Waiting tables - still the relatively decent job that anyone can get?

[Adam Strange]

I’m making plans for after my return from an out-of-state job interview next week. For the sake of safety, I’m assuming I’m not going to get the job - or will wait for a decision for a while - and plan to support myself in Pittsburgh some way.

How easy is it to find a job waiting tables? People have told me it’s a decent way to make a living, while waiting for something in journalism to come along, and that waiters at more affluent restaurants can make a decent wage – as much, if not more, than entry level positions in many fields that require a college education.

In what I consider an incredibly ironic turn of events, my cousin continued waiting tables at a Connecticut country club after earning his degree in his economics because his economic sense told him it would pay 50% more than an entry level job in economics.

I used to think it would be an easy job to get; it seems like it wouldn’t require much training, but most ads I see say “experience required” or at least “experience preferred.” Is this one of the formerly “unskilled” jobs that has become coveted given the new job market?

Also, many specify “waitress.” Is it still considered a “job for women,” making it difficult for a man to get in?

Has anyone else made it into this field? If so, do you have any advice?

[MerrillLynch06]

Yes, it is true that waiting jobs do pay more than most entry level jobs.

You need to look at it this way though, how are you going to get experience in your industry if you wait tables for 3 years?

There is really no room for growth in waiting tables, and that entry level job you can take that pays less, will almost defintley pay more in 3 years.

It is all about investing in your future, not short term gains.

[SpaceMonkey]

Yes, it is true that waiting jobs do pay more than most entry level jobs.

You need to look at it this way though, how are you going to get experience in your industry if you wait tables for 3 years?

There is really no room for growth in waiting tables, and that entry level job you can take that pays less, will almost defintley pay more in 3 years.

It is all about investing in your future, not short term gains.

I don't think he wants to make a career of waiting tables. Just pay the bills while he is looking for other work (in journalism, he mentioned).

[Adam Strange]

I don't think he wants to make a career of waiting tables. Just pay the bills while he is looking for other work (in journalism, he mentioned).

That's right. I'm not looking to do what my cousin did (I don't know when or if he's going to start in economics); I just want to survive for the time being.

[MerrillLynch06]

I don't think he wants to make a career of waiting tables. Just pay the bills while he is looking for other work (in journalism, he mentioned).

I realize that but I was responding to the part where he talks about his cousin saying that he chose to wait tables because it paid more than an entry level job



In what I consider an incredibly ironic turn of events, my cousin continued waiting tables at a Connecticut country club after earning his degree in his economics because his economic sense told him it would pay 50% more than an entry level job in economics.

[spokes]

a guy i played hockey with a while back was a bartender at one of the biger nightclubs here, he works 3 or 4 nights per week and earned about $50k - plus there was some nice perks to working at this particular club.

Anotehr guy I sorta know works at an upper end restaurant in the downtown area, he suggested to me that a good waiter, with some expereince can make around $70k (I should note that in my area the enocomy is in overdrive and there is lots of $$$ floating around due to the oil and gas industry). Needless to say I was somewhat shocked that a waiter could amke that much, however this was the type of place where a group of 10 people would come a drop $500 for lunch..............

[PenforPrez]

You need to look at it this way though, how are you going to get experience in your industry if you wait tables for 3 years?

What about those of us who can't get jobs at all?

Paul

[Deavan]

I’m making plans for after my return from an out-of-state job interview next week. For the sake of safety, I’m assuming I’m not going to get the job - or will wait for a decision for a while - and plan to support myself in Pittsburgh some way.

How easy is it to find a job waiting tables? People have told me it’s a decent way to make a living, while waiting for something in journalism to come along, and that waiters at more affluent restaurants can make a decent wage – as much, if not more, than entry level positions in many fields that require a college education.

In what I consider an incredibly ironic turn of events, my cousin continued waiting tables at a Connecticut country club after earning his degree in his economics because his economic sense told him it would pay 50% more than an entry level job in economics.

I used to think it would be an easy job to get; it seems like it wouldn’t require much training, but most ads I see say “experience required” or at least “experience preferred.” Is this one of the formerly “unskilled” jobs that has become coveted given the new job market?

Also, many specify “waitress.” Is it still considered a “job for women,” making it difficult for a man to get in?

Has anyone else made it into this field? If so, do you have any advice?

Hey I have a full time job mid level making mid 40s and I still wait table 2-3 nights a week just for extra cash... its a LOT of hours but I am now 26 with out any CC debt AND I no longer have school loans so it paid off for me because every dollar I make now is mine :) So take the entry level job AND try and wiat tables

[MerrillLynch06]

What about those of us who can't get jobs at all?

