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mescalinician
orbiting earth



Registered: 01/18/10
Posts: 645
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Got a job as a server
#15222774 - 10/13/11 11:03 PM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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So I got hired on as a server this last week at a super busy chain restaurant close to my place and had my orientation day today. I start the official training this coming week. I talked to the manager that does the schedule (I have like four managers in all) and he said I'll definitely be able to start off around 25 hours, and can easily get more if I want, since I have open availability.
Anyways, I'm super stoked to get started. My brother has basically made a career out of being a server and has done pretty well for himself. If I like it enough, which I think I will, I could see myself possibly doing the same. At some point though, hopefully through a promotion with this restaurant, I really really want to bartend. It looks like hard work, but it seems like something I'd be very good at and could make fat stacks doing. One day (like in the next two years) I would really like to bartend at a club or downtown bar.
Have any of you guys/girls worked as a server? What'd you think of it? What kind of money did you make? Got any advice/suggestions for a newbie?
And FYI, my only restaurant experience before this is working as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut for a year and half. I loved that job, but decided I didn't want to tear up my new car delivery driving and that I could make more money as a server, so I opted to do that instead of continuing to deliver pizzas.
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MisterMuscaria



Registered: 05/13/08
Posts: 27,646
Loc:
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Nice, congrats.
Ive never been a server, was always a back of the house kinda guy.
Ive delivered pizzas before but like you I dont want to tear up my new car doing it.
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mescalinician
orbiting earth



Registered: 01/18/10
Posts: 645
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Bamp.
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Smitington
Unidentified Flying Object


Registered: 08/10/09
Posts: 1,408
Loc: Mushroom Kingdom
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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I've worked as a server at a couple restaurants. It's definitely good money. You want a place that has a high menu price to table turn around ratio, aka expensive but people eat and gtfo. I made $25 bucks an hour on a good night at one of the places.
It is hard work though and not everybody is cut out for it. Expect long shifts without breaks, and people constantly expecting more out of you when you are already giving you best. When it is busy serving is a juggling act, you have multiple tables to keep happy and you also have to keep your team happy. As long as you are good at this, it is pretty enjoyable and time flies and before you know it you are counting your tips at the end of the night.
They are gonna drill into your head to up-sell and suggestive sell and that honestly is a great way to increase your tips and also helps you figure out what you are gonna say to people. The hardest part is finding a way to relate to each and every table. For lunches, you will get a lot of business people who usually appreciate a professional and fast serving experience, other times your tables might be looking for personality and humor. The best thing you can do is be honest and "on the ball", and remember that the customer is always right (sounds cliche, but seriously, if you have problems with your customers they will realize this and your tips will go down). Serving is definitely a field where the use of drugs might be attractive since you need high energy for long amounts of time. I never got into anything besides caffeine though. Oh, and I never went stoned mostly cause I am very awkward when I am high.
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mescalinician
orbiting earth



Registered: 01/18/10
Posts: 645
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Got a job as a server [Re: Smitington]
#15223036 - 10/13/11 11:59 PM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Right on man, thanks for the response.
I'm pretty good with public speaking and relating to people, talking bullshit etc., so I think I definitely have the potential to be a really good server.
As for using dr00gz on the job, I'll probably supplement with caffeine and/or pre-workout supplements I use for bodybuilding. I plan hitting the ground running and working some doubles during my first couple of weeks, and so I'll probably need something to help keep me running.
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Smitington
Unidentified Flying Object


Registered: 08/10/09
Posts: 1,408
Loc: Mushroom Kingdom
Last seen: 10 years, 9 months
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Well good luck. Some people are just naturals at it.
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Anthony
M1 A1


Registered: 06/16/11
Posts: 3,725
Loc: earth
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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just FYI it's not easy to get a job bartending. most places wont hire you unless you have 2 years experience. Getting the first job is the toughest part, but once you get good experience, jobs are plentiful.
Serving is a pain in the ass. You get shitty customers who leave horrible tips and waste your fucking time. On the other hand you'll have the nice people who leave fat tips and are reasonable. I mean, it's the service industry...people are bastards. Expect it.
-------------------- Trippin? Click Me...... Me too!
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daiy

Registered: 01/09/08
Posts: 2,989
Loc:
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Re: Got a job as a server [Re: Anthony]
#15223219 - 10/14/11 01:15 AM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Anthony said: people are bastards. Expect it.
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mescalinician
orbiting earth



Registered: 01/18/10
Posts: 645
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Got a job as a server [Re: daiy]
#15223227 - 10/14/11 01:17 AM (12 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yeah, I am expecting it. I dealt with my fair share of assholes while delivering pizzas. But at the same time there are a lot of really cool people out there too, so I'm not completely jaded about my future customers.
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Anthony
M1 A1


Registered: 06/16/11
Posts: 3,725
Loc: earth
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Quote:
mescalinician said: Yeah, I am expecting it. I dealt with my fair share of assholes while delivering pizzas. But at the same time there are a lot of really cool people out there too, so I'm not completely jaded about my future customers.
like the ones who buy $200+ worth of food, take up a shitload of your time, and leave a $10 tip.
Like others have said the key is to get the people to spend a lot of money, and get them out of there as fast as possible. The quicker you can flip tables, the more tips you make. That's when it gets shitty...when you have a couples tables who linger, and spend a lot of money, and leave shitty tips.
There have been days where some of the servers in my bar have sold $600+ and made $50 in tips. Pretty fuckin weak
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ZippoZ
Knomadic


Registered: 06/17/03
Posts: 13,227
Loc: Pongyang, North Korea
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congrats on the new job!
ive served for years, and coming into a new resturant, you have to understand you are the bottom man on the totem pole. Im sure people have worked there for years, and they are going to get all the good shifts.
I would recommend being as friendly with everyone as you can, and learning the job as best as you can.
I used to offer to take peoples shifts, and or work later for them, so they could go home early. It really helps boost the amount of tables and income you will get.
-------------------- PEACE
zippoz "in times of widespread chaos and confusion, it has been the duty of more advanced human beings - artists, scientists, clowns, and philosophers - to create order. In such times as ours however, when there is too much order, too much m management, too much programming and control, it becomes the duty of superior men and women and women to fling their favorite monkey wrenches into the machinery. To relieve the repression of the human spirit, they must sow doubt and disruption" "People do it every day, they talk to themselves ... they see themselves as they'd like to be, they don't have the courage you have, to just run with it."
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