Working as a waiter or waitress is a job that brings mixed feelings. Sometimes you look forward to clocking in on a busy day and making decent money, other times you dread going in, fearing that a long shift of difficult tables awaits you. Either way, working in the hospitality business teaches you a lot about interacting with people, and there are many quirks that come along with being part of the wait staff, whether it's a fancy restaurant in New York City or a family diner in a small town.
1. You always have an unlimited amount of pens.
And the worst part is that you never remember which ones are brand new and which ones will die at any second. They're just all in one pile.
2. You have to explain your abbreviations to everyone who is "non-restaurant" material.
Not all of your friends and family know what "chx", "WD", "cof" or "HF" mean.
3. Carrying multiple items, especially dishes, is no problem anymore.
It's amazing how much you can stack on your forearms, and you can balance trays with ease.
4. When you go out, you ALWAYS clean up your own table.
Personally, I think this should be done by everyone because it's just polite. But for anyone who works in a restaurant, they know how big of a help it is when a table is left mostly clean.
5. Personal goals include beating your current time for rolling silverware.
And you can probably do it with your eyes closed!
6. You're a pro at removing tough grease stains from your clothing.
And in case you didn't know, a little dish detergent on the stain takes it right out.
7. Memorization is your forte.
Whether it's a new menu, a shopping list, or notes for your American Literature class, you can babble off information word-for-word after only seeing it once or twice.
8. You know all the local food service drama.
Which cook works where, which waitresses just got fired, the wait times for each place, and the complaints from all the customers, you know it all.
9. You realize the importance of tipping.
Unless your waiter was absolutely terrible, stiffing is never an option for you because you know the moment of disappointment and anger when you go to an empty table and see not one penny for you.
10. You have a "work voice" that sometimes comes out, along with a fake smile and laugh.
Your friends and family can usually tell the difference between the overly nice and pleasant tone and your normal voice.
11. You have such a think skin, nobody can insult you.
Every name in the book has been pointed your way and at this point, you don't even care.
12. You understand that a lot of things are out of the wait staff's control.
Waiters and waitresses can only do so much. So when your food takes forever to come to your table or the prices seem too high, you know that blaming your server won't fix the situation. Any complaints should be taken to management.
Since I work at a local family diner, I also would like to add that being a server at a smaller restaurant means having the chance to get to know your customers, especially the ones that come in on a regular basis. Many special friendships are formed, and you find yourself looking forward to seeing them and catching up on any news. You and your co-workers look out for each other, turning a place of work into a place of family. Being a server, with all stresses and annoying customers aside, is truly a special job that only certain people can do, and if you look closely, you might be able to spot a waiter or waitress out and about, enjoying a much needed day off.
