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Working at a Restaurant

Long story short: even though I have a Masters degree in criminology (including completion of special addiction studies and relevant research experience) I cannot seem to find a job in my field (what a surprise! ) Harm reduction programs (e.g. needle exchange programs) and other social service/community service programs (e.g. the John Howard Society) simply are not hiring at the moment. So, I'm considering other options.

I'd like some advice re: working at a restaurant.

Specifically, I am planning on visiting a number of different restaurants tomorrow or Wednesday in order to drop off resumes and try to acquire some kind of employment. Questions:
1) I have zero related experience--do I still have a shot at securing a job? I am thinking about hosting, waiting, or working in the kitchen in some capacity--is this unreasonable? I'm basically willing to do anything besides wash dishes (I think).
2) Which things should I make sure to mention and, conversely, avoid in my cover letter/resume?
3) What kind of money should I expect to make as someone with no experience?
4) Any recommendations re: which specific restaurants to target? I am planning on visiting the 'nicer' establishments, e.g. the Keg, Moxy's, etc.
5) I live in Mississauga--anybody here work at a restaurant that is currently hiring?

I believe that working in a restaurant may be an appropriate job for me because I enjoy interacting with others and people seem to perceive me as a friendly guy (usually haha).

Thank you kindly folks

fuck that. find something in the office environment at least. like a calling centre or some social shit...
working at a restaurant won't get you anywhere and you can't even really use it on your resume

Goddamn, the current job hunters market sure is a sad state of affairs if an educated person such as yourself can't get a job.

quote:

Originally posted by Sasha fuck that. find something in the office environment at least. like a calling centre or some social shit... working at a restaurant won't get you anywhere and you can't even really use it on your resume

+1....you are better off in an office environment...at least its something that can be put on a resume.

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 Goddamn, the current job hunters market sure is a sad state of affairs if an educated person such as yourself can't get a job.

sometimes too much education is a bad thing.

quote:

Originally posted by ChemEnhanced sometimes too much education is a bad thing.

thats sooooo funny, but sooooo true

quote:

Originally posted by Sasha fuck that. find something in the office environment at least. like a calling centre or some social shit... working at a restaurant won't get you anywhere and you can't even really use it on your resume

that's what i was going to say...

an office job lets you build a better rapport with your co-workers and managers as opposed to a stressful environment like a restaurant or retail store. you are more involved in knowing how the business is actually run, and there's a far greater opportunity to get promoted (or at least gain some genuine references) if you do well and seem interested and talented enough to help the company.

quote:

Originally posted by Sasha fuck that. find something in the office environment at least. like a calling centre or some social shit... working at a restaurant won't get you anywhere and you can't even really use it on your resume

listen to him
I'm living proof

Re: Working at a Restaurant

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Cenik

1) With no experience it may be a bit harder. You're amazingly lucky if you grab a serving job. I'd start by looking for a job as a busser, barback, tray runner or host where they would train you to work around the kitchen and on the floor. Then if you're good 90% of the time they'll train you to serve.

2)Being able to lift trays is a big deal.. so if you have past experience with labour list that. Heavy lifting etc..

3)If you can get a server job they'll start you off slow, but it all depends on the restaurant, the turnover, the pricing and the crowd.

4) the nicer the restaurant the harder it is to get the job.. just go in, make a great first impression, prove you're reliable and willing to learn and a super fast learner. I've got over 3 years under my belt and I've been turned away for "not enough experience".

good luck! its a tough business.. serving is far from easy, but if you get a good job the money is worth the work.

edit. I agree with sasha 100% .. but if you can't get anything and you need fast cash... resto work is your spot. get your smartserve! you can't get a job without one

quote:

Originally posted by barbina get your smartserve! you can't get a job without one

I've heard conflicting things about this. Some ppl have said you need it, others have said certain restaurants will not require it. Maybe I'm best off just completing the course to be safe.

(BTW thanks for the great reply hun).

Also, re: office work: I've applied for various office positions but b/c I have no experience in admin/customer service I've had no success in securing a position. If anybody has any pull/influence for office/admin/customer service PLEASE let me know I'm a rather smart guy and I'm quite proficient with computers.

search craigslist?
found this.. it could be a good backup plan

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/fbh/1008983515.html

Restaurants are fun to work in, very social, the only down side would be the hours... not to stable if you're looking for a 9-5 job, or 8 hours a day(unless you're bartending).

What kind of work experience do you have?

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Cenik Also, re: office work: I've applied for various office positions but b/c I have no experience in admin/customer service I've had no success in securing a position. If anybody has any pull/influence for office/admin/customer service PLEASE let me know I'm a rather smart guy and I'm quite proficient with computers.

do not apply directly,
get your first job/experience through employment agency

Nick,

My crim background at Ottawa U, got me into into an interview working for the Canadian government as a Case Management Officer. I already moved away from Montreal to Toronto at that time and on to another career.

