any advice for getting a waitperson job

[leftofthedial]

when you have no experience?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

1. They love it when you have no experience!!!

Go to one of the chain restaurants, and they have a great training program. Some of them require that you take psych tests to see how you will handle customers, but those are easy to get past. Good Luck!
Duckie

[yewberry]

2. Actually kind of hard to do.

A few things:
apply at a corporate place--single-owners have far more on the line when they hire new staff
highlight your sense of ownership (if you have it)
bring your own danged pen to fill out the app
DO NOT apply from 11:00-2:30 or after 4:30 or your application goes straight into the circular file
expect to work crap shifts at first
be engaging and a "team player"

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. not totally true.... I own a restaurant.... sole proprieter...

and I'd just as soon hire someone who knows nothing and spend a few days teaching them the way I want things done, as opposed to hiring someone that knows a lot, but you have to break them of the habit of "how we did it where I worked before"....

:hi:

Ghost

edited: kuz Ah caint spele gud

[yewberry]

4. Heh, that's true.

There are some places that do prefer not to have to break all of a server's old (bad) habits!

The last restaurant I worked for was a tiny fine-dining place where the FOH staff consisted of a grand total of four people--I guess that's where I was coming from when I made that remark. Hiring was a huge issue for us, because if we hired someone and they didn't stick around, we had to start all over again and the chef/owner would get all crazy about it. (And I do mean crazy.)

Hope business is good!

[Skittles]

8. hey

do you test the new waiters on your regulars? I get that a lot in my favorite restaurant - the new wait person :)

[Ghost in the Machine]

9. they get tested by *everyone*

I just have a small place... 14 booths and 6 stools at the counter. Seating capacity of 64. I usually just have one server on the floor, but if we get slammed, really busy, even my dishwashers pitch in and help, either by bussing tables, taking an order, or refilling someones drink. I'd say right now that about 80 percent of my business is regulars and repeat customers. I've only been open since Oct 1st, so I'm still building my clientel list.

PEACE!

Ghost

[enigmatic]

12. Good for you

I know what it's like to open a Restuarant and build a clientele; it's tough. I wish you the best:)

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. Thank you....

It's a learning experience for me. So far, it's working out good. Word of mouth and repeat customers are my advertising base right now. I'm working on advertising budget though.

[enigmatic]

11. I can understand that

I was an owner too, and I went back and forth on that; some servers I felt that way about, but others I was glad to have because of their experience; it bailed the kitchen out a few times..

[Redstone]

5. Yes: Don't.

Redstone

[leftofthedial]

6. LOL

Sounds like a "yeah, right," but I'm asking on behalf of a friend. Because I have played music in bars and restaurants for a hundred years, he thinks I'm an expert.

[femmocrat]

7. I agree. Waiting tables was the worst job I ever had.

I absolutely hated it and swore I would never, ever do it again. Fortunately, I didn't have to.

[enigmatic]

10. I've been in the business for over 20 years

First thing; DO NOT go to work at the chain places if you can help it; it's garbage in and garbage out, and it a nightmare to work even if you have alot of experience.

If you're a good self-organizer it's a huge plus, because you'll be juggling a bunch of tables at your busiest. Some people are naturals, and if you are one of them it's pretty commonplace to be able to make some serious money at it. You also have to have a fairly thick skin, because there are alot of raging asses who will try to fuck w/ you for the fun of it, but there are even more incredibly nice people who will make your day w/ kindness and generous tips:)

Everybody should be a server/work in retail for at least a year; I'd love to see this passed as law..

[astral]

14. I was one of those people not cut out for it

I was in tears after four days. But I did fine hostessing / bussing / salad making / beverage bringing / cashiering, in fact I kinda liked restaurant work. I tell you, I give a gal a reasonably nice tip even if she's crappy at it, so long as she's just crappy because she is in the wrong line of work, I totally understand that, and it's hard work whether your are good at it or crappy at it!

But, if you actually WANT to do this, you'll probably get real good real fast and I hear a good waiter / waitress at a good establishment can make good income on tips.

Plus, wherever you go you can find a job.