This post presents detailed information on the restaurant server job description to help you learn the tasks, duties, and responsibilities they usually perform.
It also highlights the major requirements most employers/recruiters may want you to meet to be hired for the restaurant server role.
What Does a Restaurant Server Do?
Restaurant servers, also known as waiters and waitresses, play a vital role in any restaurant.
While a restaurant server job description entails delivering food by taking orders, today’s servers represent the customer service unit of any restaurant.
A good restaurant server can convert any customer into a regular customer, while a poor server may cause customers not to return to the restaurant.
The restaurant server work description may include different duties, which depend on the type of restaurants they are employed in.
Not every person can work as a restaurant server. However, if you desire to become one, then it’s imperative you understand that you belong to a much bigger team and you need to work hand-in-hand with your coworkers if you plan to succeed on the job.
Restaurant servers make sure that customers have an exciting dining experience by providing quality customer service to them.
They work in the front office of the business and take orders, remove dinnerware from the table in a timely manner, and serve drinks and food.
Restaurant server is the general term used for a waitress or waiter who is typically part of a wait staff.
Restaurant servers can get employed in different kinds of establishments, from big dining restaurants to casual eateries.
They are required by the nature of their job to be on their feet for most of their shifts.
Part-time employment in this line of work is common.
To be a good restaurant server, according to Lightspeed, servers must possess three qualities, including adaptability, likability, and knowledge of restaurant menu.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said in 2022 alone, 4,540,700 food and beverage serving and related workers were employed.
Restaurant serving positions are entry-level roles and require a High School Diploma, while previous experience is usually not required, save for some fine dining restaurants where some experience might be required.
Training as a server is mostly done on the job and this is usually carried out by experienced wait staff.
Restaurant Server Job Description Example/Sample/Template
A typical job description for the position of restaurant server consists of important tasks, duties, and responsibilities shown below:
- Provide good customer service
- Take orders
- Deliver food
- Answer questions regarding the menu
- Work together with other servers and the kitchen staff to ensure the restaurant is operated efficiently
- Be a part of the dining experience
- Offer suggestions and recommendations in regards to orders and drinks
- Help to personalize the meal
- Help in the kitchen when the need arises
- Process payment
- Greet customers
- Clean tables and dining area
- Set tables
- Discuss the day’s menu with the manager and kitchen staff.
Restaurant Server Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Career Success
Here are important requirements you are expected to meet by most employers/recruiters to be hired for the restaurant server role:
- Customer service skills: Must be friendly, patient, and attentive
- Must always be neat in appearance
- Available and ready to wash dishes
- Ability to demonstrate habits of greeting both new and old customers
- Communication skills: Strong ability to clearly communicate orders to the kitchen and respond effectively to customer needs
- Must be comfortable with running errands for customers within the restaurant
- Substantial knowledge of refilling condiment containers
- Basic Math skills to handle bills, split checks, calculate totals, and give correct change
- In-depth knowledge of serving food to customers and meeting their needs
- Demonstrated ability to sanitize service tools and dining areas
- Strong multitasking ability to juggle several tables at once, deliver food, refill drinks, and handle payments
- In-depth understanding of menu items, ingredients, and specials for making recommendations and answering guest questions confidently
- Strong attention to detail for preventing mistakes and enhancing customer satisfaction
- Good stamina to maintain performance, standing for long hours, carrying trays, and moving quickly throughout shifts
- Ability to handle complaints or unexpected issues calmly and professionally to keep guests satisfied
- Teamwork: Strong ability to work closely with hosts, cooks, and other staff in ensuring efficient service and a smooth dining experience
- Time management: Ability to prioritize tasks, serve meals promptly, and keep track of multiple tables..
Restaurant Server Resume Preparation
In preparing a resume to be used in applying for the job of a restaurant server, information about duties and responsibilities of a restaurant server can be extracted from the sample job description above.
The employment history or Professional Experience section of the resume can particularly be created with such information.
If you are trying to learn how to write a good resume for the position of restaurant server, then you can study this article: Restaurant Server Resume Sample.
Conclusion
Working as a restaurant server is not an easy career choice to make. The initial training is a challenge and you have to be patient to succeed in your career.
Learning new skills is not easy either, but once you learned them, they stick with you for ever.
The job can be quite stressful at times, but if you like the work, there are many benefits that will cancle out the stress.
Make sure to choose the restaurant server career because it is enjoyable and allows you to do what suits your personality and ability best.
This post is helpful to individuals interested in the restaurant server career, to learn all they need to know about the duties and responsibilities of the role.
It is also helpful to recruiters/employers needing to make a detailed job description for the restaurant server position in their companies.