You're better qualified than I was. Get into the Government of Canada and never have to worry about retirement. Do it buddy. Even though I decided on another path, I still somewhat regret not going with it.

Don't let me down.

AJ

Re: Working at a Restaurant

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Cenik 1) I have zero related experience--do I still have a shot at securing a job? I am thinking about hosting, waiting, or working in the kitchen in some capacity--is this unreasonable? I'm basically willing to do anything besides wash dishes (I think).

Yes, you have a chance at getting the job. You will NOT be a waiter in a nice establishment without past experience, or happen to be a female with a hot body and cute face. You DO stand a chance at becoming a bartender or waiter EVENTUALLY, but it'll require putting a good show on in the kitchen first. Speaking of kitchen work, as a new guy, you WILL be doing dishes, and you will be doing dishes until the powers that be decide you're not an absolute donkey and can handle the pressure of actually having to DO something during the dinner rush. You may think dish-pit is a shit job, but if you can't handle the pressure of a dinner rush in the dish-pit, you don't stand a chance when you have to keep track of all the food you have to make. In addition to doing dishes, you will also be the sweep+mop bitch, the garbage collector, and be called upon for any other donkey (see: bitch) jobs that are required to help the cooks in the kitchen.

quote:

2) Which things should I make sure to mention and, conversely, avoid in my cover letter/resume?

Avoid anything that makes you seem lazy, or afraid to do grosse work. If you can work in anything about being able to multi-task, work with a cool head under pressure, and be available and on-call for any particular night, you stand a good chance at getting the job. Also understand and declare your understanding that when your shift is 5-9, that could actually mean you'll be working til 1 in the morning, depending on the business and what needs to be done to close up the kitchen.

quote:

3) What kind of money should I expect to make as someone with no experience?[quote] Hard to say, most places don't give new hires much more than minimum wage, in nicer resteraunts, you're probably looking at 10.50-12 bucks an hour, and you'd be DAMN lucky to see 12. Many resteraunts have a tip pool, which roughly works out to an extra dollar per hour, handed out bi-weekly. [quote]4) Any recommendations re: which specific restaurants to target? I am planning on visiting the 'nicer' establishments, e.g. the Keg, Moxy's, etc.

If I know resteraunts, I know that they are ALWAYS hiring staff in an attempt to find competent, dependable individuals. Understand that 75% of the kitchen is filled with lazy pot-head dropouts, and also that 95% of that 75% are horrible cooks that tend to be too lazy to do something as simple as cutting green peppers for 20 minutes to prep for the day. Italian resteraunts are easy to cook for, Pasta, salad, garlic bread and some pizza are the typical dishes that are ordered, and all are easy breezy to make.

quote:

5) I live in Mississauga--anybody here work at a restaurant that is currently hiring?

Can't help you there, if you're looking for 10+ per hour, you can't go any lower than a keg or moxy's, or other, comparable restaurant (Jack Astor's might be aight too). Boston Pizza, Kelsey's, Casey's, Applebees, etc. are all going to offer you 8.75-9.50 an hour starting wage.

quote:

I believe that working in a restaurant may be an appropriate job for me because I enjoy interacting with others and people seem to perceive me as a friendly guy (usually haha).

If you're good, you'll have fun talking shit all day with lots of cool people, if you're bad, you won't have fun having an entire kitchen talk shit to you all day. When you're new, you better prove you learn fast, or get used to being talked shit to all day.

Successful kitchen workers can keep track of many, many things at one time, are fast with their hands, talk mad shit (or, if they can't back it up, put up with being talked mad shit to), and work with a cool head under pressure (and trust me, if you've never worked kitchen before, you've never experienced ANYTHING like a Friday dinner rush).

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Cenik Also, re: office work: I've applied for various office positions but b/c I have no experience in admin/customer service I've had no success in securing a position. If anybody has any pull/influence for office/admin/customer service PLEASE let me know I'm a rather smart guy and I'm quite proficient with computers.

what part of Sauga do you live in and do you have a car?

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Cenik If anybody has any pull/influence for office/admin/customer service PLEASE let me know

pm sent

quote:

8.75-9.50 an hour starting wage.

omg. I'm getting $3.50. damn america! damn!

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie Don't let me down.

I'll try to make you proud mate, whatever I end up doing

quote:

Originally posted by dEsidEL what part of Sauga do you live in and do you have a car?

I live at Mavis and the 401. I do indeed have my own car and, so, I can travel around the GTA

quote:

Originally posted by Porky pm sent

Thanks bud Replied.

quote:

Originally posted by barbina omg. I'm getting $3.50. damn america! damn!

Wait! What?

promote the Gallery

quote:

Originally posted by Frenchie Wait! What?

restaurants dont have to pay minimum wage bc of tips

do an internship with something in your field of study.

Nick, I'll pm you the contact of the lady who got me a job in a week (mind you, that was in summer)

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