I don't love my job waiting tables because I want to do it for the rest of my life. I love waiting tables because of the life lessons and the people it has brought me to.
Waiting tables is a job many people find themselves doing part-time. It's truly a great learning experience for everyone. Waiting tables has taught me work ethic, people skills, time management and countless other skills that will follow me and aid me in all of my future endeavors.
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I started working as soon as I turned 16 and was of legal working age. My first job was at a cute little diner that taught me the basics of how to be a good employee, how to make sure people were happy and how to do everyone else's job while I did my own. I wouldn't trade the two years at that small diner for anything. It was there I learned how to be employable.
As you grow older, you want to grow. As a senior in high school, I applied and scored an interview at a higher end restaurant, "The Allegheny Grille". This is where my skill set turned into something I genuinely began to enjoy. Maybe it was the tie and dress pants I wore for work talking, but everything just felt right.
Waiting tables is something I consider a hobby. Call me crazy, but something about pleasing a full section of tables makes me feel accomplished at the end of the day. As all servers can tell you, when you are busy and go into hyperdrive, there is no telling how much you will get done. This accomplishment at the end of your shift is one of the best feelings I've yet to find, and it is doubled when you count your tips in the end.
If you wait tables, it's no question that you have had your fair share of mistakes. My first day waiting tables, I spilled Pepsi onto a kid... on his birthday! This is also where genuine people's kindness comes out. The family thought it was hilarious, and the boy was in good spirits about it, since he got free pie out of the deal. While I have had my fair share of rude customers, it's important to focus on the customers that reassure you there is goodness in the world. The best thing to happen is:
Working as a server, your coworkers are always like-minded. You're all in the same boat and have a respect for one another. While you do work with people of all ages, no one feels above another. There is usually one coworker that just gets under everyone's skin, however, you still learn to work together with them, and that is the beauty of our job. No matter what, we are a team.
Waiting tables can be confusing for you to schedule and for your finances. Instead of a biweekly paycheck, you get cash. That cash amount varies from week to week. Your hours are rarely the same each week. This job teaches you how to manage your time and money, so you don't go completely crazy. This skill will come in handy when you have a job that pays more and gives you flexibility. You understand the financial responsibility.
I have come to the understanding that it's a gift that I am a good server. People I don't know, other than having waited on them, have come up to me in public and praised my work. It's a job that no one wants to be stuck in but is always appreciated. There is always a bright side!
