1. Your job is what you make of it. Serving tables wasn't exactly what I had in mind for my first job out of college. In life, you have the choice to beat yourself up over your situation, or embrace it. I could've taken the job for what it is at surface level: taking orders and running food. Instead, I considered serving the perfect opportunity to develop my real-world communication skills. I became more confident in interacting with strangers as well as the art of establishing a common interest within moments of meeting. In most work-related scenarios, you can develop a skill set that will propel you in the right direction.
2. Constantly network. The opportunity often presented itself to engage in small-talk with tables. It seemed beneficial to mention my educational background in journalism. This often led to, "well I work at a local newspaper, send me an email" or "I know someone in that field. I'll put you in touch." There was absolutely no shame in collecting those business cards in my receipt book. Engage with as many people as you can. If you're likable, people will want to help you.
3. Be likable. Seems simple enough, right? The question is, what makes a person likable? I found that my tips were better the more I smiled, asked the customer about themselves, or told them how cute their kids are (even if they were reaping havoc in the booth). The key is to be genuine. I once complimented a woman's cheetah print cardigan. She returned to the restaurant weeks later just to give me a cheetah print scarf because it "reminded her of me." Small gestures of kindness leave lasting impressions.
4. Teamwork makes the dream work. I don't know the origin of this phrase, but my manager, Jack, would always say it. As cheesy as it sounds, it's true. I often worked behind the bar alongside one to two other bartenders. We "shared" tables and customers. Therefore, we were all responsible for each other's success each night. Some nights we succeeded, and some nights we sucked. Regardless, we reaped the cash rewards of a successful night or reflected on what went wrong for a messy shift. We learned each other's strengths and weaknesses, and in turn, learned how to work more effectively together.
5. Be humble. There were countless times that I felt as though I was being treated unfairly by customers with a superiority complex. I was made to feel like I was failing at what some may consider a simple job. In these moments, I wanted so badly to slam my degree on the table and shout, "I am intelligent and I'm doing the best I can!" As nice as that scenario was to imagine, I found it to be most effective to remain calm and humble. Does that mean the customer is always right? Definitely not. But it was my duty to make sure they left satisfied. Keeping your cool is key. As my mom always said, "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar." Never forget the bigger picture. When things get tough, often times you need to put your pride aside and keep chugging along.
If you have never served tables, take it from someone who has been there. It's not easy. But, it's undoubtedly one of the best ways to quickly develop person-to-person experience in a work environment. You will learn more about your own strengths and weaknesses. And, best of all, you will meet some of the kindest folks ever. From the couple that loved to talk about their son serving overseas, to the little boy who brought me a dandelion to work on Valentine's Day. I don't regret one moment spent in those non-slip shoes.
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| Working behind the bar at Macaroni Grill |
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