Ben Doane's Blog Post Was Featured

When you go out to eat with a group of friends, it is always easy to identify the person who has never worked in the service industry. They're the one who is short on patience with the wait staff, tip little, and typically leave the restaurant with a negative attitude if everything wasn't absolutely perfect. But take a moment to think about other social scenarios. Or even other scenarios in other businesses and trades completely. People who have worked in the service industry always stand out. And here's why - 
The skills it takes to be a great server are the most valuable skills you can have.
Employers look for a number of skills in the business world. Depending on the job, there will be a varying number of skills the employer is looking for. However, there is also a set of skills that employers look for in every new hire, regardless of the field. These skills are sometimes referred to as 'soft skills' or 'transferable skills'.
Nearly every soft skill that an employer can look for exists as a strength in great servers. Why? Because the best servers need all of these skills to make their service the best.
For example: Have you ever met a great server who had a terrible memory? Servers who have a hard time remembering orders either catch on real quick, or lose their job. It's that simple.
But the list of skills goes on and on.
Think through a typical customer's experience with a great server:
They are pleasantly, and promptly greeted with a smile. The server introduces himself/herself and does their best to establish a connection with the table. Based on the table's feedback and the server's analysis, the server accommodates the needs of the table. The server then takes the table's order and relays it to the kitchen and bartender. Throughout the course of time the table stays, the server is on task with making sure every need is met and the occasional conversing further establishes a connection with the individuals. Should something come up, the server is quick to apologize and even quicker to get the problem resolved and remedied. By the time the table is ready to leave, the server is viewed by the table as a great person who went above and beyond to ensure a great time. (and they leave a good tip!)  
And remember - a great server is not just doing this with one table. They typically have 4 to 5.
Now think about how many 'soft skills' are employed during this very normal event.
-Good introductions
-Ability to establish rapport
-Pride in appearance
-Memory
-Quick Thinking
-Multi-tasking
-Working as a team
-Working under pressure
-Hard work (servers know they have to earn that tip!)
[ The list goes on ]
I'm proud to say I've worked as a server. These skills I've learned not only allowed me to excel while in the restaurant, but also have given me the ability to transfer these skills to other areas of my work and personal life. I honestly think everyone should be a server at some point, even if just a few months.
Servers are people with the skills to succeed in nearly any field. And they have them, simply because they served.
Source - awakeat2oclock.com