What Working In A Restaurant Has Taught Me

Being employed as a teenager is both a blessing and a curse. You're given real responsibility and life experience, all while being able to make a little money that's all yours. Working can give you new relationships, and plus it looks really good on a resume. Each job individually has its own drawbacks, but one that I believe is pretty universal is the stress and negativity that comes with dealing with the public, especially if you haven't had to deal with these things very much.

Luckily for me, my first job was a small locally owned boutique. There were a few stressful and negative moments, but all in all, I never had much to complain about compared to my other friends who all worked in the food or entertainment industries. I always heard from people my age about how horrible working in food really is, and how poorly the public treats them, but I never really believed it. I thought working at a restaurant would be just as rough as anywhere else would be, but boy was I wrong.

This summer, I decided to try and find a new job, and ended up at my town's Tropical Smoothie Cafe. I have been working there for about three weeks now, and my perspective on working in the food industry has changed so much. It is so much harder than it looks, and the people within this industry truly are not respected enough. Working this job has made me see the fault in some of the ways I have treated wait staff in the past, which I now want to pass along to anyone who has never had the chance to see what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite restaurants.

Good things take time, and the food you order is no exception. I've been guilty of complaining and being impatient when I am hangry and my food isn't sitting in front of me within five minutes after placing my order, and I think we all have. But really and truly, do you really think food that is out and ready for you that fast is even worth it? It takes time for a kitchen staff to prepare, bake, and finish any dish, and the more complicated the item is, the more time it will take. And taking out your frustrations on the wait staff is not going to help your order get to you faster!!

I have had my fair share of rude customers in the short amount of time I have been at my job, and I mean it when I say that your manners and kindness are so appreciated. I love hearing "please" and "thank you" and being asked for something instead of being demanded for it. Even a simple little smile goes a long way, and makes me more eager to serve you. Being unnecessarily rude if we get your side wrong really gets to us, because at the end of the day we are really just trying to do our jobs.

Technology is wonderful, and I am very grateful for it, but sometimes the cash register acts up and the phone cuts out. When customers say their orders a little slower, and don't mind repeating it, our jobs are so much easier! Being patient with the person at the other end of the cash register is so important because sometimes it can get a little complicated. You might think we get a little irritated with all the crazy substitutions and items on the side, but we really just want to make sure everyone is happy with their food at the end of the day.

Lastly, it truly takes a village to successfully pull off a day in a restaurant. There has to be people working every position, from food prep and dishwashing to the cash register and clean up. And sometimes when staff members get sick and have emergencies, we are understaffed, which causes everything to run a little slower and less smooth than usual. That's when patience really makes a difference! Sometimes crazy things happen, and we might lose an order or drop your smoothie just before we are about to hand it off to you. We really appreciate it when customers are calm and let us fix our mistakes instead of running off and writing bad reviews on every website possible. It can be super frustrating, but we all are just trying our best!

I've made my fair share of mistakes working in food, and it hasn't even been a month yet! But I've learned a lot about patience and teamwork. and have seen just how complicated the food industry can be. My perspective has truly changed so much, and I now strive to be the incredibly nice and understanding customer no matter where I go.