It was almost exactly a year ago that I said yes to a friend
and ended up doing a job that was way more work than I had planned. I was
overwhelmed and wondering what in the world made me ever think it was a good
idea in the first place. I wrote all about it here. I thought those days were
behind me, but…
It happened again. I went and got myself a part-time job. I
had planned to do something in the medical field, and for whatever reason, that
didn’t happen. So, naturally, I went and got a catering job. I know, weird.
had planned to do something in the medical field, and for whatever reason, that
didn’t happen. So, naturally, I went and got a catering job. I know, weird.
Since I make food, set the table, serve food, and clean up
dishes at home, I figured this makes me perfectly qualified for a job in this
field, even though I’ve never had a waitressing job in my life. And like my
in-over-my-head experience last year, I figured it couldn’t be that difficult.
dishes at home, I figured this makes me perfectly qualified for a job in this
field, even though I’ve never had a waitressing job in my life. And like my
in-over-my-head experience last year, I figured it couldn’t be that difficult.
Wrong. Dead wrong. I had to lift trays. Heavy trays. I had
to squat down and pick up a tray holding 8 covered and stacked dinner plates
full of entrees, balance this tray on my hand/shoulder, and then stand up. I had the pleasure of doing this while ten
other servers who probably had 100 years of combined experience watched me. It
was terrifying. And then I had to walk. When I reached to table I slowly, and I
mean SLOWLY, had to squat down again and balance the tray on the stand next to
the table.
to squat down and pick up a tray holding 8 covered and stacked dinner plates
full of entrees, balance this tray on my hand/shoulder, and then stand up. I had the pleasure of doing this while ten
other servers who probably had 100 years of combined experience watched me. It
was terrifying. And then I had to walk. When I reached to table I slowly, and I
mean SLOWLY, had to squat down again and balance the tray on the stand next to
the table.
As I made my way down to set down the tray, I stumbled just
a bit, but was able to keep my tray in tact and set it on the stand. It’s a
good thing too, because if I had dropped that tray of 8 dinner plates, I would
have walked right out the door and never looked back. Just the thought of that
makes me sweat profusely.
a bit, but was able to keep my tray in tact and set it on the stand. It’s a
good thing too, because if I had dropped that tray of 8 dinner plates, I would
have walked right out the door and never looked back. Just the thought of that
makes me sweat profusely.
I was thrown right in. There was no “hey staff, this is
Jennifer. She’s new to this business and it’s her second day so go easy on her”
speech. There was a lot of “get this out to the table now” and “try to stay out
of my way”. I don’t know what I expected, but I’m thinking something like the Be Our Guest number from Beauty and the Beast would have been
nice.
Jennifer. She’s new to this business and it’s her second day so go easy on her”
speech. There was a lot of “get this out to the table now” and “try to stay out
of my way”. I don’t know what I expected, but I’m thinking something like the Be Our Guest number from Beauty and the Beast would have been
nice.
I made it through the night without dropping something or
making too big a fool of myself. Although, in this job, I’m sure that’s bound
to happen eventually. It was hard work, and I mean hard. But I liked it. It’s
part time and flexible, which is perfect for our busy schedule. Plus, I get to
wear a black tie, so that’s pretty awesome.
making too big a fool of myself. Although, in this job, I’m sure that’s bound
to happen eventually. It was hard work, and I mean hard. But I liked it. It’s
part time and flexible, which is perfect for our busy schedule. Plus, I get to
wear a black tie, so that’s pretty awesome.
