Thinking about Breaking Ground in Advertising? Begin in the Culinary Sector instead.
As a kid, I had no clue what my future held. What I did understands from a young age though was the need to make my own money to buy goods that my parents couldn't afford. That led me to my first job in the bustling world of food service at the tender age of 15.
From there, I navigated college while working nearly every front-of-house and back-of-house position the industry had to offer. I've done it all – from being a barback to a bartender, from running errands to delivering food, putting in long hours on my feet, working double shifts until the crack of dawn, and arriving home reeked of grease... Who knew it was shaping me to be tough, determined, adaptable, and ambitious – qualities not many other jobs could have forged in me?
Working in the restaurant industry can give you a plethora of experiences and skills. Here's the lowdown on some of those key experiences and abilities you can pick up:
Grit and Determination
- Resilience: Restaurants can be unpredictable places, dealing with high-pressure service periods, staff shortages, and sudden changes in demand. These situations help cultivate resilience and the ability to handle stress savagely.
- Adversity Handling: Everything from kitchen equipment breakdowns to sudden staff absences without affecting service quality will teach you how to take on challenges with aplomb.
- Continuous Improvement: Regular feedback from customers and management fosters a culture of learning and development, which is vital for building grit and overcoming obstacles.
Flexibility
- Adaptability: Restaurants require staff to adapt swiftly to changing conditions, such as menu alterations, staff shortages, or unanticipated customer requests.
- Cross-Training: Learning multiple roles (e.g., from server to host) amplifies your versatility and aids in managing dynamic environments.
- Time Management: Juggling multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment enhances your ability to prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
- Innovation: Encouraging creativity in menu development, service enhancements, or marketing strategies can foster an entrepreneurial attitude.
- Problem-Solving: Solving issues in the restaurant setting paves the way for developing critical thinking and resourcefulness.
- Leadership Opportunities: Stepping up into leadership roles or mentoring new staff can help develop an entrepreneurial mindset with initiative and foresight.
Skills
- Communication and Teamwork: Having clear communication with coworkers and customers is key to success in the restaurant industry, helping to refine strong interpersonal skills.
- Customer Service and Feedback Handling: Dealing with customer feedback and expectations helps develop strong interpersonal skills and adaptability.
- Financial Awareness: Understanding restaurant operations and cost management provides insights into financial management, essential for entrepreneurs.
These experiences and skills can be invaluable in various industries, significantly enhancing your toughness, determination, adaptability, and ambition.
- My early job in the food service industry helped me develop a strong work ethic, as I navigated college while handling various positions like barback, bartender, and more.
- The restaurant industry also nurtured my ability to handle adversity, demonstrated by my response to kitchen equipment breakdowns, staff absences, and high-pressure service periods.
- Beyond grit and determination, my career in food service taught me flexibility and adaptability, enabling me to manage dynamic environments and swiftly adjust to changing conditions.
- The skills I honed in the restaurant industry have extended beyond my initial career, equipping me with valuable skills like financial awareness, communication, and teamwork – qualities that can prove beneficial in various aspects of my lifestyle, business, careers, education, home-and-garden, food-and-drink, and finance.