Paul

Then I guess waiting tables is for you.

[PenforPrez]

Then I guess waiting tables is for you.

I can't get a job waiting tables. I'm always told I'm "overqualified."

English translation: We think we can hire a HS dropout cheaper than we can hire you! :mad:

Paul

[MerrillLynch06]

I can't get a job waiting tables. I'm always told I'm "overqualified."

English translation: We think we can hire a HS dropout cheaper than we can hire you! :mad:

Paul

The say "Fine, I'd like to apply for the manager's position" :huge:

[PenforPrez]

The say "Fine, I'd like to apply for the manager's position" :huge:

I've been called overqualified for those too. Not nearly as much, thank God!

[Adam Strange]

I can't get a job waiting tables. I'm always told I'm "overqualified."

English translation: We think we can hire a HS dropout cheaper than we can hire you! :mad:


That's what I was told when I applied to work at a catering company. The owner - God bless him; he was honest with me - said, "I think you'll get a job in writing and leave."

He also suggested I "take over for Dan Savage; that guy writes some crazy shit." I don't know if he realized that Savage was nationally syndicated or if he thought he was on staff at Pittsburgh City Paper. Some people have no idea how tough it is out there.

The overeducated need to eat too!

[Cole]

I'm in a similar boat... I'm quitting my 9-5 with a salary and benefits, b/c my brother works 4 nights a week as a bartender and makes 1 1/2 times what I do!

So I"m hoping it's easy to get into, too...

[EmberMae]

That's what I was told when I applied to work at a catering company. The owner - God bless him; he was honest with me - said, "I think you'll get a job in writing and leave."

The overeducated need to eat too!
Jobs in food service have so much turnover; it's absurd that they pull this crap on you. I tried to get a summer job as a hostess and was turned down because I couldn't commit to staying in the fall. I suck at lying. Yeah, you might get a job in writing and leave, you also might last twice as long as their average employee in the process. Anyway, of course as in anything else they like people to have serving experience; whether that will prevent you from getting a job depends on the local economy. If you live anywhere near a college it may be quite difficult. You will probably have a decent chance at casual dining chains, not so much at the nicer restaurants. The crappier the restaurant, (& thus low paying) the more likely it is to be considered a job for women, and vice versa.

[asm198]

The crappier the restaurant, (& thus low paying) the more likely it is to be considered a job for women, and vice versa.

That is about the most bullshit thing I've read in a long time. Unless I'm totally reading you wrong (if I am, I appologize), you're saying that women are generally only seriously considered for the lower paying serving jobs. In my area, that is so wrong. Experience is what matters here, not your gender.


My fiance (male) works management in a restaurant. Our old roommate (female) works as a server. She has a college degree and works for a national chain. He also has a degree and works for a local company. They make roughly the same amount of cash. He has benefits; she doesn't. However, cash to paycheck, they make about the same. He works more hours than she does.

She and I had extensive conversations on why she doesn't try for something in her field (marketing), rather than work in a restaurant. For her, it comes down to the money. She makes more money working where she does than she would in her degree field. Especially with the flexibility she has. She worked about 35 hours a week and with her seniority, could pick her hours.

From what I can gather, not extensively working in the industry myself, it's pretty hard to get into. Yeah, you can be a server in a restaurant, but you will be on the low end of the totem pole, and have to work the crap shifts until you can prove yourself and work your way up to the prime money shifts. And if you have no serving experience, the higher priced places won't bother with you.

There is a ton of turnover, but with that you also have many career servers. I'd say my old roommate would be a career server. She's worked for the same company for nearly a decade. Because of the store she worked at, she could get a job with the company in any city she wanted to. The store she works at currently has the most senior staff of any in the country.

My fiance works for a local place, but he has a huge senior staff. He's worked for this store for 3 years now and has staff who has been there for years longer than he has. If you want to be a career server, you can be. And generally, most of the places I'm familiar with have a tendency to promote from within. A good chunk of the managers that my fiance and roommate have worked with have worked their way up from servers and bussers.

[EmberMae]

That is about the most bullshit thing I've read in a long time. Unless I'm totally reading you wrong (if I am, I appologize), you're saying that women are generally only seriously considered for the lower paying serving jobs. In my area, that is so wrong. Experience is what matters here, not your gender.

