I'm trying to get a job in a restaurant because as an actor, it's pretty much the sweetest deal as far as a survival job goes. I've never actually worked in a restaurant, but I have catered, and been a volunteer waiter for charity dinner's in the past. This experience is on my resume, but it is never enough to hiring managers.
Several of my friends have lied and put a fake restaurant on their resume with a friend or sibling as their supervisor, and they've all been hired at various restaurants in NY. Other actors I meet at auditions have told me this is a very common practice.
I'm considering doing this. I hate to. It's dishonest, and could really come back to bite me in the butt if it leaked. But it seems to be the only way.
Your thoughts?
Oh, please don't. Cheating on one thing will just make you feel like it's okay to cheat in other aspects of your career and your life as well.
Don't think of it as lying. Think of it as retcon. ;D
Or just take the traditional route and embellish a little. You volunteered for a dinner for a cat charity one time last summer? Nossir! You worked for a prestigious restaurant named Le Chat in 2008!
Okay, maybe don't take it *quite* that far. But you get the idea.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
It's dishonest, and not only could it come around and bite you in the ass, but it's a bad precedent to set.
Don't do it. It's hard enough to find work as an actor - what are you going to do when you're blacklisted from work as a waiter?
are you kidding me? it's a survival job not a stepping stone to a prestigious career in the food services industry. f*** that. will the restaurant manager haunt you forever more? please.
blacklisted as a waiter? in nyc???? leaked to who? people it's a restaurant. there are a million of them. c'mon. this is like being worried that someone is going to pull your junior high school transcripts.
Blacklisted?!
hahahah....sorry, but the idea that there's some network where people are keeping track of those who've lied on their waiter resume?! PLEASE! It's a white lie that is half assumed anyway. If you stink, they'll know that you lied and fire you...then you go down the street and apply there.
Keeping track of those who HAVENT lied would be easier.
Just dont claim to be able to do something unless you can do it. You'll be fine.
I'd lie. It's tough out there and you gotta do what you gotta do...
Besides, I'd assume that so many people do this that the restaurants almost expect it. They are not going to do deep background checks for a waiting gig. I wouldn't worry about it.
"this is like being worried that someone is going to pull your junior high school transcripts."
BUT we were told it was going on OUR PERMANENT RECORD!!!
haha. Thanks guys. I think I may just bite the bullet and do it. If folks do it all the time and get away scot free, why the heck not?
I don't really think it is necessary. If you have no waiting experience just emphasise your skills such as "great working under pressure, getting along with all types of people,multi-tasking, quick learner, team player, etc." I mean, you won't get hired at a 5 star place, but everyone has to start somewhere.
But if you feel you must pad it, expect them to check references and past work places. These days Google has made that sort of thing so easy. If you make up restaurant in Arizona they can just google it and if it doesn't exist...well, you get the idea.
i almost went back and added, "and jftr: there is no effin' permanent record!"
How's this for a safe lying option? Apply to a restaurant where one of your lying friends has already been hired, and put the same restaurant and reference as they did (with their "reference"'s permission, of course). Then you already know it'll work and the risk is minimal. :3
I can't recall ever even having to have a resume when I waited tables. I just filled out an application.
I lied and put a fake restaurant on the app for the first waitressing job I had, but I just told them it had gone out of business, therefore no # to call for a reference.
haha. Thanks guys. I think I may just bite the bullet and do it. If folks do it all the time and get away scot free, why the heck not?
I think there's almost no chance of getting caught, but I wish you wouldn't do it anyway. Because it's a question of personal integrity. If you do something that you normally wouldn't, that makes it the 'new normal,' and then you feel like it's okay to lie and cheat to do other things. It's not something you want to start doing.
Stockard, that's genius. I'm trying to get a waitress job for the summer while I get my bartending license, and I'm so going to use that. Ha!
If it helps any with your respect levels, I've never lied on my CV (resume). Which is probably why I'm still working retail and would never judge someone who'd choose to submit a non-true version of their work history in the Great Jobhunt of Life.
I've never lied either. Hooking and drug trafficing are much more profitable and there's no reference checks.
Well I never lied on a RESUME......just a waitressing application. LOL!
LOL Somms!!
I would lie.
Bartending LICENSE? What state requires a license to tend bar?
I have no idea, but apparently where Jag lives they do.
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