Why do you want to be a Waitress/Waiter and what can you bring to the role?  When you factor tips into what you’re making on minimum wage though, you can afford to work half as much. The realization that I'm only as successful as the quality of what I offer to others has helped me grow in every way: as a person, a writer, as a member of society. International Money Transfers for Overseas Education: Guide & Recommendations. Related: Why You Need to Network Before You Graduate. Education & Training for a Waiter. Why did I continue to stay in this field? "Thank you. For example, if a customer gives you a $20 bill for a $14.95 ticket, bring five $1 bills and a nickel for change. Teamwork is more crucial than you think. A good waiter or waitress will move swiftly without appearing to run or rush. I am a full time student which makes it really hard to work a 9–5 job, but I also need a job where I can work less than 40 hours a week and still make enough to pay my bills. Patience.  One little-known fact about the service industry is that everyone within it tries to take care of each other. Even at an interview, you can make it known that you hope to become a server someday through the job you’re interviewing for. You will need them to rant/complain to. 1.  In most cases, you’ll start at hosting and/or busing tables for a few weeks. The first rule of being a good server is to remember the customer is always right.  It also meant that for all of us, school was our first priority. It might be stressful while you’re there, but when it’s over, you can go home and think about other things. Social Perceptiveness: This enables the waiter or waitress to become aware of other people’s reactions and why they reacted the way they did.  You cannot expect to become the Saturday night bartender after your first shift. As a waitress, you’ll learn to anticipate the needs of the other servers and you’ll get used to asking for help when you need it. In any job, it's important to strive to do your best. Waiters and Waitresses quiz, should i become a Waiter and Waitress, is Waiters and Waitresses suitable for me, do i want to be a Waiter and Waitress, Waiters and Waitresses personality test. Working as a waitress can be a whirlwind, whether you're an experienced staff member or you've just entered the industry.  Let’s be honest, we need a little more of a feminine touch around here anyway! Have you ever overheard someone asking for their food before everyone else or seen a waitress get stiffed? Getting used to a crazy busy day on the job helps you prepare for any job you get in the future and teaches you how to give it your all and not slack off anytime you go to work. In fact, I had filled out an application right there and was hired on the spot. I’ve worked in my fair share of restaurants, so I’m going to give you some insight on why you should be a waitress at some point in your life. It is possible to do formal hospitality training, such as a diploma in hospitality but this is not required to work as a waiter/waitress.  Before I started serving, I worked a minimum-wage job in retail, and I saw first hand that when you’re trying to pay for tuition, books, rent, bills, and groceries you need to be working full time to make ends meet. Make it easy for customers to leave a tip. 11.  This is next to impossible when you’re also going to school, and it’s definitely not fun. Waitresses don’t work alone.  This means that servers generally have the best work parties you’ve ever experienced and rarely have to wait in any lines since they are always “VIP”. A high level of focus and attention makes working quickly easier, because when you’re honed in on the details of your respective patrons and tables, you’ll be meeting their needs quickly so that you do not waste time concluding service for one set of customers while receiving new ones. Can Your Trust Robo Advisors With Your Pension? If you have decided to become a waiter or waitress, it is profitable to also decide to be the best waiter or waitress available. This is a job for you, but an experience your diners are paying good money for. And you can always start in a job like this while you consider training options. Because most positions are on-the-job training, usually all that is required is an opening and a person to fill that opening.  Any love/hate relationships with your server job and its associated tip jar? While I pursued my undergrad degree at the University of Manitoba, I worked as a server at a restaurant/bar near campus. The main reason behind this is that the customers you serve will expect you to be patient. Living Frugal In An Apartment – Part 1: Electricity Bill, Living Frugal In An Apartment – Part 2: Utilities, Living with Roommates – Part 1: Splitting the grocery bill, Living With Roommates – Part 2: Splitting The Rent. When I began working in the hospitality industry, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my work environment. Waiters and waitresses, also known as servers, take orders in dining establishments and serve food and beverages to patrons.  