Working in the restaurant business is an experience of its own, with skills from maintaining a charming personality with customers, to physical labor, being expected of you daily. Whether you are new to the industry or have spent years learning the ins and outs of working in restaurants, you learn some valuable lessons about yourself, communication and society in general. Here are few things you learn from working in restaurants.
1. There is a sub-language that lurks behind the door of every kitchen.
Recommended for you
Words such as 86, line, fire, new day, and ramekin are common. The list goes on and on. If it is your first restaurant job you may think everyone is a little crazy at first.
2. You learn to speak sweetly and with respect to even the harshest customers.![]()
Your mantra is: Kill them with kindness.
3. You learn how to raise hell in the kitchen.
When you fired your ticket 45-minutes ago and still only have one of the seven dishes in the window ready to go, there is only one thing you can do. Motivate the line!
4. You can recall long lists of specials and desserts.
You can list 30 menu items and the daily special without issue.
5. But can never seem to remember what you walked into the kitchen for.
Hmm, I know I was back here to get or do something.
6. You become a speed walker from hell during your shift, making sure tables are bussed, running food, taking orders and washing dishes.
Everything is a race. Whether hustling to be a good server or to keep the kitchen running, doing things in a timely manner is crucial.
7. Customers never take you seriously when you warn them a dish is hot, so you learn to live without fingerprints.
Reiterate until they move their small plate or you drop their dish on them. As in, I'm not kidding when I say it's hot. Move and don't touch the thing!
8. You learn a lot about balance; whether it be in your schedule, the number of tables you can take or the number of plates on a tray.
You learn how to prioritize. You learn how to balance out your life in a way that accounts for work and play.
9. Every day is arm day when you're running food.
While you want to drop that heavy tray walking across the dining room, just remember there is probably 80 dollars worth of food on that tray and it's building your upper body strength.
10. Walking into the walk-in is like a breath of fresh air; until you sit there and can't seem to find what you are looking for.
All in all, experience working in a restaurant can really aid your social skills, communication skills, team work and even help you find a sense of happiness after helping a table have a particularly enjoyable meal. Plus, it makes you super aware of any restaurant you enter and allows you to give your server a well informed tip, rather than a ballpark number scribbled on a tiny line.
