even if they ended up leaving, disliking it, or originally picked it up to make some extra money. It provided them with irreplaceable experiences and situations they would have never set foot in beyond working.
Jobs in the service industry are also more accessible than others, which is why many have their first jobs in the service industry or why somebody seeking any sort of employment finds themselves there. Their abundance in opportunities, therefore, helps to better "service" their customers. It's a benign tradeoff that many do take advantage of, with pushing the employees to do beyond what they can. Others, however, are not like this, and appreciate those within the service industry and what they can provide. Some of the favorite personalities I've come across in my 20 years belonged to my customers, and it always cheers me up a tiny bit whenever I see them walk through the door.
If you're currently looking for a job, or something temporary to make some quick cash this summer, don't turn your nose up to those in the service industry. If you find out it's not for you, you still walk away with the experience of it, and the do's and don't's of customer service. Get a little dirty, calm a high-strung customer, and build life-long skills while doing so.