Because serving is a “coveted” job in the world of student employment, think of this more as a weeding out process. Treat your co-workers with respect. If you want to be a great waiter you want to start by being a patient person. Well… tied for first with having a good time anyway. You will go to serve customers and find them in the middle of a conversation. You meet a lot of people. It’s exhausting and demoralizing sometimes, but you should be a waitress anyway because this demanding workload builds a work ethic you’ll benefit from for the rest of your life. Answers to Nail an Interview for a Waitress. You can enjoy meals you normally can’t afford at half-price or less. When you work as a waiter, you will be able to leave with cash after every shift. Your email address will not be published. SUGGESTED ANSWER: “I want to be a Waitress/Waiter because I have a passion for delivering excellent customer service and the fact you get to make a positive difference to people’s experience whilst visiting the restaurant is an added bonus to the role. #9. I once got a job waiting tables at a steakhouse and got to have a medium-rare sirloin with salad for lunch every day for just a couple of dollars. Here you will find the top ten traits you need to become a great waiter. The customer is always right. You can work as a waiter without formal qualifications. They will take it as motivation and determination which can make you more valuable to an employer. You get to leave with your pocket full of cash and not think about the job until your next shift. Use this opportunity to show why you applied for a waitressing job rather than an office vacancy. You'll most likely get some part of it as your tip. I'll have that right up for you." Finding the right waiter position can take time and patience. Now don’t go out and spend it willy-nilly or you won’t be all that good off. These people will become your second family. Because I absolutely love my job. Sure beats another peanut butter and jelly sandwich, right? Good Responses to a Waiter Interview. I came back the next day to start training. Would love your thoughts, please comment.  She made way more money than me all through university by working in the service industry so I asked her to tell our readers about the realities of waiting tables. You have to face it, honey. Canadian Ancestry: Should I look into it?  These jobs are neither fun nor glamorous, but don’t be discouraged. This will make you a valuable employee at any job. Think of how you can give your guests a wonderful experience and you will go home with lots of tips. No other job is going to give you discounts on delicious restaurant meals. You will probably get some informal training on the job. To develop a business the service should be outstanding so that the customers are attracted more to visit the hotel. Here are 5 serving tips on how to be a good waiter or waitress. It can take years of practice to master a waitress job, but there are several skills you can focus on now to help you learn how to become a better waitress. Related: How a Great Summer Job Can Benefit You. They help each other carry food and drinks, clean tables and take orders so that all guests are served, even if the line snakes out the door. Being in a place like Hooters makes people feel like they can let their guard down and ask us whatever they want. Tips are a huge reason why I think that serving is a great job for a university student. Now that you have entered into the restaurant world, you will need to go out and get a few materials. Most waiters and waitresses, also called servers, work in full-service restaurants. Are there any other servers in the house? Because it was the first place I had put an application in that hired me.  Without further adieu, here are my three server-tested and server-approved reasons to consider the gig. Becoming a waitress or a waiter is often as much an accident as it is a choice.  Working for tips also provides you with a sense of control over the amount of money you can make, because in most cases, the harder you worked, the more money you made. You can also become a waiter through a traineeship. 1. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Just make sure you don’t ruin all those benefits by gorging on high fat foods when your shift is over. So if you’re outgoing and sociable, it will be easy for you to make money in this field.  Most of my shifts I made easily more in tips than I did in wages. Demonstrate a strong Work Ethic To prove that you are ready to become a server, you not only want to show that you are capable of … • A “servers book”: the book is a black leather book with folds in it, pretty much like a small folder.This is where you will keep your cheat-sheets of information that you … Having to go through your hard-earned cash can help you stay aware of what you’re spending and saving too.  In most cities, when you are hired by a restaurant or bar, you have to pay your dues. You’re on your feet running your butt off for your entire shift.  Bar tenders and bouncers know where there bread is buttered (literally where their food gets made when they go out to eat) and vice versa. You know how hard it is to wait on several tables at once so you’ll be more understanding. But what if you really want to know about the job and how to prepare for it? Why did I become a waitress? It gets easy to get wrapped up in the fast money. When you're a waitress, you learn to read other waiters' and waitresses' faces, and you can tell when they're stressed out. Because most positions are on-the-job training, usually all that is required is an opening and a person to fill that opening. Instead, stash it in a safe place. "You can do that of course, but if you do you'll spend a lot of time at home alone, and seven months is a long time Janet. Editor’s Note: Please give a warm welcome to my fiancee’s (aka Mrs. TM) second foray into the blogosphere. Getting used to a crazy busy day on the job helps you prepare for any job you get in the future and teaches you how to give it your all and not slack off anytime you go to work. 11 Total Points Lesson 1 Video You may need anywhere between a … With the high turn-over rate in the restaurant industry, you may think it’s easy to land server positions, but to land a job at the restaurant of your choice, you need to develop effective interview skills. Why You Need to Network Before You Graduate, The Best 5 Business Credit Cards In Canada, Questrade RESP Review: Saving for My Child’s Education, Canada’s