The Difference Between Working as a Waiter and Software Engineer

I decided to discuss this topic as it has been on my mind recently. For some context, I have been working both as a waiter and later on as a software engineer. Needless to say, I’ve observed significant differences between the two roles and I will be running trough some of the main ones in this blog post ??

???The difference between regular and SE interviews

Embarking on the journey to become a software engineer led me through numerous interviews for more ‘generic’ jobs. From waiter positions in various restaurants to roles in customer support, supermarkets, and coffee shops, I underwent a multitude of interviews at the age of 16–17. Looking back, the patterns in these interviews became apparent — companies were seeking to recruit me, to get me to work for them.

In the realm of tech, however, I quickly realized a distinct shift in dynamics. Consuming a plethora of YouTube videos on the topic (as one does), I discovered that in tech interviews, the focus was on determining if I was a good fit for the company and its interests.

Did you spot the difference?

In ‘regular’ jobs, they want to get you to work for them. In tech, you want to work for them. At least at the start of your career!

??? The job of a waiter (my experience)

There is a lot to unpack here, but I won’t go into much detail.

In the role of a waiter, I’ve experienced A LOT of physical demand. Working 14 hour shifts multiple times per week, always being on-foot, smiling no matter what your current feelings are, not having more than 1 hour worth of a break, micro-management at sky-high levels… the list can go on and on.

Also - my money ?? earning capacity was only as much as I could’ve physically tolerate. Of course you can do some tricks by being a good waiter; going to more expensive restaurants and etc., but until when? There is a sealing and the chances of you reaching it are limited.

I would say, that in my experience the correlation between the time I’ve put in and income I generated isn’t even 1:1. Of course, I am sure and personally know a lot of other waiters, who have had much bigger success than me, but again, their earning potential is limited by physical capabilities, which are decreasing as they age.

?? The job of a software engineer (my experience)

When I started working as a software engineer and got into discussions with experienced people in the field, I got to understand that I made the right choice in pursuing a career here.

When I started coding and became more familiar with the potential, learning how to code, promised, I truly experienced a mind switch.

All of a sudden, my earning potential wasn’t limited by my physical capabilities, but by my brain capabilities. The more I learn, the bigger the opportunities. I know had to think of ways on how to optimize my time, become more productive in my work, not burn-out (a term, unknown when you work in a restaurant ??) and all of these things, related to preserving energy for your brain to work at it’s most optimal level.

The correlation of time put in and income generated became from almost 1:1 to now, 1 to .. infinity ??. And I don’t think I am over-exaggerating with this statement.

Coding is one of the most important skills to learn in this day and age and in my opinion anyone should give a try on learning it!

Coding emerged as a pivotal skill in this age, with the correlation of time invested and income generated extending towards infinity. It’s not coincidental that many successful individuals emphasize the importance of learning to code.

?? Impact and meaning of the job

Impact

As you can imagine, the impact of a waiter is limited, typically confined to the size of the restaurant. In the best-case scenario, a highly skilled waiter might fill the entire restaurant with patrons eager to experience exceptional service. However, in most cases, a waiter’s impact is restricted to the area where they provide service for the day.

On the contrary, an engineer’s impact can transcend imagination. Take, for example, Mark Zuckerberg, who created one of the most widely used platforms globally — Facebook. His influence reached billions of people. Similarly, an ordinary engineer, while not inventing such platforms, can still make a substantial impact by contributing to various web apps/platforms, providing value to millions of users.

Meaning

I discovered a much deeper sense of meaning in working as a software engineer, where I feel like an integral part of building a product used by millions, aiding them in creating and growing businesses. (I currently work at Tide ).

As a waiter, the only meaningful aspect I found (albeit remarkable) was the smiles of people and the human interactions with them. The way someone remembered you and returned just to have a chat during their lunch was amazing. However, the drawbacks of the job far outweighed the benefits, based on my experience.

?? Give it a try

In my opinion, everyone should at least try being a software engineer. What I mean by that is to go through some free courses and see if you enjoy coding. I’ve had some friends who gave it a try and didn’t seem to like it, but at the same time, I have many friends who now do this for a living.

Just think about it — with a single laptop, you can build something from scratch that helps tens, hundreds, thousands, millions… of people! ??

Here are some free courses you can explore ??

Exampled roadmap of your journey on learning how to code.

FREE course on the coding foundations, by freeCodeAcademy:

Python for Beginners!

You can go to freeCodeCamp’s YouTube and explore a wide variety of FREE courses that will honestly make you learn even more than it’s needed for applying for SE jobs! ??

I hope you enjoy these insights into how I feel about the difference between the two jobs.

The waiter job definitely helped me improve my communication skills, but, for me at least, it came with a lot of pain and sadness. The software engineering job is the one where I find meaning and it doesn’t feel like work!

?? Like, comment and share your experience!

Have a productive day and week! ??