Unlikely Candidates

It takes a certain kind of person to be attracted to a server job, do well, and stay. Many people try it thinking they'll make fabulous tips and have a flexible schedule. That can happen but while you may work a weekend dinner for $200 or more in tips, you'll also work a Monday lunch for $15. You have to give the impression of being accomodating and check any attitude at the door. You need to read people and develop a rhythm for serving your customers. Show up with the right thing as they expect it and know when to get lost.
We had two unlikely servers. One was a European immigrant who had attended law school in her native country and dropped out one course short of graduating. She was knowledgable, well-spoken, but very slow and not motivated by money. She got pregnant unexpectedly and quit the restaurant life.
Another server was an ordained minister, moved to our area where his wife got a residency in a pediatric program, and worked as a server because he couldn't find a ministerial job. He lacked server skills and we never gave him large tables that might request seperate checks as he invariably screwed that up. However he was well spoken and humble. He always sold lots of specials because he was so good at describing them and was one of our best sellers as he desperately needed money. He eventually got a pastor's job and left. We miss him.