Being a waiter or waitress is a noble job and it has the potential of being an excellent line of work. However, to some people, it may seem like a step back in their career, but there are also others who think that being a waiter or waitress is the best job they can have. It’s especially great if you’re a student to earn extra money, and while you do that you can get help with dissertation from outside sources. Don’t let things you aren’t interested get in the way of your waitressing career.
Like any other career, being a waiter or waitress has positive and negative sides as well. So if you’re thinking of becoming one, here are some of the pros and cons of being a waiter or waitress which might help you decide.
Pros
Let’s start with the positive things you can get or experience when you work as a server. Some people might think that being a server is a tedious job but there are actually a lot of perks you can get from it and here are some of them.
Always having cash on hand
If you need quick cash to pay your bills, it’s easy to earn money through tips. When you work as a waiter, you will be able to leave with cash after every shift. So if you’re outgoing and sociable, it will be easy for you to make money in this field.
You meet a lot of people
Being a server allows you to meet a lot of people every day. And if you’re lucky enough, you may be able to make new friends and connections as well. When you get along with your customers, they sometimes become regulars of the restaurant you’re working in.
You can work fewer hours but still make money
When you work busy shifts, you can make a day’s pay in just a few hours. In fact, you can make your money in 5 hours or less, instead of 9 to 5, or 8 hours a day.
You get discounts for food
This depends on the restaurant you’re working in, but most of them offer discounts for their servers on and off the clock. This means that you’ll be able to save money for food as well.
You’re always active
Serving tables will require you to always move around, grabbing plates, carrying trays, and more. This will keep you fit compared to office jobs where people just sit and stare at a computer screen for hours.
The ability to exchange shifts
Most of the restaurants allow their servers to exchange shifts with one another as long as they can manage to work well. This is an excellent thing especially when you want a night off to spend with your family. In other jobs, you will need to take a personal day off which you have to inform your boss days before for it to be scheduled. Unlike in waitressing, you can call someone up in the last minute to have him or her work your shift.
You develop lots of patience
Servers encounter situations that are difficult to deal with but they have to, such as angry or annoying customers. When you experience these situations, you will be able to learn to have patience and just smile and work through them anyway.
You don’t have to take your work home
Once your shift is done, there’s no work to take with you at home. You won’t have to worry about deadlines or meetings that you need to attend to the next day. Once a day is over, it’s over and tomorrow is another day.
Having extra money during the holidays
You will be able to make lots of money during holidays and special days because more people dine in restaurants in those times. There are also some parties and bigger reservations, meaning, there will be bigger tips for you.
Working with good people
Sometimes, the people you work with is something that makes working as a server meaningful. Since you and your co-workers have the same kind of work ethic, you will be able to band together and create a strong bond. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to meet co-workers who will be willing to go above and beyond for you if you got each other’s backs.
Cons
Being a server has a lot of positive things, but like any other jobs, there are some downfalls as well. Here are some of the disadvantages of working as a waiter or waitress.
The more experience and loyalty, the greater responsibility
When you know more about the functions in the restaurant you’re working in, the more work you may have to do compared to your co-workers. This means that people will rely more on you which can bring you more stress. And there are times that the responsibility increases but the salary stays the same.
Working on weekends and holidays
When you work in restaurants, it’s a normal thing to have shifts during weekends and most especially on holidays because those are the times when people dine in restaurants with the whole family or with friends. Meaning, there will be more work for you during these times.
Your body becomes stressed
When you work as a server for a long time, there might be some health issues you may encounter such as back and knee problems because of carrying heavy plates and constantly being on your feet. You’ll be putting on a lot of stress on your body when you work as a server.
Always having money
Though this is a positive thing, it can also be a con for those who are apt to spending the money they have. There might be a difficulty with money management when you always have money on hand, especially when you and your co-workers will always go out for a drink after work.
Having to deal with difficult customers
When you work as a server in a restaurant, you will be dealing with a lot of annoying customers. There are inpatient ones, people who know nothing about the restaurant business, people who think you’re a slave, and some are just plain mean people. So, if you’re a sensitive person, this job might not be the one for you.
Having bad co-workers
When there are good co-workers, there will also be the bad ones such as those who are always late, sneaking out for breaks, rude to customers, and lazy as well. They can make you feel that you’re doing all the work while they are just relaxing all the time. These people can make you lose your motivation to work.
Dining out will remind you of work
When you work as a server in a restaurant, you will not be able to dine out like other people who don’t serve tables do. Why? It’s because whenever you dine in a restaurant, you will not be able to help but observe how the servers work. You will expect to receive the same service you give when you work. So every time you dine in a restaurant, it will always remind you of work.
These are just some of the pros and cons of working as a waiter or waitress. But keep in mind that not all restaurants are the same. So when you decide your work as a server in a restaurant, make sure that you’re prepared for the best, and for the worst as well. We hope these pros and cons will help you with your decision.