As I am very meticulous, I have researched for months and only applied at 2 places. I knew that the restaurant biz is definitely my type of job and i need a position that will pay my bills. That is how I ended up applying for a server position at buffalo wild wings which is on the same street I live on and the same street where I happen to attend college. I applied in September and never received a call back. I didn't call them back either because I was afraid of being annoying by calling too soon and then I felt dumb if I waited too long to call. Basically I was too scared to call. I went about applying all wrong anyway tho. Rather than going in when they were dead, I ran in at the beginning of the.dinner shift. The hiring manager wasn't there so I handed my app and résumé to a random manager. So, there's a chance that the hiring manager never even saw my app and that's why I never received a call.
Anyway, what really matters from this story is that it led me to apply at Hooters last Thursday (4 months later. I know, too meticulous!). When I went to my manager at the pizza place to ask her to be a reference on my Buffalo Wild Wings app, she told me that I should apply at Hooters. My response of course was, "Me? My boobs are definitely not big enough to work there!" She told me that her daughter MP who also works there ate there recently and said that the girls didn't really have big boobs and that they were normal looking girls.
At first, I didn't really think anything about applying at Hooters. But then, I was doing my research online to find good places to work as a server. There were two things that I was looking for: 1. a place where I would make as much as I am making now so that I can pay my bills (aka 15.88/hr but no less than 13/hr will pay my bills) 2. a job that is laid back enough so that I can go to school without anymore added stress, especially because I will (hopefully) be in the accelerated nursing program next semester and will not have much time to work.
Every search that I did told me not to work at Applebee's or Cracker Barrel. I knew better than to work at O'Charley's because I worked as a hostess there before and I hated it. Being a hostess meant that I got to see how the servers had to fill out these little forms promising to sell a certain number of appetizers, drinks, and desserts each night and they would get penalized if they didn't sell at least that many. They all seemed so stressed all the time.
My friends gave me suggestions of where to work like Buckhead. When I looked into this online, I found that it wasn't a very fun place to work. Outback is out because they are only open after 4 and there may be times when I want to work during the day too. I thought about Texas Roadhouse because it's my favorite place to eat. Then I realized that I would actually hate working there even though I love eating there. I absolutely despise most country music. I would die if I had to listen to it every single shift! I'm glad that we ate there for our anniversary in December so that I could realize that!
There was one restaurant that kept recurring in my searches. Everyone said that it was the best place to serve because you will always have better tips than anywhere else and that it's a fun place to work. Of course I'm talking about Hooters. I began strictly researching Hooters after ruling out all other options. I started off looking at the company website and reading all of the material that they have there about being a Hooters Girl. From there, I began searching "What's it like to be a Hooters Girl." That's how I came across my favorite blog TheHootersGirl. Ultimately, it was her blog and blogs that she links in her entries that convinced me that I want to work at Hooters. KH shares the good and the bad about Hooters and gives a lot of information on everything from applying, to the uniform, to how much you can expect to make in tips.
After reading almost every entry that she had ever made on this blog (I finished the rest today), I prepped myself for 2 weeks and finally went in to apply last Thursday. I had my friend MS come over and help me pick out clothes to wear. We decided on my favorite shirt which fortunately allows for ample cleavage and a little sweater to cover my arms to go with the chilly weather. I wore brown heels which was a mistake because they are half a size too big for me so my feet slide when I walk. I can't lie, I did not look sexy trying to walk in those things. I decided that I wanted to curl my hair so I opened my curling iron that I got for Christmas 5 years ago and have never used and began going at it. That's when I realized that I have no idea how to use a curling iron! So, I straightened my hair instead. It looked pretty good and I put my makeup on like I usually do.
