While everyone is responsible for choosing their own path in life, I believe that everyone should work in a restaurant at least once. In all honesty, it is not likely to make you rich, but it is the kind of job that both teaches you a plethora of life skills and builds character. Few jobs are both mentally and physically exhausting, but restaurant work is plenty of both.
Overcoming these twin challenges makes you both stronger and more adaptable. Working in an atmosphere of camaraderie to satisfy one of the most basic needs of people–food—is also just plain fun. Here are 9 of the best reasons why everyone should work in a restaurant.
1. You learn how to multitask
Efficiency in a restaurant is an art form; whether you are battling a full ticket rail or juggling eight tables as a server, you learn to keep a mental list of tasks in order of importance. Knocking each one out and adding more as they occur becomes second nature. Thinking on your feet is an invaluable skill, no matter what job you are doing in a restaurant.
2. You develop a near-infinite reserve of patience
Learning to keep your cool and exercise good manners is central to getting along smoothly in this business, especially as a server. Dealing with impolite customers or managers can be quite trying, but maintaining a calm demeanor in the face of rudeness is crucial.
3. You make true friends
This one is especially applicable for working on the line. You will meet people from all walks of life while working in the kitchen. The best part of this is that nothing, not background, race, skin color, creed, sexual orientation, or anything else matters, as long as you can perform under pressure when the restaurant is in the weeds.
4. You learn punctuality
The saying “early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable” is extremely applicable here. Being early means more time to prep your station, which you will probably not have time to do once things get busy. This saves you both time and frustration. Plus, punctuality is a good habit to get into regardless of the job that you have, and it demonstrates that you actually care about your job.
5. You learn interpersonal skills
From the moment you interview with the manager to giving your two-week notice, you develop manners and professional sensibilities that you carry with you for the rest of your life. Learning to politely deal with customers, coworkers, and managers alike means that you are constantly tested on how well you play with others.
6. You develop endurance
This one is a tragic reality of the food service industry; you become familiar with working eight and sometimes twelve or even fourteen-hour shifts, especially on holidays where everyone and their brother goes out to eat. Certain occasions like Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, or graduation weekends often necessitate working from open to close for senior servers and kitchen staff. Caffeine becomes your friend in times like these.
7. It makes a good fall-back option out of school
For people that struggle to find a job out of either high school or college, the food industry has a high turnover rate, which means that new help is always appreciated. While a kitchen job will probably not make you rich, it will keep a roof over your head and food on the table when times are lean.
8. You learn the concept of teamwork
This is another one especially true of working on the line. When tickets are ringing in nonstop and everyone pulls together to knock out the entire rail, the synergy and sense of teamwork is unbeatable. When the kitchen and front of the house come together during a frenetic dinner rush to produce top-notch service without customers noticing that everyone is on the verge of losing their minds, everyone feels on top of the world afterward.
9. You learn self-respect
The nature of the food service business is such that you will inevitably make mistakes, no matter whether you are a brand-new employee or a 20-year veteran. While it is never fun getting reprimanded, you either quit, or you learn to bounce back and develop a thick skin for criticism. Over time (hopefully) you minimize the number of mistakes you make and learn to take responsibility for the ones that do happen.
