Anyone here ever work as a valet?

[Danimal77]

So, went back to school recently (graduate level) and need to work at the same time. I accepted a job as an indoor valet at a high end hotel. Anyone ever work as a valet and if so, any advice? My shifts are all over the place. Tomorrow I work from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Wednesday from 2-10pm and Thursday-Saturday from 11:00pm to 7:00am.

[calfzilla]

How's the dental insurance plan?   

[Icelord]

Smile often, kiss a lot of ass, and wait for the tips to come in. That's definitely a baksheesh job.

[Danimal77]

Smile often, kiss a lot of ass, and wait for the tips to come in. That's definitely a baksheesh job.

Wonder if I get to keep my tips or if I give it to the house and they give me a percentage of it? I believe I will be the only valet per shift.

[Roger Bacon]

[Icelord]

Wonder if I get to keep my tips or if I give it to the house and they give me a percentage of it? I believe I will be the only valet per shift.

It varies by establishment. Some allow you to keep everything and others want you to turn the tips in, or a percentage of them. The idea is to accept a tip out of view of the hotel personnel. You can make decent money with a valet job, actually. 2k/month after taxes can't be ruled out, maybe more.

[Danimal77]

How's the dental insurance plan?   

Touche ;-)

[Danimal77]

It varies by establishment. Some allow you to keep everything and others want you to turn the tips in, or a percentage of them. The idea is to accept a tip out of view of the hotel personnel. You can make decent money with a valet job, actually. 2k/month after taxes can't be ruled out, maybe more.

Sweet. I take it that it gets really busy during check in and check out?

[Icelord]

Sweet. I take it that it gets really busy during check in and check out?

The busiest time is the evening, between 5-8 p.m.

Mornings and afternoons are relatively quiet by comparison but there's never much time to sit around. You'll always been doing something other than parking cars when there aren't any at that moment.

[Danimal77]

The busiest time is the evening, between 5-8 p.m.

Mornings and afternoons are relatively quiet by comparison but there's never much time to sit around. You'll always been doing something other than parking cars when there aren't any at that moment.

What kind of stuff would I be doing other than parking cars if there are no cars to park?

[Icelord]

What kind of stuff would I be doing other than parking cars if there are no cars to park?

Seconded for other duties...your guess is as good as mine. Some places expect you to help unload luggage for other customers who may not have a car or to stand at the door and open them for people coming in. There's always some low-level work to be done in a busy hotel.

[calfzilla]

Friend of mine did it for a few years so imagine it was ok. Prob good opportunity for tips.

Why not work part time in your field of study?

[LiftEaTsLeEpRePeAt]

So, went back to school recently (graduate level) and need to work at the same time. I accepted a job as an indoor valet at a high end hotel. Anyone ever work as a valet and if so, any advice? My shifts are all over the place. Tomorrow I work from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Wednesday from 2-10pm and Thursday-Saturday from 11:00pm to 7:00am.

my buddy did it years ago and he took 1 dollar from each car,  some days he would make 100 bucks plus tips...

[Danimal77]

Friend of mine did it for a few years so imagine it was ok. Prob good opportunity for tips.

Why not work part time in your field of study?

Doing a Master's degree in Psychology. Took a long layoff (was working as a financial adviser for a major bank). I left the bank to go back to school. The only kind of work in the field of psychology at my level is volunteer work, which won't pay my bills. Canadian loans aren't the greatest and my GPA wasn't worthy of a scholarship unfortunately (less than a 3.4).

[Danimal77]

my buddy did it years ago and he took 1 dollar from each car,  some days he would make 100 bucks plus tips...

That's decent. The hourly rate is shit (under $15/hour), but I'm assuming with tips I'll make up for it.

[Rambone]

Time to break out the khaki shorts and sneakers, studddd.

[Icelord]

That's decent. The hourly rate is shit (under $15/hour), but I'm assuming with tips I'll make up for it.

14/hr is good by most unskilled worker standards. Doesn't Walmart start people at like $8? lol.

[Big Chiro Flex]

In undergrad I worked valet and bell service at a nice 5 star hotel.

Literally the most fun 4 years of my life. Working with all my best buddies, going home with $200 cash in my pocket every shift, epic times for an 18 year old kid.

[Danimal77]

14/hr is good by most unskilled worker standards. Doesn't Walmart start people at like $8? lol.

No idea. Gave up a job at the bank making $30/hour to pursue school (in my mid 30's).. Haven't worked at less than $23/hour since my teens.

[Icelord]

No idea. Gave up a job at the bank making $30/hour to pursue school (in my mid 30's).. Haven't worked at less than $23/hour since my teens.

I don't like hourly jobs. I tend to think of them as blue collar or entry level mostly. Most of my gigs have been salary with a yearly bonus if the business did well.

[Danimal77]

In undergrad I worked valet and bell service at a nice 5 star hotel.

Literally the most fun 4 years of my life. Working with all my best buddies, going home with $200 cash in my pocket every shift, epic times for an 18 year old kid.

What was your shift? Graveyard? Morning? Thing is, I interviewed at 2 high end hotels. 1 hired me after the first interview. The other gave me 3 interviews and I still didn't get the job (which is the one I really wanted). The staff there seemed way cooler.

[Danimal77]

Time to break out the khaki shorts and sneakers, studddd.

HA. It's still winter weather here in the North East bro . Besides, they have us wearing a black dress shirt and black plants.

[Danimal77]

I don't like hourly jobs. I tend to think of them as blue collar or entry level mostly. Most of my gigs have been salary with a yearly bonus if the business did well.

Yeah, it was salary. I just did the math based on a 40 (or 37.5) hour week. Was pulling in 60k, which roughly comes out to $30/hr.

[ismoseppo]

serious reply
keep this thread alive when you work, post cool cars that you park and if you can take pics

[Icelord]

Yeah, it was salary. I just did the math based on a 40 (or 37.5) hour week. Was pulling in 60k, which roughly comes out to $30/hr.

Yep, that's about my salary right now, depending on the bonus.

But if I had to go back to driving a forklift or unloading trailers in a warehouse for half the price, I would. Just any work beats no work. And the more well-compensated the job, the more responsibilities you're loaded with. Sometimes it's nice not having to think.