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How to become a Server?

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Talent.com talent.com
Answered December 09 2021
Career Expert at Talent.com
There are no formal educational requirements to becoming a server. However, it’s one of those tricky positions where most employers want to hire someone with serving experience; landing that first job can be challenging.

If you’ve worked in customer service, such as a Barista, Receptionist, or Sales Associate, you have great transferrable skills that can work to your advantage as a Server. Another option is to seek work as Barback or a Busser, then gradually work your way up the ladder to taking tables during quiet shifts, then moving to busier and busier shifts. 

Serving is a popular job for university students since you can attend classes during the day, then work nights and weekends. Often on-campus bars and restaurants will hire students with little to no experience and provide them with training. These employers are usually particularly sensitive to exams and midterms, which is an advantage. 

Important things to know before becoming a Server
  • Your tips are your income.
While some states or individual employers may offer a higher minimum wage to servers, the federal minimum wage is $2.13. That means that your income is entirely dependent on tips. Fortunately, many servers can make a living on tips, but it is precarious. 
  • It is physical, fast-paced work. 
During busy dinner service, you will be running from the kitchen to your tables, back to the kitchen, and all over the restaurant. You need to be comfortable working on your feet for several hours and know how to prioritize tasks quickly in your head. Busy shifts can be stressful, so learning how to maintain a cool and confident attitude during times of stress will be essential to your success. 
  • The hours can be challenging. 
The busiest times for servers to work are evenings and weekends, which is the opposite of the 9-5 crowd. While this is great for university students or night owls, it can be challenging to maintain a ‘normal’ social life. 
Easteregg!