Best Meal Kit Delivery Services for 2021. Just smile and pretend they don’t really think you’re their personal slave (they do). My main reason for being a waitress is that I have more flexibility with my schedule. They greet customers, take food orders, serve food and drinks, take payment and make change. To be a great waitress, you'll need to work efficiently by knowing the menu, multitasking, anticipating customer requests, and following other best waitstaff practices. Use the waiter/waitress top skills and proficiencies below to help you effectively write your resume. Not only can you stay slender, but you build great looking legs, arms and shoulders from all the lifting, carrying and walking. It’s exhausting and demoralizing sometimes, but you should be a waitress anyway because this demanding workload builds a work ethic you’ll benefit from for the rest of your life.  I admit that work environment varies greatly restaurant to restaurant, but I will use my place of work as an example. Most of the time, you won’t need any previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience. That's how desperate they were for servers. Job stress won’t keep you up at night. Sample Answer: I want this job because it emphasizes sales and marketing, two of my greatest skill sets. As much as being a waitress stinks sometimes, it does teach you how to treat servers when you eat out. Becoming a waitress or a waiter is often as much an accident as it is a choice.  The restaurant where I worked was about 2 miles from the University of Manitoba, and because of this close proximity, was staffed largely with university students. When you’re shift is over, it’s over. You probably want this job just to have some extra cash or maybe you got laid off and this was the fastest thing you can get. It is only patience that works in this kind of situation, so you need it as a waiter or waitress if you really want to survive the mockery. As a waitress, you don’t have to take work home. Casual dining restaurants and cafés will expect you to be quick, efficient and friendly. Chapter 4: What is your favourite part about being a waitress? As I said above, you don’t stop moving when you’re waiting tables, so that means you burn mega calories and work your muscles at the same time. Being a server allows you to meet a lot of people every day. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.  Today she tackles the reasons why so many students love these jobs, and later this week you’ll get an insider’s view on the darker side of the industry.  Now, before I get into all the reasons the hospitality sector could be right for you, there are some things to consider. You will need them to laugh with when everything is just absolutely ridiculous. Customize these answers to fit your particular circumstances and the job you are applying for. Interviewers want to see you have passion for the job. It's taken for granted, but a waitress is the person who listens to all your wants and needs, makes sure they happen, and gives you a vital element of survival: food. So read on and find out why you should be a waitress. I’m not saying it’s my dream job or that I want to go back to it, but there are some valuable work and life skills I learned during my years of slinging hash.  Once you’ve proven to your employers that you’re competent and that you’ll stick around (restaurants have notoriously high turn-over) you can expect to be promoted to serving and start making some cash! 6. You may want to consider this if you want to make a career in hospitality and catering, or run your own business one day. If you want to work for a fine dining or classy, mid-scale restaurant -- with larger average ticket prices and bigger tips -- you need to show you're the right person for the job. One of the great things about waiting tables is that you leave everyday with cash in your pocket. If you need to make a quick trip to the grocery store, you won’t have to hit the ATM or pay the debit card fees charged by the bank. You also know that kitchen mistakes aren’t a server’s fault and that she still deserves a tip. by Mrs. TM | Oct 20, 2013 | Summer Jobs & Working While In School | 0 comments. Because serving is a “coveted” job in the world of student employment, think of this more as a weeding out process. When you’re a waitress, you don’t get breaks. Those people have never waited tables. As such, if the food comes out not to their satisfaction, don’t try to argue. If you need quick cash to pay your bills, it’s easy to earn money through tips. To work as a waitress in a hotel, one should have professional skills and patience. You're very pretty, and boys are going to be attracted to you regardless, and some, like Stan will ask you out. Tags: career, career-quiz, quiz.  Working with other students meant that I was surrounded by smart, hard-working young people who had similar interests as me! Have you ever waited tables? For example, you can become a waiter or waitress even if you have never worked as one before. If you're a waitress or server at a restaurant, it's even more important to be the best you can be in order to increase your tips. A well-crafted resume skills section, highlighting your relevant skills for a waiter/waitress position, will help your resume beat the applicant tracking system (ATS), which is the first step to getting your application noticed. Multitasking is an important part of your job as a waiter or waitress. While it's not a bad job to have, if you don't wanna get stuck, keep pushing toward your career goals. Whatever the case is, just be mindful. Specific duties will depend on the type of restaurant. The interviewers check the candidate’s attitude and ability to work before qualifying them. 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