Restaurant waiting work 'embarrassing' for Guernsey residents
The chef leading Guernsey's hospitality and catering training says a "change of culture" is needed to encourage islanders to enter the industry.
Steve Bacon, from the Guernsey College of Further Education, said students were often put off working in the trade despite showing an aptitude for it.
He said the caterer had "never been treated as a professional" in Guernsey.
Elvio Pires, a St Peter Port restaurateur, said local students were "too embarrassed" to wait on tables.
He recalled one local applicant who responded to an advert but asked if he could work in the kitchen instead "because he didn't want any of his mates seeing him serving in the restaurant".
Mr Bacon said he was frustrated by islanders' attitudes to the trade.
"If you take France or Germany - it's a profession," he said.
"It's in their culture, so they're not battling with parents and career advisers."
Richard Vivian, the acting head of Guernsey's careers service, said his members would not seek to put anyone off any line of work.
However, he said members of the service were obliged to point out "all the downsides as well as the upsides" of every job.
He said the "low pay and long hours associated with catering and hospitality" may well put some people off.