I've just noticed that diners and such seem to have mostly female servers whereas expensive, 5 star-type restaurants have mostly male servers. I have no idea exactly why this is, it is simply an observation based on my experience. I've hardly ever had a male waiter at IHOP for example. Sorry if I was unclear.

[Q21]

If you are overqualified for a waitressing job- simply say you only graduated highschool. Will they really know either way?

[MerrillLynch06]

I've just noticed that diners and such seem to have mostly female servers whereas expensive, 5 star-type restaurants have mostly male servers. I have no idea exactly why this is, it is simply an observation based on my experience. I've hardly ever had a male waiter at IHOP for example. Sorry if I was unclear.

Its a custom. If you go to a truley italian restaurant you will only find male servers. Its just a custom, not a big deal.

[seanstevens]

I don't think that you have to tell a restaurant manager that you have a degree when you apply. Just say that you want to wait. The higher-end restaurants will have bigger tips and can be more selective, but if you are presentable, I can't imagine not being able to get a serving job somewhere.

Shave, wear nice clothes (look the part with black pants and white shirt), take out the lip ring and cover up the tattoo.

Most restaurant managers will settle for someone that will show up on time and not steal too much.

I liked waiting tables because it was fast paced and the time went by quickly, but I also saw the people that were 40 and still waiting tables and knew that I didn't want to do that.

You also have to be careful since lots of waiters make pretty good tips, but end up spending a lot of that cash in their pockets going out after they get off.

[youwait4me]

I can't get a job waiting tables. I'm always told I'm "overqualified."

English translation: We think we can hire a HS dropout cheaper than we can hire you! :mad:

Paul

That doesn't make sense to me either. You're either overqualified or underqualified for everything so you cannot do anything so you are unemployed forever then?? This world is so stupid.

[beeblebrox]

That doesn't make sense to me either. You're either overqualified or underqualified for everything so you cannot do anything so you are unemployed forever then?? This world is so stupid.

I think it's a matter of just working whether or not you're overqualified or underqualified. Somebody will see something in you to think that you can work for them. If you think that you'll be unemployed forever, that's just sad. I would hate to be unemployed for the rest of my life.

[youwait4me]

I think it's a matter of just working whether or not you're overqualified or underqualified. Somebody will see something in you to think that you can work for them. If you think that you'll be unemployed forever, that's just sad. I would hate to be unemployed for the rest of my life.

I probably will be unemployed forever considering that even temp places require experience. Someone suggested temp places and apparently you cannot work there either witout experience.

[astronaut83]

I probably will be unemployed forever considering that even temp places require experience. Someone suggested temp places and apparently you cannot work there either witout experience.
Then you need to look for another temp place (and actually do some research instead of waiting for people to give you info!!). Temp and staffing agencies are despearately looking for people so they can meet their client's needs and even meet their quota.

Never mind. I'm probably talking to myself. Hi astronaut, how are you? I'm okay, how about youself? Eh, a little bored and tired. I might take a nap. Sounds like a good idea.

[LaFille]

i've worked in a ton of restaurants and seen a lot of fellow waiters and waitresses come and go and never ONCE have i heard of anyone being told they were 'overqualified' for a serving position. and no, they can't just 'hire a high school dropout for less' since most people only make a couple bucks an hour in wages anyway. you'd be surprised at the number of people working in restaurants with full time jobs, often as teachers or in businesses. if these people were not told they were 'overqualified,' i have a hard time believing that someone with absolutely no experience at all was told this. like any other job, you have to start at the bottom either working bad shifts at a crappy restaurant or bussing or just luck out and snag a good job. but its stressful, fast-paced, sometimes mind-numbing work and i've seen a lot of very intelligent hard working people have a hard time doing it...

[Spinney]

I've been told that. Then again it may have had more to do with the fact that I don't have breasts. It was also summer break in a city with like 7 universities, so I'm sure he had more than enough people applying who were actually still in school and didn't have the possibility of finding a better job in a month.

Edit - I should also clarify that I have two degrees, and one of them is computer science. It seems that there are a hell of a lot of people who haven't heard that the dot com boom is over, and that it isn't actually all that easy to get an IT job anymore :googly:

[LaFille]

ok, i mean i believe it happens... but i think its really rare. and spinney you're right its often easier to get a waiting job if you are an attractive girl. maybe get breast implants? :)

[Spinney]

Either that or start binge eating for a few months. I can't imagine going to a restaurant and having someone with a 5 o'clock shadow and 36DD's come to take my order. :eek:

[LaFille]

wow. now that you've placed the mental image in my head i CAN imagine it. and i'm scared.