5 Things I’ve Learned from Working as a Waitress
It’s not about the money. It’s not about being paid. It’s about the experiences. It’s about the people. It’s about the smiles.
My first step in the customer service career started way before I started working at McDonald’s. My family owned a smoke shop/convenience store. In which I worked almost 24/7. To be honest, sometimes it felt as though I lived there. And I probably did. Everyone knew me. Everyone who was a regular, I saw a regular basis. I knew what they wanted. They’d talk to me and enjoy their time and came back specifically because they liked my service. But because it was a family business. A small business, I didn’t consider it a ‘real’ job.
I didn’t really start my first real job until about a little over a month ago. And I didn’t stay long at my first real job either. But I gained major respect for those that work in the fast-food business. I started at McDonald’s on August 24, 2020. And on September 9, 2020, it was my last day at that McDonald’s. Not because I hated it there. (Which I did for personal reasons.) But because of a major life decision I made.
I moved out of state, fresh and clean slate. From one state where I lived with my family for ten years of my life, to a completely new state with no family by my side. Not because they abandoned me, no, because I needed a foot out of the door and to start a life I can be proud of. So, I moved out here and was looking for a job. I knew one thing. I didn’t want to do fast-food again. Again, because of personal reasons. So, I got a job at a restaurant as a server (or a waitress, however you’d prefer). I’ve been working at this restaurant for one week.
I can say with confidence, that I’ve learned 5 things. So, without further ado.
1. We’re People just like everyone else.
That’s a bit redundant to say, right? Duh. Waitresses are human just like anyone else, right?
But the issue doesn’t lie in that knowledge. As customers, we are known to be angry at those that serve us. Why? Because our steak isn’t cooked the way we ordered, or they brought pork to us when we told them we don’t eat pork. Or because our food is too cold. So, we get angry and start yelling at our server. Our waiter. Our waitress.
But before you do, take a moment to realize. They’re people, too. Call us over and talk to us like we’re human, and we will listen. We’ll apologize. And we’ll do our best to make it better for you guys.
Because truth be told, it’s not always our fault. Sometimes technology messes up. Sometimes the chefs in the back don’t get the order through technology, and they don’t make the food that you ordered or make it correctly. Sometimes what happens is that we forget to come to check on you. And yes, that is our fault. But again, we’re human. And we’re trying our best.
“A person who is nice to you, but rude to a waiter, is not a nice person” — Dave Barry
2. Leaving outside stress at the door is probably the best thing to do.
There are days when you go to work, and you’re stressed out because of home life or because of school life or because of family life. But, when you get to work all you need to focus on is that customer that you’re serving. That’ all you need to worry about. How is that customer doing? What can you get for them?
Smile at your customer, greet them, and be cheerful. Because their time at the restaurant that you’re working at has nothing to do with your horrible day. You want your customers to come back.
Besides one smile is enough to make anyone’s day brighter.
3. Being a waitress isn’t just about bringing people their order, it’s about shaping their experience.
Taking orders, putting it in the system, and waiting for the order to be completed. That’s certainly a part of the job. But here’s a prime example of what I’ve witnessed and what I think should be the job:
So, greet your customer(s). Tell them what today’s specials are. What drinks are cheaper because it’s the day that your customer(s) came in. Tell them what special drink is the best selling. Give them time to look over the menu. When you return with their drinks, give them choices. They’ll be happy. They might even order what you recommend. While they’re in the middle of their meal, ask them if everything is going well. And, then tell them about the desserts. While they’re eating, they might save room for dessert or, they might not. Thank them for their patience and the wait they may have endured. Ask them to come back another time.
Be polite. Be respectful. Read your customer’s reactions. Figure out what kind of waitress they want you to be. But don’t be the kind of boring server that they don’t want to see again. Even working at fast-food, you have to be respectful and polite.
That’s something I learned a while ago. While working at the smoke shop. Customers don’t just want a sounding board, they can have that anywhere. Even at home. But they want conversation. They want to be treated with respect and more often than not, they’ll respect you as well.
Give them an experience that they’ll remember. They’ll come back to this specific location because of that experience. Maybe they were having a bad day, and you came along. You can either make their bad day turn into a great one with your customer service or a horrible one where you treat them like a burden.
4. The best part of the job is the customers and your coworkers.
Working at a place where you will spend most of your week if not all your week at, can be tiresome. But it works better when you are getting to know your coworkers, your customers, your regulars, and even the new faces. It makes everything worth it.
In one week at this restaurant, I know most faces, not all names. But I look forward to every single day because I get to see the faces I’ve come to know, and I get to learn new things every day.
There’s a regular that comes in every single night. If not every night, then every other night. He comes in and plays music and livens up the place. He cares for every single worker in the establishment. He takes requests and plays the music that someone wants to play. He went as far as getting my number when I was going home for a few days. Because it was a long drive, and he wanted to make sure that I was safe and sound at home. I’ll never forget him as long as I’ll live. And he is one of the reasons why I enjoy working as a waitress at this establishment.
My coworkers, my managers, the people I’ve met on my journey. They make every single day worth it. Every single day. Even the hard days. Even the slow days.
5. I didn’t think I’d enjoy waitressing as much as I have so far.
I honestly didn’t think I was going to enjoy waitressing. I thought it was a job for those who didn’t know what they wanted to do in life. But, I’ve learned so much about food and hospitality. I’ve learned about people. How to treat people. How to control me and my temper.
It’s not about the money. It’s not about being paid. It’s about the experiences. It’s about the people. It’s about the smiles. I’m not even a chef at this establishment, but when someone looks satisfied after a meal, I get this sense of pride and happiness. Because they are happy with my service and the food that was brought to them. They are happy with how I treated them, and that makes me excited for the next day.
I haven’t been serving for long, but I hope that I get to do this for a long time. Why? Because I’m gaining experience and knowledge each and every day. What more could I ask for?
