Waiters and Waitresses

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Also known as:  Cocktail Server, Cocktail Waitress, Dining Car Server, Restaurant Server, Wine Steward

ABOUT WAITER OR WAITRESS CAREERS

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Expand
Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food in restaurants, coffee shops, and other establishments. The quality of service they deliver helps determine whether or not the patron will return. That's because "service sells." The food may be completely ordinary, but if the waiters and waitresses ...
are friendly and attentive, customers will come back again and again.

Job opportunities can range from local diners to national chains to expensive restaurants in major cities and resort areas. The key to success is always the same: put yourself in the customer's shoes.

Tips are a major share of the take-home pay of a waiter or waitress, and the ones who receive the biggest tips are the ones who make their customers feel "special" by anticipating their wants and needs before they have to ask for anything.

In addition, depending on the type of restaurant, waiters and waitresses may perform additional duties that are generally associated with other food and beverage occupations, such as escorting guests to tables, setting up or clearing tables, or operating the cash register. Waiting tables isn't just about serving food, it's about serving people.
SNAPSHOT Expand
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
Leadership
HIGH
Critical decision making
HIGH
Level of responsibilities
LOW
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines
LOW
Dealing and handling conflict
LOW
Competition for this position
LOW
Communication with others
HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.
HIGH
Comfort of the work setting
HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions
LOW
Exposure to job hazards
LOW
Physical demands
LOW
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DAILY TASKS Expand
Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.
Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving.
Describe and recommend wines to customers.
Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
Perform food preparation duties such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
Escort customers to their tables.
Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
MAIN ACTIVITIES Expand
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE Expand
Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Food Production Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Sales and Marketing Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Production and Processing Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
KEY ABILITIES Expand
Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Trunk Strength The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Stamina The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
TOP SKILLS Expand
Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Persuasion Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.