A hostess/server is someone who serves food in a restaurant while also greeting customers and answering the phone. Certain professional skills and personality traits are required, as well as a minimum of formal education and the ability to learn on the job. Prior sales or customer service experience is usually beneficial as well. A person with these qualifications can usually get a job as a hostess or server applying for an open position.
When a restaurant is busy or has a small staff, someone may serve as both a hostess and a server. In full-service restaurants, however, the positions are usually separated. A hostess/work server’s schedule is usually somewhat flexible, and formal education is rarely required; a high school diploma is often sufficient. This is many people’s first job, and they learn the majority of their skills through on-the-job training.
A hostess’ typical responsibilities include greeting customers, showing them to their seats, and providing menus, so being friendly and outgoing is a must. A hostess may also take reservations over the phone or in person, and may be required to place customers on a waiting list or show them alternate seating while they wait for their tables. Because she frequently performs cashier duties, basic math skills are essential.
A server’s responsibilities often include attending to customers during their meals, explaining the menu and any special dishes, and answering questions about food preparation. Typically, she should be able to explain the ingredients, highlighting any potential food safety concerns and allergies. If you want to work as a hostess or server, you should be able to serve food and beverages promptly and neatly, as well as check on customers throughout the meal to ensure their satisfaction and address any issues.
There are a few different ways to apply to work as a hostess or server. The restaurant will usually post available jobs on “Help Wanted” signs or in classified ads in local print and online publications. Some restaurants rely on word of mouth to promote themselves. To become a hostess or server, you must apply in person, complete a job application, and have an interview with the owner or manager.
Some personality traits can assist someone in becoming a hostess or server. When dealing with the public, having a good memory and organizational skills is important, as is being well-spoken and polite. Employees at some restaurants speak multiple languages to communicate with coworkers and customers from various cultural backgrounds, so being multilingual may help you land a job.
Once you’ve been hired as a hostess or server, you’ll receive on-the-job training in customer service, food safety and handling, and food allergy awareness. You may be assigned administrative tasks such as payment processing, which may necessitate learning to operate computerized cash registers. Some hostess servers attend classroom training, which may cover more advanced topics related to full-service restaurant work.