Starting off with waiter jobs in cities like NY and Dallas

The job market is tough out there. Looking for jobs can make fresh graduates feel hopeless at times. It can actually be a scary experience if you’re moving into big cities like NY or Dallas with hopes of building a career as a waiter in posh restaurants.

Many take up waiter jobs as a stop gap arrangement or a part-time position before they can settle into the job of their dreams. And there are some interesting folks who actually find the dull office cubicles repugnant – especially with low-paying office jobs - that they would rather take up waiter jobs in, say, NY or Dallas. These are aficionados of the constant excitement that restaurant jobs offer. A major lure is, of course, the opportunity to make quick money in less time. The trickiest part, though, is getting to the right serving job in these busy cities. So if you are keen on getting hired, here are some tips to look into.

The importance of physical appearance

Physical appearance is a very important factor in determining which level of waiter jobs you can make yourself eligible for. If you are, say, a gorgeous looking girl, you can apply for all kinds of restaurant jobs. Models can easily become a part-time attendant who is in command of waiters at elite Coffee Shops. Good to average looking girls will have to wait tables. If you are the tough and machismo type, you can try for a bartender position. If you are a guy who can pronounce your language in European style, you might also get a waiter position. It is all about your charm, how you look and how you present yourself that matters when you hand over your resume. So, make sure you look well-groomed even if you never cared about such things all your life. Shave. Have a shower. Smell good. Get a decent deodorant if you don’t have one already. The thing is, you shouldn’t be smelling like dung when you are near somebody’s food.

Go for your favorite, high paying spots

Even if you don’t have experience working in a particular US city, there is nothing wrong in keeping your job search in line with your personal preferences. You can check out the waiter job openings at your favorite locations in the city. You may also want to look at the spots where the pay is comparatively higher.

Avoid sloppiness

Usually, folks who take up temporary restaurant jobs before breaking into a day job do the blunder of acting like they are too good for the waiting tables. This can put the interviewer and even your future fellow workers off. There is nothing wrong in brushing up on your work ethics even if you are in a restaurant job. So be meticulous about preparing your resume. Nothing wrong in attending the waiter job interview as if you had applied for a regular office position. 

Be patient... Never take it personally

There are times when customers throw a tantrum when they’re hungry and the food is not what they are used to. It’s alright. Most of the time the blunder is on the customer’s side. It may have something to do with their bad temper. Even the chefs can get a bit weird at times. So, it’s mostly not about you. Just be patient and do what it takes to keep these folks happy. And learn to accept that restaurant work usually comes with these bothers that regular positions don’t have. You may not get breaks or paid vacations. You may get badly tipped in spite of all your professionalism. You may have to feed on leftovers. You can deal with these annoyances in a mature way or you can get all fuming and depressed. It’s all up to you.

And yes. A restaurant job still has its perks. Among them is the freedom and time you get to check out all the stuff that guys in regular day jobs can never even think of.