With the variety of employment opportunities in Midland, students have the chance to work in the food service industry. Since many DHS students are under the age of 18, there are laws that do not allow allow them to handle some kitchen devices and appliances. People between the ages of 16 and 17 can be waiters, waitresses, or cashiers. Working at a restaurant consists of many responsibilities during work shifts.

“I would take orders, serve food and drinks, and bus and set up the tables afterwards,” senior Cassie Fewkes said. “Closing is a little bit more difficult, and [Big Boy] usually only had the older staff on as closers.”

Fewkes waited tables at the local Big Boy for around half a year. Like with all jobs, there are advantages and disadvantages to working in the food service industry. A difficult area is staffing.

“We were very understaffed, as as a result [we were] very overworked and burned out,” Fewkes said.

But workers gain valuable skills that can help in school and working in the future.

“The most important thing that I have learned from the food industry is that confidence is key,” Fewkes said

Working at a restaurant instead of being a consumer brings some habits to light that frustrates the employees.

“One thing customers should never do is come in right before close,” Fewkes said. “It’s more rude for a customer to do that than [you would] expect, as closing a restaurant is very hard, long, and tedious.”

To learn more about the pros and cons of working in the food service industry, visit https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140813120548-94520176-pros-and-cons-of-f-b-industry