Write everything down One of the first lessons you learn in the dining trenches is to write everything down. You don't want to bring someone the fillet with mashed potatoes when they ordered seared tuna. You also don't want to misreport the facts of a story because you didn't take notes. Be a joiner Every job industry has its social circles. The food service and journalism industries are no different.
Waitresses have the same schedule as other waitresses, and the same goes for reporters.
So join in. Socializing with your industry counterparts can also help you figure out if you are being underpaid, mistreated or missing out on key opportunities. It's better to prepare people for tardiness than to surprise them with it. The same rules apply to editors. If you can somehow finagle a great last-minute interview and turn a story around quickly, your editor will probably regard you with more respect.