Working in a kitchen is more physical work than I expected. As a short/relatively weak person it's pretty hard work. It can be pretty fun too, though.
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Restaurant Server
February - October 2022 • Brighton, MI
What I liked
The work style is teamwork-oriented and everyone helps one another to ensure the best customer experience is given. I enjoyed always staying busy with helping customers or other staff members.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Dining Room Host/Hostess
June - August 2021 • Vancouver, WA
What I liked
A lot of my fellow employees were great people and a lot of fun to work with. We supported each other and tried to make each other's lives easier.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had been able to sit at the host desk without needing a doctor's note. It's ridiculous to be expected to stand nonstop for a 4+ hour shift.
Advice
If you're a host, just remember that you're the face of the restaurant: you will be the one to get yelled at for your manager(s)'s decisions. Be prepared.
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Dining Room Host/Hostess
July - September 2021 • Gresham, OR
What I liked
I really enjoyed the camaraderie between the workers, and I had some nights where I made really good tips as a share of the pool. Working at Red Robin was the best summer job I've had, even despite covid, and while I was definitely ready to move on come September I'll look back at that time with some fondness.
What I wish was different
I worked as a to-go specialist/host/server partner, doing essentially whatever customer-facing position was short that shift, and I wish that I had applied only to be a server partner, which is an easier and better paying job than either of the other two. Host is a non-tipped position, so there you're earning minimum wage. I would also say it's also the most unpleasant job. To-go specialist is a tipped position, but most people don't tip. Honestly I can't blame them considering how often things got screwed up. Service partners, however, are in the servers' tipping pool and pull pretty significant tip money on a good night. On occasion I would go home with $50 or $60 in cash.
The other main thing I'd have liked to be different was that we were always understaffed due to covid-related causes. At first they just couldn't find good applicants, and I do kind of think that is the only reason I was hired, but later we actually had a employee test positive for covid and all unvaccinated workers were required to stay home. As one of the approximately half of the employees that was vaccinated, I worked a lot of double shifts for a week or so. While the shortage of workers made the tip pool smaller, and I definitely got some monetary benefit from that, I think it would have been worth the loss of earnings to avoid the stress of doing up to three or four people's jobs simultaneously.
Advice
I'd say the fastest way to earn your coworkers respect is just to show that you're trying to learn.
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Server
April 2017 • Colorado Springs, CO
What I liked
I enjoy my coworkers. I also enjoy being able to fulfill a leadership position while working and communicating with people in my team. I also enjoy being able to make connection with community members and interact with different people.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had a job that pushed me to critically think more.
Advice
Being able to work with your team members makes the job much more enjoyable and efficient. Learn to communicate with people!
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Server
June 2017 • Colorado Springs, CO
What I liked
My coworkers and meeting new people everyday.
What I wish was different
The managers because they don't care about their employees they care about profit. Requesting time off is a nightmare.
Advice
If you ever go into serving the biggest piece of advice that I have is be the server you wish you could have when you dine out. I try to make every experience smooth and anticipate the needs of my guest.
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Server
June 2017 • Colorado Springs, CO
What I liked
My coworkers and meeting new people everyday.
What I wish was different
The managers because they don't care about their employees they care about profit. Requesting time off is a nightmare.
Advice
If you ever go into serving the biggest piece of advice that I have is be the server you wish you could have when you dine out. I try to make every experience smooth and anticipate the needs of my guest.
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Server
July 2019 • Seattle, WA
What I liked
Free burgers
What I wish was different
Less busy
Advice
Work a intership
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Dining Room Host/Hostess
October 2018 - August 2019 • Woodland, CA
What I liked
I liked the flexibility with my student schedule. Management was very understanding and still gave me the maximum amount of hours I could give.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Server
June - August 2019 • Lone Tree, CO
What I liked
Amazing coworkers and managers, flexible and very positive work place
What I wish was different
Sometimes I was given shifts that were hard to plan around (double shifts but with a break in between that wasn't enough time to do anything or a very long break)
Advice
It is always a good idea to get experience in customer service!
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Cook
March 2019 • Boise, ID
What I liked
Decent hours for students in college needing to get by
What I wish was different
I wish/ need to find a job closer to my degree to start getting some valuable experience
Advice
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Restaurant Server
November 2018 • Friendswood, TX
What I liked
What I wish was different
I wish my job over the summer had been more pertinent to the field in which I had chosen to go into. However because most internships do not pay, that was not possible.
Advice
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Server/Bartender
January 2017 • Webster, NY
What I liked
The social interactions with strangers/ getting to know new people.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Server
August 2018 • Mays Landing, NJ
What I liked
Flexible hours, great staff, customer service
What I wish was different
Temperature in restaurant, summer guests can be difficult to work with, number of servers scheduled to work was overwhelming
Advice
It helps you learn to be part of a team, each person is considered a member of a team instead of just an employee. We all help each other succeed.
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Dining Room Host/Hostess
November 2017 - April 2019 • Huntsville, AL
What I liked
Meeting new people and obtaining new skills that will be useful forever. I like that I know how every restaurant is run when I go to eat and I can be more understanding with my host/server.
What I wish was different
I wish the servers had a better attitude as the host you have to make stuff seating decisions especially when the restaurant is busy. Whenever a customer, server or manager is upset with something you are the first person they blame even though that's just the job.
Advice
It helps to let things go over your shoulder, people make comments but it's usually just how they are feeling at that moment. don't get too caught up on whether you overwhelming a server especially if you HAVE to seat someone, just seat them and ask the server if they need any help.
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Waitress
April - August 2019 • Pocatello, ID
What I liked
Management worked will with my schedule and was focused on the improving the team.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Hostess
June 2018 • Canoga Park, CA
What I liked
I liked that I was able to use my skills to be able to help people. Being a hostess requires you to communicate and assist with both the customers and the coworkers/team members. I answer questions from customers, answer numerous phone calls, and make sure that the restaurant is running smoothly. My manager also said that I am "the ears and eyes of the restaurant", so I am usually the first person to notice if something is going wrong.
What I wish was different
Although I can't say that where I work or what I do is "perfect" (I still want to go into my preferred field -- health care), I would not wish that anything would be different. The management there is great and I always feel comfortable working there. It's the perfect summer job for me!
Advice
If you are introverted and feel that you might not like working in a restaurant, it wouldn't hurt to experience working in one. I did not expect to enjoy this job as much because I originally believed that restaurant jobs were not made for shy people like me. Because of this job, I am able to communicate with people better than I ever did before and I am not nearly as shy as I was when I first started working there.
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Server
December 2018 - August 2019 • Seven Hills, OH
What I liked
Easy to schedule around school and you can make great money without working extensive hours.
What I wish was different
I do not enjoy the customer service industry. The only hard part about the job was customers.
Advice
If you are social you can do this job very well and make great money.
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Server
September 2018 - August 2019 • Allentown, PA
What I liked
I loved the people I worked with.
What I wish was different
I wish I made more money. I relied on tips.
Advice
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Cook
May - August 2019 • Sherwood, OR
What I liked
I enjoyed the flexibility of hours and how willing they were to work with my schedule. The coworkers were very friendly and welcoming and helped me learn and catch on quickly to the job expectations.
What I wish was different
It was difficult with management changing within a few weeks of me starting the job. It was a normal amount of confusion to be expected but it would have been nicer/easier if the management hadn't changed.
Advice
Prepare to work in a fast paced environment and understand how to multitask.
