Will I be able to get a job as a waitress at places like Denny's or Shari's or Ihop?

Question

I am seventeen years old, turning eighteen in July. I will have my high school diploma shortly and I have also done two years of college.

I have a job as a receptionist right now, so I have some customer service experience, but no actual waitressing experience. I am good with people, and I am nice, and I am cute (I have heard that matters for waitressing..)

I got the job because the original receptionist quit because of a sudden medical problem, so I had to learn the job quickly....so I am going to try to play up that I am a fast learner on my resume/cover letter. My boss likes me and she says she gets to leave earlier when I am there versus when the original receptionist was there.

So, what do you think? Can I be a waitress right away, or will I have to start as a hostess? How much more does a waitress get paid than a hostess? I am trying to make like 400 dollars a week (I live in Washington and we get 8 dollars for minimum wage plus tips)...Will I be able to? Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

You could probably get hired on the spot, BUT be careful! I took a job at IHOP at 17, and it opened my eyes to a different world. 24 hour restraunts like that are filled with druggies. I'm not talking about pot-smokers. Just about every one of the servers were on meth.

I hope you have a good head on your shoulders!

When I got the job they paid me min. wage to hostess for about a month then I could wait tables. Waiting tables I averaged about twice as much then I did hostessing.

I suggest you wait it out until your 18, and then go work at a nicer place. Think about it...at IHOP the average tab will be about $25... 15% of that would be your tip (about $3)

   If you go somewhere nicer, a little more expensive like Olive Garden the average tab goes all the way up to $50. You just doubled your tip on one table just because you work there.

You can even go one step further and work at a five star joint, but those places rarely hire without experience.

   Go in a restraunt with confidence, and you'l probably get the job! Some places look for experience, but most don't.

  Oh, yea- and you can make $400 easy! Good luck, honey, but if you go to IHOP- I just hope it's not like the one I worked at!

Answer 2

Dont listen to this lady. Almost all restaurants hire people with no serving experience depnding on the particular restaurants staffing needs. Just be very personable and clean! You'll be fine. Especially at Dennys. I know several high schoolers that work there.

Answer 3

You probably will have to start as a hostess or busser.  Waiting tables can test your patiences, you can also make over $400.00 quickly in tips a week. It's alot of work and people can be real jerks at times keep that in mind. Also keep track of your tips thru out the year in case Uncle Sam decides to audit you. I've been serving for over 10 years. Good luck!

Answer 4

Oh yes you can!!!

good luck :)

Answer 5

If you have only one foot, ask Ihop to give you employment preference.

Answer 6

Most restaurants don't hire people without experience to wait on tables. I'd expect to be a host or busser first, or a server trainee at the most.

Once you're an experienced server you can easily make $400 a week if you have good shifts and are good at what you do.

PS: Cute is generally much less important than competence in food service.