Got a job as a Waiter, need advice!

[Nox]

Earlier today I went to a job interview for a Waiter position at a hotel, I did pretty well because they offered me a trial which is tomorrow at 6pm.

I'm really nervous because I've never been in employment before, let alone been a waiter.

If anyone here has been a waiter I need advice because they are throwing me in the deep end with little/no training.

Thanks

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Thread moved to Mutual Aid

[Dunk]

I was a waiter my last job. They handed me a menu, a nametag, a couple shirts, and told me to study the menu, prices, and a manual they sent me in an e-mail. Then I shadowed a more experienced person for a couple hours, then they shadowed me and made sure I could do it. I was considered a trainee for a couple more weeks. After that, they expected me to know everything. You can only learn the basics fast. Learning how to handle people is a lifelong subject.

If you've never done it before, and they offered you nothing, no menu, no training material, then I don't know what the fuck they expect. Try not to be nervous, I suppose. Some newbs don't know how to talk to strangers. Remember that the people you're serving pay your bills, because your employer sure as fuck isn't going to pay you enough to pay bills.

I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck, and I hope they tip well.

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

Don't dropp stuff.

[Robespierres Neck]

Be kind. :wub:


I'm sure you'll be okay.

[Nox]

Don't dropp stuff.

That's my worst fear.

[Nox]

If you've never done it before, and they offered you nothing, no menu, no training material, then I don't know what the fuck they expect. Try not to be nervous, I suppose. Some newbs don't know how to talk to strangers. Remember that the people you're serving pay your bills, because your employer sure as fuck isn't going to pay you enough to pay bills.

I've never done it before and as far as I know, there will be no training. I arrive at 5:55pm, help them set up, then serve until 8pm. I am guessing I will either get the job or not based on my performance later today.

I am nervous as fuck. I really need this job, but I'm a social retard and I know I am gonna mess up.

[Ele'ill]

Nox, mess up and be ok with it. Everybody fucks up.

[helot]

You'll be expected to make a few mistakes as you're new and haven't worked before. Just be polite and learn the basics and you'll be alright. It's when you've been there a few months and you're fucking up that there's a problem.

[Nox]

I went and did it, it wasn't nearly as hard as I expected it to be. The waitress I worked with was pretty nice too.

[Peoples' War]

I know a trick a few friends use. Get down-pat a system of abbreviations for items...a lot easier to write "OJ" as opposed to "orange juice" use "w/" for with. etc.

You'll want to just relax and be super curteous, even if they hassle you: "chips are cold" "hair in my soup", etc.

[ellipsis]

Is it waiting tables at a restaurant or for events/ conventions? Convention work is nice because there is lots of down time and the pay is decent.

[Nox]

Is it waiting tables at a restaurant or for events/ conventions? Convention work is nice because there is lots of down time and the pay is decent.

It's both. I got the job btw. :D

One thing I gotta say is that the hotel is pretty good because they let the waiters keep all the tips, and it's a high end hotel so people tip a lot by UK standards.

But I'm very very very nervous about coworkers. For three days next week I will have to meet a new set of coworkers and it will be extremely awkward. Fuck, for god's sake, a part of me wishes I didn't get the job because of meeting the new coworkers, but I need it and I'm gonna force myself to do it for my own good. Aaaaaaaargh. :(

I'm normally a fairly confident person, but meeting new people in groups just make me totally crumble. I'm pretty much fine one-on-one though, it's just when there's more than one of them.

If anyone has any advice or has been in a similar situation before, please help me! D:

[Prometeo liberado]

Don't worry about your coworkers. They have all been in your place before. And as for dropping stuff, you will do it eventually so why worry? This can be an extremely fun, and at the same time stressful job. You will become very close with the people you work with. Im a manager now, I do miss it. Conrgats!

[Nox]

Don't worry about your coworkers. They have all been in your place before. And as for dropping stuff, you will do it eventually so why worry? This can be an extremely fun, and at the same time stressful job. You will become very close with the people you work with. Im a manager now, I do miss it. Conrgats!

To be honest it's fine, but the only time I freak out is when they have a meeting before each evening service. All the waiters/waitresses are sat down and I'm the new guy and it's just unbearably awkward :P I'm a pretty socially awkward and distant person so it will certainly take a while to get acquainted with them.

They will start me off as a runner (just taking out food) and they'll probably get me to carry several plates on a tray, I am very worried about dropping stuff.

[Prometeo liberado]

I freak out is when they have a meeting before each evening service
"Line-Up" is a little intimidating at first. After I dropped my first plate and got railed by the Chef I was totaly over being stressed by it. Pretty soon you will be able to endure heat from the plates that would make most people cry and your arms will look like Popeyes arms. Fun stuff!!:laugh:

[shuras]

Be sincere with customers, not fake just to try and get more tips. If you want more pay get it off the fucking boss not us.

[Leonid Brozhnev]

Be sincere with customers, not fake just to try and get more tips. If you want more pay get it off the fucking boss not us.

