As the responsibilities of hosts and hostesses differ significantly, the qualifications to become a restaurant hostess vary employer. In most cases, however, you’ll need an outgoing personality, a professional appearance, and the ability to seat customers quickly and efficiently in the dining room. You may also be required to operate a cash register, deal with customer complaints and concerns, and, in some cases, fill in for servers during peak periods. High-end restaurants may require you to have extensive experience in the food service industry before being hired, but you can work as a restaurant hostess in more modest establishments with little or no experience.
Your experience in the industry or in a related field is often more important than your educational credentials in food service jobs. You might even be able to work part-time as a restaurant hostess while still in high school. If you’ve never worked in a restaurant before, you might want to start looking for work at family restaurants and diners. If you have previous work experience, particularly in the area of customer service, you may be more likely to find hostess work without restaurant experience. Experience with computers or a work history that includes administrative work may be beneficial if the job requires you to manage the restaurant’s reservation system.
Many restaurants place a high value on the ability of their servers and hosts to make their customers feel at ease. This means you should be properly groomed and dressed for the type of establishment where you want to work as a restaurant hostess. You should also be able to work under pressure, handle customer complaints gracefully, and deal with the unexpected, such as people arriving late for reservations or having to find seating for large groups.
Begin your job search for a restaurant hostess position visiting local restaurants and asking if they are hiring. You can also look for wanted ads in local newspapers or on the internet. Dress professionally for interviews, as you would for any job, especially one that involves working with the public. Demonstrate enthusiasm for working with the public as well as your restaurant coworkers. You might be able to advance to a management position within your restaurant or a larger corporation over time.