Ex-dotcom staff are new breed of New York waiters

The slowdown in the US dotcom revolution has led to increasing numbers of former employees of boom-to-bust Internet ventures seeking jobs as New York waiters, according to Manhattan recruitment agency Metroforce, which specialises in supplying staff to the catering and retail trades.

Jason Pizzo, its president and chief executive officer, said that 10-15% of applicants to Metroforce had dotcom experience.

"There were so many opportunities, the dotcoms took whatever they could get. Gaps were filled with personable types from various service industries."

Because youth was seen as a prerequisite for the Internet generation, most dotcom cast-offs are aged 21 to 30.

Pizzo added: "The ones whose Internet job descriptions included customer service and sales make good waiters.

"But the hermits and nerds who dedicated their lives to all things dotcom may need a shave, a tan and a wardrobe change."