To quote one of my staff members, it’s always important to read the room.

What does this mean?

Look around. Figure out what’s going on. Is it the time? Or the place?

Tonight around 10:15 one of the bartenders comes out to say he has someone he wants to meet.

I tell him I’ll be right there.

I don’t mind. I love meeting our guests.

So I go in.

And within 6 tenths of a second I realize the angle.

The girl he’s introduced me to, is looking for a job.

She begins to bombard me with questions about are we hiring? What are we looking for? She calls off her resume! Etc. etc. etc.

This goes on for about 20 minutes.

Referring back to last weeks post about trust your gut, I’m getting a bad read on her. Something is just not right.

Then she shared that the reason she quit her last job was because she had an emotional issue because of all the drama with her owners.

Ahhhh.

Top ten things not to say while looking for a job in a restaurant.

1. My least favorite thing about waiting tables is having to get things for people.
2. The last time I was angry at work was when I punched the bartender.
3. Hi I’m addicted to heroin, but I’m trying to get clean.
4. The reason I quit my last job was because the got mad that I was alway ten minutes late.
5. I know I applied for the food runner position but I’m a bartender and I only want to bartend.
6. Yes, I know it’s July 28, but I can only work till August 10.
7. Yes, I’ve applied for a food running position at a seafood restaurant , but you should know that I have a severe seafood allergy. If even the juice from an oyster touches me, I’ll need my epi pen.
8. Yes, I’d like to be a server, but I have a curfew and have to be at my home by 9:00.
9. I want to work her but I can only work on Friday or Saturday.
10. I left my last job because I had a nervous breakdown from the stress.

All of these are true. No embellishments. No exaggeration. My favorites are #1 and #2.

My gut says no on lady at the bar.

Don’t ask for a job at the end of my 10 hour day.

And #10.