I got my 2nd job EVER waiting tables when I was 19. I know, privileged kid over here. (Yay scholarships helping with college)
At the time, I was recently married and just graduated with my Associate's Degree. I needed a job because I couldn't rely on loans any longer nor could I continue to live in the dorms past graduation (duh).
One of the guys we lived with told me to apply at the restaurant where he worked. He even set me up with an extra shirt so I could literally show up in uniform. I laughed and went along with it...leaving the shirt in the car (I didn't want to appear desperate).
I spoke to the manager and was IMMEDIATELY HIRED. No application. No references. No drug test. Nothing. Just filled out the paperwork and mentioned "I have a shirt in the car" and got told "you start right now."
People....this should have been a red flag about the job atmosphere.
At the time, I was recently married and just graduated with my Associate's Degree. I needed a job because I couldn't rely on loans any longer nor could I continue to live in the dorms past graduation (duh).
One of the guys we lived with told me to apply at the restaurant where he worked. He even set me up with an extra shirt so I could literally show up in uniform. I laughed and went along with it...leaving the shirt in the car (I didn't want to appear desperate).
I spoke to the manager and was IMMEDIATELY HIRED. No application. No references. No drug test. Nothing. Just filled out the paperwork and mentioned "I have a shirt in the car" and got told "you start right now."
People....this should have been a red flag about the job atmosphere.
I was thrown to the wolves. Friendly wolves, mostly...but wolves nonetheless.
The kitchen staff immediately "forgot" 90% of their English when speaking to me (or about me, come to find out later). They would have a conversation with a server before me and then give me blank looks when I tried to talk to them. Yep.
The men I was working with were super friendly but not the least bit helpful. They were more concerned with my marriage status and whether or not I'd like to attend the next party night at a strip club.
I was paired with the server who was given a high priority section. Granted, she was good at her job but I SWEAR she'd never trained anyone before. She threw a bunch of information at me at once and then had me "take" a table.
Thankfully this was a weeknight so it wasn't too packed. But when you're one of the only decent restaurants in town (period...not just Mexican food) any night can be busy.
Did I mention already that I'd never done this before? My previous job was slinging fro-yo at TCBY for a SUMMER. Yeah. Hire me.
At one point my trainer had me carry a tray of drinks. Me, being an over confident idiot, decided to hoist the tray up shoulder level. You know "waiter position?"
FYI, this should only be done with practice. Not with your first ever loaded tray.
The kitchen staff immediately "forgot" 90% of their English when speaking to me (or about me, come to find out later). They would have a conversation with a server before me and then give me blank looks when I tried to talk to them. Yep.
The men I was working with were super friendly but not the least bit helpful. They were more concerned with my marriage status and whether or not I'd like to attend the next party night at a strip club.
I was paired with the server who was given a high priority section. Granted, she was good at her job but I SWEAR she'd never trained anyone before. She threw a bunch of information at me at once and then had me "take" a table.
Thankfully this was a weeknight so it wasn't too packed. But when you're one of the only decent restaurants in town (period...not just Mexican food) any night can be busy.
Did I mention already that I'd never done this before? My previous job was slinging fro-yo at TCBY for a SUMMER. Yeah. Hire me.
At one point my trainer had me carry a tray of drinks. Me, being an over confident idiot, decided to hoist the tray up shoulder level. You know "waiter position?"
FYI, this should only be done with practice. Not with your first ever loaded tray.
Yup.
Dumped it all over myself.
Oh, the shirts we wore? White.
And I still had several hours left in my shift.
I ended up working there several months overall. I left the job on mostly bad terms due to crappy management. Have you seen "Waiting" with Ryan Reynolds? It's pretty damn close.
(I never spit in anyone's food but I did see the cooks pick up food off the floor and sear it over the flame before plating it)
Dumped it all over myself.
Oh, the shirts we wore? White.
And I still had several hours left in my shift.
I ended up working there several months overall. I left the job on mostly bad terms due to crappy management. Have you seen "Waiting" with Ryan Reynolds? It's pretty damn close.
(I never spit in anyone's food but I did see the cooks pick up food off the floor and sear it over the flame before plating it)
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