If you love the restaurant industry half as much as Top Applicant does, you may be wondering how to break into this booming industry! Whether you’re a seasoned vet, or just getting started, we’re serving up some industry insider info on how to find a great career in a restaurant hiring near you in Dallas!
Before you put in your first ticket, take 15 to learn from some of the industry’s finest workers with decades of combined experience serving the D.
Starting Somewhere – (Reggie, 5 years)
“I started out as a dishwasher in my neighborhood soul food joint. But after spending time around chefs and servers, I caught the bug really quickly! They taught me about their positions on slow nights and eventually I started helping out in more places than just the dish pit!
“By my second year, my manager asked me to cover a shift for a server that quit and I got my first shot! Even with a few years under my belt, I stay taking notes, though my memory for a menu is flawless. (Pro tip—always write the order down!) If I had one piece of advice when trying to find a restaurant hiring near you in Dallas, it’s that everyone starts somewhere. Don’t be shy about working a dirty job. Someone’s gotta do it!”
Becoming a Regular – (Shyla, 12 years)
“My parents owned a really successful French restaurant for a few decades near downtown. But after Covid hit, we shut the doors because of my dad’s passing and my mom’s age. This destroyed my passion for the industry, but I always told my mom I would carry on dad’s dream.
“I became a regular at a dive bar down the street from my apartment, where I spent hours talking about drinks and recipe ideas with any bartender that would listen. Eventually, the owner had to cover one night and told me I needed a job to pay off my tab. I asked if he was hiring, and the rest is history. My advice is to find your passion for this industry and never forget it. Restaurant jobs hiring near Dallas aren’t for the faint of heart!”
From Drive-ins and Dives to Fine Dining – (Dave, 25 years)
“In the summer of ‘89, I landed my first job at Keller’s. If you’re not familiar, this is a dream job for anyone that’s a fan of old-school drive-ins! I stayed throughout high school, but my parents decided I needed a big boy job. So I worked hard in school and landed a cross country scholarship to Rice (go Owls)!
“Even with that scholarship, I didn’t have the luxury of partying like some of my peers. Instead, I strung three bartending jobs together through my junior year. I ended up spending just as much time behind the bar as in my business books and the summer before my senior year, so I talked to my parents about dropping out to pursue a career in the restaurant biz.
“This created a rift between my parents and I, especially after introducing my partner to them the same day. Without their support, I wound up looking for any restaurant job hiring near me in Dallas. Finally, after being told ‘no’ so many times, I landed a server position at Pappas Bros of all places! Now, I enjoy family as a host with my found family every shift I get. My biggest piece of advice to anyone trying to break into this industry is to keep your eyes on the future. You never know where the opportunity of a lifetime may come up!”
Start Here, Serve Anywhere
True success starts by applying yourself. So whether you’re just getting started or a proud industry pro, Top Applicant can help! Level up your career by browsing the best restaurant jobs near you in Dallas with the platform putting the human element back in hiring! Log in, apply with confidence, and taste success as a Top Applicant today!
