10 Reasons Why Everybody Should Be A Server… At Least For a Little While

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If you’re a student in high school or college, you know that the summer months aren’t always for traveling or partying, but for making money. This is your chance to work as much as possible, make as much money as possible, while having as much fun as… you get it. As most of us millennials were raised with the mentality ‘work before play’, lots of us have had jobs since our early teenage years- whether it was babysitting or mowing lawns or twirling ice cream cones at the local ice cream stand just to get that pair of shoes you want or to get your parents off your back about wasting your time.

With lots of jobs being created with the help of President Donald Trump, there are tons of job opportunities in cities and smaller towns.

With all these new job opportunities, students are given the option to choose where they’d like to spend approximately 560 valuable hours of their summer. The Interview Guys shared an article called Top 10 Best Jobs for College Students that also included the 5 best part-time jobs, but there is one occupation missing from this article.

HERE ARE TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BECOMING A SERVER. Yes, a server. Hear me out.

  1. The most important and attractive perk about being a server is the cold hard cash you can walk out with at the end of your shift. There’s something about the feel of soft paper sliding from one hand to the other and the jingle of change in an apron that gives you the ‘yay, money!’ feeling and makes you want to shopping.
  2. I know what you’re thinking but serving could definitely be considered a physical job, especially in comparison to other jobs like receptionists and the driving services recommended by The Interview Guys’ article. Instead of sitting for eight hours, answering the phone and only getting off your butt to pee, I hit my 10,000-step goal on my Fitbit EVERY SHIFT. And my arms are always toned from lifting trays of food that weigh up to 15 pounds with one hand. That’s server strength right there!
  3. BECOME A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY. As a waiter or waitress, you can serve hundreds of people a day. Each table has its options. You could be warm and friendly and chatty, or you could get right down-to-business with only asking for their order, not their name. By spending about an hour serving a table and ruling the conversation, you can completely control their impression of you. It’s likely that they won’t see you ever again, but you learn how to make people laugh and have a good time- because your tips depend on it.
  4. With the right attitude, every customer could be a job opportunity. If there’s one thing people like to do, it’s talk about themselves. Once you master the previous step (which doesn’t take long at all) you learn to ask all the right questions and when to ask them. Everyone likes going out to eat, regardless of their career. There’s a chance you’ll serve someone in your desired field- make connections!
  5. CHARACTER BUILDING. Becoming a server will teach you how to not be a dick. As a server, there’s a risk that not every table will be as friendly as the last, and there will be some that stick in your mind and make you wonder “does this guy know that I am a person?” Because some people are terrible. The bad ones ignore your introduction and not answer your questions. The worst ones criticize every little thing you do like taking too long to get their drink because you’re taking another table’s order. As a server you learn to value service, and respect people as individuals.
  6. OBTAIN VALUABLE SKILLS THAT HELP WITH LIFE. Prioritization, time-management, communication, memorization. These skills are required to serve every table, and will be quickly learned and mastered. As well as learning to walk on wet floors. Very valuable.
  7. ITS LIKE A PERSONAL SOAP-OPERA. Working in a big restaurant with few workers and a lot of free time when it’s slow, you get to know your coworkers. When the restaurant’s empty and it’s dead slow, you don’t have much else to do but talk. This allows for endless gossip that ranges from who didn’t show up for work and why, to who got fired for snorting coke in the bathroom. It’s invigorating!
  8. RANDOM SKILLS. The things you learn as a server can be the most useless things but also the most perplexing. Do you know how to roll silverware? After 5 years of serving, I’ve learned lots of tricks. For example, I can SMELL the difference between decaf and regular coffee. I know, it’s impressive but its also not very marketable. I’ve also mastered the perfect whipped cream topping and drizzle of chocolate syrup. Now that’s a skill I’m proud of.
  9. ONCE A SERVER, ALWAYS A SERVER. After working as a server for a year or so, and gaining the necessary skills, this could be a great asset to your resume. You can rest assured that if you’re suddenly out of a job and need a new source of income fast, any server with experience can get a job at a restaurant within a month of job searching.
  10. CONVENIENCE FOR THE WIN. In a highly-populated urban area, you can find a restaurant within five blocks. And, you could apply online or pick them up in person. With some restaurants open 24 hours, you can find shifts at literally any time of the day. With lots of other coworkers, its also easy to find someone to cover your shift when something comes up, or you could pick up hours when you need the cash.

So, when you’re considering your next job or if I inspired you to make a career change, think of all these hidden benefits to becoming a server. It will definitely change your life, and your perspective of the people in them.

Also, I forgot to mention free food. There’s always the possibility of free food. What’s not to love?

P.S: Tip your waitress. Well.