💭 If you’re considering working in a restaurant, read this before making a decision!
Over a few interactions with restaurant owners, I realized that working in a restaurant as an immigrant is not as easy as it seems. The experience was nothing short of an interrogation session rather than a job discussion. 🫤
🍽️ Restaurant 1: The Interviewer 🎤
📞 The moment I called, the owner bombarded me with questions like it was a corporate interview:
❓ Do you have any prior experience?
❓ What’s your age?
❓ Why did you leave your previous job?
❓ How long can you work?
❌ We don’t allow students to work in the kitchen.
💰 Salary: $1800–$2000 per month
🧐 My thoughts:
What does age have to do with working at a restaurant? 🤷♂️ Back in India, I worked hard as a child, helping in paddy cultivation, feeding buffaloes, and drawing water from wells, etc. Yet, this fucking owner—who probably never worked that hard—was acting like a corporate CEO giving me life lectures. 🤦♂️🍽️ Restaurant 2: The Rude Owner 🤨
📞 No explanation of the job, no details—just a single question:
❓ Do you have prior experience or not?
That was it. No discussion, no courtesy. It felt like I wasn’t even a human being worth talking to. 🫠
🍽️ Restaurant 3: The Ultimate Cheapskate 💰
📌 Worked for 2 days—no payment! ❌
Instead of paying, he started bargaining like I was some vendor at a flea market. 🤯
⚠️ What is the Actual Nature of the Work?
Before you step into restaurant jobs, understand the reality:
🔄 All-in-one worker: You do everything, from food running, order taking, serving customers, cleaning tables, and lifting plates to dishwashing, handling online orders, working the billing counter, and even managing suppliers.
🕒 Working Hours:
- Part-time: 4–5 hours
- Full-time: 10–12 hours
- Hourly Pay: $7 to $9 (💸 way below minimum wage in many states!)
🧠 Restaurant Owners' Mentality:
- They assume you know nothing.
- They pay pennies and expect 200% effort.
- Many treat workers like disposable labor.
🤔 Before You Decide, Ask Yourself:
🔍 What is your primary goal?
🔍 Why are you in the U.S.?
🔍 Is your dream being fulfilled?
🔍 For whom are you working?
🔍 If your parents knew you were working for pennies, how would they feel?
📉 The Harsh Truth: The Debt Trap 💰
A friend of mine had a stable job in India earning ₹80,000/month but left everything to pursue a Master’s in CSE at SUNY Buffalo for bright future. 🌍
❌ No on-campus job throughout his degree.
❌ A ₹60,00,000/- loan (now ~₹90,00,000/- with interest).
❌ Lost his job in September'24 and his work permit expires soon.
❌ Now working in a restaurant for pennies because returning to India with massive debt isn't an option.
💔 The American Dream has turned into a nightmare for many.
⛔ Think Twice Before Exhausting Yourself for Pennies!
📉 Restaurant owners get richer, while workers break their backs.
⏳ Long hours standing = future health problems (varicose veins, chronic fatigue, etc.)
💰 Is this why you came to the U.S.?
👉 If you must work at a restaurant/gas station/store/etc., go in with your eyes open. Know the conditions, understand the exploitation, and always have a plan.
🚨 Don’t lose sight of your bigger goals! 🚨
🔄 Share this post to spread awareness! 💬
💡 Final Thought
- Your value is not defined by a restaurant job.
- Your dreams are bigger than serving food for minimum wage.
- Stay focused, aware, and resilient. 💪
🚀 Aim higher. You deserve better! If things aren’t working out, remember—India is always home. Your parents are waiting with a thousand eyes full of love and hope 👀💖, longing for the day you return with pride and success. 🌟✨
It was a good read...What would a good and a better approach to study abroad.. with minimal risk factor
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