You never really pay much attention to servers until you are one. Sitting down at a restaurant for a meal is an experience many of us have had. Whether it was for a special occasion like a wedding rehearsal or a birthday, or just a quick bite to catch up with friends, a server can make or break your experience.
I learned many life-lessons while waitressing in college, some that could never come from a classroom. The restaurant business is something everyone should try to work in, at least for a little while. I learned so much about myself, working hard, and being part of a team. Here are the most important things you'll take away from waiting tables.
1. Fake it until you make it
I didn't ever understand how much peppiness people in the food business have to fake. Your customers don't care if you worked 12 hours yesterday and opened today. They also don't care if you just received the worst news of your life, or if you just got dumped. They want their food, they want it perfectly made, and they want it now. All while you're smiling.
Sometimes you have to actually fake being happy in order to give them a good experience and get a tip that matches your services.
2. People suck
Nothing is worse than being screamed at by a stranger for five minutes because they ordered the wrong meal and expected you to know they wanted something else. Or waiting on a table for an hour and doing the best you physically can to make their experience great and getting a shitty tip. People will treat you like a slave, or like you have the IQ of a potato.
3. People will surprise you
Sometimes people can really, really shock you and turn out to be amazing guests. The old couple that came in twenty minutes to close tipped you half of your rent. The parents with the screaming kids had the best stories about travels. The lady at table 34 who told you she was in a big hurry stopped you pre-sob to tell you it's actually totally fine you screwed up her entire meal.
4. Tip well
Again, you really don't know how awful it is to wait tables until you do it. Not only is it an incredibly demanding and stressful job, you also make between 3 and 5 dollars an hour. If you are one of those Satan-worshipping asshats that "don't tip," make sure you tell your server beforehand so that they prioritize their other tables before yours.
5. Help others, and they may help you
Resisting the urge to be petty is something I struggle with. I had to learn to be the bigger person, very quickly. Even if you don't like a coworker, helping them out when they're busier than you are might benefit you someday. There will be a point when you have six tables and someone else can help you out, and you'll do the same for them.
6. Prioritization
Serving makes you decide what is more important, fast. A table may have requested more lemon, but that can wait because there's hot food that needs to be taken out. One table needs refills, but obviously, the table without silverware needs that, first.
7. Small talk is awkward
Small talk is incredibly difficult. Employers will give you a brief lesson on being personal with customers without getting too personal. This includes asking people about their sports attire, if they're out shopping, if they've ever been to the restaurant before, etc. Be really careful, because even the briefest conversations can turn unpleasant quite quickly...
"Where is the closest hotel? We're from out of town."
"Oh, awesome! What are you visiting for?"
"A funeral."
Cool, let me go punch myself in the face in hopes of making this visit a little less horrible for both of us.
8. Just go with it
Working in a faced-pace business like food service is full of surprises and ups and downs. Don't let people affect your mood, because in the end, you really are just a server. Leave all your problems at home, at home, and the stress at work, at work. In the end, you'll surely move on to bigger and better careers.
Being on your feet for hours, working evenings, and dealing with people all day was never easy. Some days it was rewarding, especially when I realized at the end of the evening I had made well above minimum wage. Other days it was miserable, working long hours and barely making tips. I wouldn't give it up for any other part-time job. Waitressing is the perfect job for college students.
