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
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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
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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.
Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
MAIN ACTIVITIES
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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
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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
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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.
Stamina
The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
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.
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.
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
TOP SKILLS
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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.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
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.
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