Outback Steakhouse, Subway or Applebees? When looking for work in the restaurant and food service industry, these are the choices you will face when if come to deciding where you want to apply for a job. Depending on your personality you may enjoy the fast pace and light air of a fast food restaurant or want the more intense environment of a five star restaurant. Regardless of which restaurant style tends to suit you best, consider the following when you are researching restaurant job opportunities.
Atmosphere: Restaurant environments can be as different as night and day. Some restaurant are designed to be funky and hip, while others are romantic and soothing and others are lively and kid-friendly. Ask yourself if you like the restaurant ambience and is this a place that you will enjoy visiting almost daily. If you don’t like loud music or would die of boredom as a server in a stuffy restaurant, be sure that the restaurant opportunities you pursue are conducive to your preferences. Just think -- if you were working a desk job you would probably be limited to the walls of a cube. Restaurants are planned to be pleasant, desirable places so the atmosphere should be a perk rather than a negative aspect of the job.
Clientele: Most likely if you are working in a restaurant where you enjoy the atmosphere, you will also enjoy the patrons however it is a good idea to consider this before taking a job. If you are not a “kid” person, be sure to avoid the most kid-friendly places. Some of the nicest restaurant may also attract the most demanding and stuffy crowds, so be sure that serving these folks are worth the tips. Everyone can get a difficult customer at times, however, if you select a restaurant that seems to attract a clientele that is not a fit for you, think again. You will enjoy your job much more if you like the folks you are serving.
Type of Food: One of the big perks of working in a restaurant is enjoying the food. Restaurant employees often get a discount off the food prices or even a free meal during a shift. Also, restaurant servers may be asked to taste the specials before a shift so they can accurately describe them. Regardless, if you are working in a restaurant, you will be eating the food at some point so make sure that the type of food and quality is up to your standards. Better yet, pick a place where you love the food and your work will be that much more enjoyable.
Smoking or Non Smoking Restaurant: While many restaurants are going smoke-free, there are still plenty of restaurants with a smoking section. If you are a person who is bothered by smoke, or has a physical condition that is preferential for you to not be around second hand smoke, put smoke-free restaurants at the top of your list. As an alternative, if you are applying for a job as a server, you can ask the hiring manager if he or she would be willing to accommodate requests for you to work in the non smoking section. Don’t expect that all managers will be able to do this, but it is worth asking.
Work/Life Balance: Make sure that you inquire about the number of hours you will be expected to work and what are the likely shifts. Given the restaurant industry’s reputation for long hours, many restaurateurs are offering the cutting hours back to encourage an improved work/life balance, which also helps them to attract and retain better candidates.