Working in the service industry certainly isn’t for everyone. It entails long days on your feet, requires keeping a smile on your face while customers are rude and annoying, and you never know exactly how much money you’ll walk home with at the end of the night until you close. Some days you might get lucky and leave with a fat stack of cash thanks to generous tippers, while other nights, you may head home feeling like the entire day was a waste.

Despite the fact that working as a server doesn’t require education and can often provide flexible hours, the job definitely isn’t easy. In fact, it can be stressful, exhausting, fast-paced and often also includes a toxic working environment. According to a survey from Cozymeal, 71% of restaurant workers say they’ve experienced anxiety, 38% say they’ve experienced depression, 48% report having a sleep disorder, and 42% say they have chronic pain all thanks to their jobs.     

To find out more about what it’s like to work as a server, we got in touch with Ned from The Waiter’s Academy, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. When it comes to what kind of person is perfect for this job, Ned says, “A great server is like a blend of a stand-up comedian, a multitasking wizard, and a mind reader.”

“We recommend the job to those who thrive on human interaction, possess mental fortitude, and are not afraid to hustle,” he noted. “If you think you're terrible at everything else, that helps too! Welcome aboard!”

As far as the pros and cons of being a server, Ned shared that some of the best parts are having “flexible schedules, global mobility, and the opportunity to rake in good money for those who excel.” On the other hand, some of the downsides of being a server include “clocking in long hours and battling stress,” Ned says. “But hey, diamonds are made under pressure,” he added.

We were also curious about what the serving expert would like all customers to know about their waiters. “That we're not magicians,” Ned told Bored Panda. “We can't be everywhere at once! And yes, the tip is the North Star of our efforts. No one would work this job if it was not for the tips!”

Ned was also kind enough to provide us with some tips for those struggling with the server life. “If stress, long hours, and kitchen chaos are dampening your spirits, either embrace the chaos or gracefully bow out,” he says. “The learning curve is steep, but with a smile, resilience, and a bit of time, you'll master the art of serving.” 

Finally, Ned added that the job market is serving opportunities on a silver platter. “Seize them!” he says. “In conclusion, the server's life is demanding, but the demand for skilled servers has never been higher. So, chin up, hustle on, and may the tips be ever in your favor!”

Depending on where you live, you might find tipping to be completely unnecessary. And if the country you live in does pay servers a living wage, you have every right to choose not to tip! But unfortunately, in the United States, most servers do survive on their tips. The federal minimum wage for tipped employees in the US is a measly $2.13 per hour. Meanwhile, the minimum wage for most jobs is $7.25 an hour. Without earning decent tips, there’s no way servers can make ends meet.  

Until servers are guaranteed a living wage just for doing their jobs, they’re going to keep asking for tips. And while it certainly isn’t necessary to tip self-checkout machines, or baristas who simply give you a latte in a to-go cup, it’s nice to prepare yourself to leave a tip before dining out in the US. And if you can’t, it might be better just to cook a meal at home. You’ll be saving money anyway!  

We hope you’re enjoying scrolling through this bizarre (and perhaps infuriating) list, pandas. Keep upvoting the tips that you can’t believe customers left, and if you’ve ever worked as a server, feel free to share what the best and worst tips you’ve ever received were down below. Then, if you’d like to check out another article discussing the wild world of tipping, we recommend reading this piece next!