Its my first day as a waitress and i'd like to be a agood one?

Question

I'm also a very 4getfull person and run into many awkward moments but being a college student i need to make this waitress thing work for the next 4years........any tips?

Answer 1

I was going to give you some great advice.  However Helen took the words out of my mouth  :))  She sounds as if she's done waitressing before  :D.

Answer 2

You want us to give you some good tips.

Answer 3

Write EVERYTHING down until you figure out your limits. Smile and nod...even if the customer is being a jerk (and they will be). Don't be disheartened by bad tips....most people don't understand how tipping works. DO NOT annoy the cooks....they are your best friends. Be polite and humble (especially when asking them to fix a mistake). Tip out bussers and bartenders well....your tables will get cleaned faster, and your drinks poured quicker (don't tip them too much though...they don't expect you to bankrupt yourself). Clean your tables yourself if you have time, and always prebus (take away dirty plates) your tables...it makes the busser's job easier, and it makes your customers happy. Don't let food sit out....when it's ready bring it straight to the table. Make sure you refill drinks ASAP....especially while the table is waiting for their food (it gives them something to do).

And oh...I could go on and on. It's not hard once you get the hang of it...don't worry!

Answer 4

find a good server and ask them questions whenever you can .  observing a pro is the best way to learn.  Also learn the menu inside and out and ask the kitchen staff lots of questions and they will help you learn fast too.  

Be nice to everyone, and you will become part of a well oiled machine

Answer 5

Be polite and attentive to your cutomers. For the forgetful thing, make little notes if you need to so you can remember things. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Ha ha... tips! I get it!

NEVER let the coffee run out, if I have an empty cup for more than like 7-10 minutes, I start looking for a server. You don't really have to be nice; just be civilized, polite, and fast.

Answer 7

Personality...

I travel a lot for my company. As a result, I eat out at restaurants... a lot...

The best wait staff are those that are personable without being pushy. Try not to delve too deeply in the lives of the people you are waiting on, but be likeable.

Be nice. Everyone has those days when they don't feel good, or have to deal with jerks, but as a person in the service industry, you cannot allow those things to make an impact on your attitude with your customers. Don't let it get personal to you, just let it seem that way. Look at the job as just that : a job. When the shift is over, leave it at the restaurant door.

Finally, be available to your patrons, but don't bug them. I had this one waitress that came to the table and asked if everything was ok every three minutes during a meal with my family, one night. We couldn't even talk with one another without her interjecting herself in the conversation every few minutes. Needless to say, she didn't get a tip. If a person in the service industry doesn't do their job well, they should not be well paid for the service. I work very hard for my money, and I feel they should too. If they get attitude or don't give good service, they get their paycheck, but no tip. On the other hand, I have been known to give a 20% tip or more if the waiter is great.

To sum up:

Be:

Personable

Nice

Outgoing

Available

Considerate

and give good service.

Do these things, and you should do just fine. Just remember that tips are where you will truly make your money. Do these things well, and you will be well paid.

Hope this helps...