<p>I'm trying to find a summer job, and so far have been offered 2 positions, both in food services (one's a pub, the other's a restaurant) </p>
<p>One position is working as kitchen prep, so basically getting food ready for cooking, probably making some simple things like salads, gravies, etc. The other is "food runner" which from my understanding is just a step below server (basically I'd help bring food from the kitchen to the tables and help the servers out)</p>
<p>Anyone have any experience in either position? Thoughts, comments, advice, warnings? It'll be my first time working in the service industry, so admittedly I'm not too sure what to expect.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone happen to know whether minimum wage takes tips into account? I'm sure rules/legislation varies from place to place, but just wondering if this is possible (one of the places is offering me $5/hr, but the manager says with tips it should work out to about $15/hr. Minimum wage here is about $8)</p>
<p>Being a runner would be better if that's actually what it is, but if it's also a busser, then I would take the food prep job. Bussing sucks.</p>
<p>People who get tip credit have their own minimum wage, significantly lower than regular minimum wage. It's perfectly legal.</p>
<p>Well, I now see that you're from canada. </p>
<p>I don't know how it works there, but tips count as wages.</p>
<p>I'm from Ontario, and I know that places where tipping is expected like bartending or waiter-ing have lower minimum wages.</p>
<p>Do you want to deal with people or work in the kitchen? They're just two different environments. </p>
<p>But also keep in mind that if you're a step below server, you really won't be waiting. It sucks to be somebody's lackey. </p>
<p>(Also: Who's offering you more money? It's summer; your job will not be terribly fun regardless, so get the most bang for your buck.)</p>
<p>Also consider whether you want to return to a restaurant job in the future. If you want to go to culinary school or anything like that, kitchen experience is a must. If you want to wait tables in the future, working as a runner would be great experience. Congrats for getting two offers!</p>
<p>The second one sounds like a glorified busboy. DON'T DO IT! I worked for a month at Smitty's as a busboy and it was hell. You're at the bottom of the food chain and someone is always breathing down your back to work faster. Not to mention having to deal with half eaten food is just gross.</p>