Tipping isn't customary here, can fake being nice all you want and still get squat. If it's a nice hotel then you'll probably more likely to get tips than if you worked in a bar, but it's up to the conscious of the individual tipper.

[teflon_john]

i remember when i was a waiter i dropped a tray of drinks right in some guy's lap. it was my first table and first day on the job. he got a free lunch and was pretty happy with that. you'll be alright.


pro tips: absolutely do not be intimidated by other kitchen/wait staff that have been there longer than you. they are full of shit. also, absolutely *do* have sex with as many of your coworkers as possible.

[maskerade]

If you're nervous about your coworkers, just smile and remember their names and greet them by it. People love to hear their own names. good luck!

[Nox]

bsolutely *do* have sex with as many of your coworkers as possible.

Hah, with a bit of luck...

[ellipsis]

I found that my coworkers were a great source of information and guidance when I was learning the ropes.

[Nox]

Just had my first proper paid shift, 18:00-22:15 (we finished early), it was awesome, had a lot of fun, the co workers are pretty cool too, it wasn't awkward at all :D

[Lynx]

Sometimes the best thing about work are your fellow workers or colleagues :)

[Nox]

Sometimes the best thing about work are your fellow workers or colleagues :)

Yeah. Had a few laughs, didn't talk much but it wasn't awkward like last week.

[ellipsis]

still working out for you?

[Nox]

still working out for you?

Yeah I've settled in well. Coming up to the 2-month mark now.

[ellipsis]

And it's pretty straight forward huh? Coworkers pretty helpful and accomidating ?

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

1. Flirt. Be personable. Be honest, but not too honest.
2. Whenever you get caught doing anything (e.g. eating directly from the bucket of feta cheese), remember that's it's because you're endearingly stupid, and, instead of being defensive, ask earnestly for advice / about the rules / whatever.

[o well this is ok I guess]

Be sincere with customers, not fake just to try and get more tips. If you want more pay get it off the fucking boss not us. haha
hahahaha
hahahahahahaha
u srs?

[Nox]

And it's pretty straight forward huh? Coworkers pretty helpful and accomidating ?

The work's pretty simple. The coworkers are nice. I'm a generally quiet person, but I talk to some more than others. Some of them are just those types of people who are comfortable to be around. Most of the other part timers joined around the same time as me so it feels good to not be the new guy.

[Soomie]

I honestly hate serving positions. I mean, nothing against it or anything. It's just not my thing. I'm much more comfortable in the kitchen where I don't have to interact with too many people and can just do my own thing. I would like to get into mixology after I turn 21, though.

[Prometeo liberado]

I honestly hate serving positions. I mean, nothing against it or anything. It's just not my thing. I'm much more comfortable in the kitchen where I don't have to interact with too many people and can just do my own thing. I would like to get into mixology after I turn 21, though.

If you truly enjoy the solitude of the kitchen, and I do as well, then you got no business behind the bar. More so than those sitting at a table, bar patrons want to be entertained. Just the way it is.

[Soomie]

If you truly enjoy the solitude of the kitchen, and I do as well, then you got no business behind the bar. More so than those sitting at a table, bar patrons want to be entertained. Just the way it is.

Good point. Guess I just figured that since I have an interest in good alcoholic drinks and mixology that it would be worth a try. I feel that if it's something I enjoy that I might do better than in a position that I feel I'm just doing because I need a job.

[Prometeo liberado]

What I really hated about bartending was that I couldn't get away from the customer the way you can as a waiter. The first few years were cool but then I just got so sick of the mentality of "Your a bartender. Your supposed to listen to all my shit". You may end up liking it though.

[Nox]

I honestly hate serving positions. I mean, nothing against it or anything. It's just not my thing. I'm much more comfortable in the kitchen where I don't have to interact with too many people and can just do my own thing. I would like to get into mixology after I turn 21, though.

I'm technically not a waiter, I'm a runner. All I do is take food to tables and room service to rooms. Depending on how busy it is, I could spend up to 90% of my time in the kitchen polishing/counting cutlery, folding napkins, and polishing glasses.

[Nox]

I am very afraid that I will be fired.

I missed staff training last Sunday, and I called in sick this morning.

[Grenzer]

You should become a Hoxhaist again. That would turn the entire situation around.

"So I hear there's this shitty employee who's been giving you trouble. Why haven't you fired him yet."

"Are you fucking insane? This guy worships Stalin. He might stalk me home and murder me by strangling me with a used pair of Stalin's undergarments."

[Rugged Collectivist]

You should become a Hoxhaist again. That would turn the entire situation around.

"So I hear there's this shitty employee who's been giving you trouble. Why haven't you fired him yet."

"Are you fucking insane? This guy worships Stalin. He might stalk me home and murder me by strangling me with a used pair of Stalin's undergarments."

Nah, anarchism is good for that too.

"So I hear there's this shitty employee who's been giving you trouble. Why haven't you fired him yet."

"Are you fucking insane? This guy is an anarchist. He might shoot me in the neck while I'm sitting at my desk or put a bomb in my car."