Do you find front desk receptionist to be just as "low" of a job as a waitress?

I don't necessarily consider either of those jobs to be "low." And I certainly wouldn't consider either one to be "an under achieving loser." There is honor in work, ANY work. And some waitresses and receptionists get compensated very well indeed.

If I meet someone who describes a waitress as an under achieving loser because she does that job, I would see that "someone" as pretty low. Even if she happens to have a respectable job like receptionist. Edit: Ah, after your add'l details I see where you are coming from. Well, what's going on with your parents is: they enjoy being proud of you and bragging about what you have been up to, and they wish you'd move into a job that sounds more impressive when they tell it. Don't judge them too hard for that, most parents like being able to do that. But don't let it sway your life choices either. Everybody has the rights to one life only. They get to live theirs... and you get to live yours.

I'd like to know where people get the misconception that being a waitress/waiter or a secretary or receptionist is a bad job. I've met people who work in those jobs and love what they do very much. And I don't find either job to be "low" either. Those people have to put up with a lot of bullsh!t from the general public, and said bullsh!t comes mostly from people who think in such a way about them. And restaurants and large corporations wouldn't be nearly as prominent and well performing as they are without those "low" people working for them.

My daughter is putting herself through nursing school working as a waitress, so I'm a little miffed that anyone would consider what she does as "lowly", and a position held by an "underachieving loser". She has to put up with that kind of mentality all day long and she gets tired of people judging her by what she does to earn her keep, and feeling like she has to justify it all the time. I understand that you agree with the sentiment that anyone working a respectable job should be given credit...but the fact that you need to be told that what you do for a living isn't as "lowly" as working as a server, just to bolster your own sense of self esteem, tells me you're one of those people that my daughter has to deal with on a daily basis. The only difference between a flower and a weed....is judgement.

Well, you're really asking two different questions. 1. First, you're asking which position would be better for you. It depends. There are waitress AND receptionist jobs that are great AND awful. Some waitresses can make a lot of money because they work in busy restaurants in areas where clients are respectful and generous with tips. But some make very, very little money and work for awful people. Same goes for receptionists. My advice is, if you want a career as a waitress or receptionist, go for the receptionist job because it sounds like there are possibilities for promotion. And it would be a good idea to get your career started. But if you need money for school or something else, go for whichever job pays the most. If you have health problems or kids, go for the receptionist job if you'll get health insurance. 2. Your second question is how do others perceive waitresses and receptionists? I agree with the first two commenters, who are basically saying that the most important thing is how waitresses and receptionists see themselves. There are ALWAYS people who look down on us. I was once a cleaner and you're right--many people do look down on cleaners. But now I have a great job that many of my friends envy. There are still people who judge me and look down on me. Look at people like Kate Middleton, the woman who is married to Prince William. There are even people who look down on her! The point is, you will make yourself very unhappy if you allow other people to tell you how you are doing in life. There are always people who look down on us. You need to set your own standards for yourself. Be tough on yourself if you want. For example, there would be nothing wrong in deciding that someday you'd like an easier or higher-paying job than waitressing. But make sure that YOU are the one setting that standard--not others. The reason it doesn't work to measure ourselves against other people is that we're all different. We all want different things and have different skills. To me, it sounds like you would not be satisfied in the long-term in either job. So my advice is, don't feel that you're going to be locked into either one of these jobs. Decide what you'd like to do. Be a waitress or receptionist while working towards that other goal. Take concrete steps (like taking classes) to accomplish that other goal. We are never stuck. Never feel like you don't have other options. Good luck.

Both jobs aren't very technical or require much in the way of education, however they are both respectable jobs. I don't think one is better then the other, I would say that a receptionist position (depending on the company/industry where this position is located and requirements can vary vastly) is or can require more common sense and technical skills and can require more education then being a server. Although both jobs have there own stresses and difficulties, neither of them are that difficult. I also don't judge someone from what they do. You could have a person who may have a college degree from USC who has been in the corporate world for years who financially doesn't need to work anymore but wants to stay involved take one of these less stressful jobs (there are all sorts of scenarios/circumstances). What position are you doing or considering?

I don't consider ANYONE who is working "low". What I consider "low" is that you have the audacity to be judgmental. I don't know who you are or who you think you are, but obviously you feel the need to put others down in order to lift your own ego up. YOU are the one with no class....and class cannot be bought. Go have aerial intercourse with a rotating French pastry!!!