Ehrenreich begins her experiment in Key West, Florida where she finds an apartment for 500$ a month. As Ehrenreich applies for jobs, she learns about the low-wage-job application process. After not hot hearing back for three days she resentfully applies for a waitressing job at “Hearthside”. She would work at the Hearthside for two weeks from 2:00 in the evening until 10:00 at night. She gets paid $2.43, plus tips. Gail trains Ehrenreich on the ins and outs of waitressing. Ehrenreich feels incompetent and amateurish. She gets to know some of the regular customers and bonds with her coworkers. During her time in the restaurant business, she comes to despise the management. She finds out that while she has to constantly work, her supervisors