In spite of my inability to beautify myself, I think the application/first interview process went well. I stumbled my way to the door which was not an easy task considering the fact that the parking lot is on a hill and the restaurant is on a boat so I was having a great time trying to get to that door! Oh, and I should mention the fact that God blessed me with a high degree of clumsiness...I trip over my own feet even when I'm not wearing shoes! But there was a man that was walking into the restaurant and he held the door for me. I thanked him and walked through and as I reached for the second door to get into the restaurant he ran up and said "woah woah, I'll get that!" I'm pretty sure he was just a customer but it made me feel good that he went through all of that trouble just to open the door. That does not usually happen! lol
As I walked into the restaurant, I knew that I had come at a good time (thanks to reading KH's blog of course). It was 3 p.m. and there were only about 5 tables and maybe 4 people at the bar. There were three girls working the floor, one working the bar, and there was one girl just sitting at a table in the back. I think she was working on homework maybe. No one came to greet me at the door and there was no hostess so I kind of stood there akwardly for about 30 seconds. Not wanting to look ridiculous, I approached a server who was working on a check on the computer and asked if I could speak with a manager. She asked the reason and I said I wanted to apply for a job. She sent me to the bartender and told me she would have an application for me. She definitely wasn't super friendly and didn't smile at all.
I went to the bartender and asked for an app. It took her a few minutes to bring it to me but she did and asked me to take a seat and fill it out and let her know when I was finished. She seemed nice but not super friendly. I filled out the app nervous the entire time because I know that my handwriting is terrible! It doesn't look like girly handwriting at all. In fact, everyone always teases me about it. I tried hard to write "pretty" but it just came out a little neater than usual but still really small and not girly looking at all.
When I finished, I went up to the bartender and she asked me to hang out for a few and she would get the manager. I ended up sitting there for about 20 minutes waiting for the manager. I was nervous. She finally came and got me though and she seemd super friendly and nice. She sat me down in the back at the table next to the girl who was doing her homework. She asked what hours I can work and if I'm at least 19. I blushed and confessed that I'm actually 22. She said okay, "even better!" She then proceeded to tell me that they need to have 60 girls on by summer because the restaurant is across from two major sports stadiums and they get really busy in the summer because of that. She said that it's a fun job and that the money is good, the girls make between 150 and 300 on Friday and Saturday nights. She let me know that you make your own schedule by logging onto a site online because they can't remember what shifts 60 different girls are available to work. She then told me to come back on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for a second interview. She said to dress up in something cute and do my hair and makeup as if I'm ready to start working that day because they want to be able to see what I will look like everyday if they hire me.
After that, we shook hands and I slowly marched, yes I marched because by then my feet were sweating from nervousness and I couldn't "walk" in those shoes at all without sliding everywhere and the hardwood floor made it even harder to actually walk so I marched out of the restaurant and tip toed back to my car up the hill because I can walk better on my toes than I can with the rest of my foot. lol I was so excited to have a second interview! I'm still excited!...and nervous.
Unfortunately, I have this allergy to any kind of insect bites and something went crazy on my arms on Saturday. I immediately started icing the areas up and taking a steroid (not prescribed to me personally but we had it there and it's the same one they prescribe to me when I go to the emergency room anyway). They don't look bad compared to normal but the bad thing is, they still look really bad to anyone who has never seen my allergic reactions before. They are huge red spots on my arms with white cirles in the middle. They aren't raised like usual though because I started taking medicine immediately. But I still am going to have to keep my arms covered for this interview if I have any chances of landing the job. I am going to buy concealer and a sweater (and maybe a cute shirt) to wear to the interview tomorrow when I leave this dreadful place that we call work tonight. And I spent a little while practicing walking in heels last night. I realized that I don't walk THAT bad when I'm wearing my heels that are exactly the right size for me. My feet don't slide out so it is easier to take a step. They are red and black though so I need to find something to match that. I have a dress that I could wear but I don't know if that is a good idea or not. Is a dress too dressy for a second interview? It's like a date night dress that I bought for Valentine's two years ago. I better find something to wear pronto! The interview is less than 24 hours away and I really need this job! When I say need, I mean my sanity depends on it. I'll have to explain what has pushed me so hard into this job. I will leave that for my next post though. This one is already too long!
Tomorrow, two of my besties are coming over to help me actually curl my hair and try to make my makeup look better than when I do it. Wish me luck! =)
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