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Career Details :: Waiters and Waitresses
Description
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a general office clerk even if he/she has never worked in an office before.
Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
Tasks
- Takes order from patron for food or beverage, writing order down or memorizing it.
- Serves meals or beverages to patrons.
- Relays order to kitchen or enters order into computer.
- Observes patrons to respond to additional requests and to determine when meal has been completed or beverage consumed.
- Obtains and replenishes supplies of food, tableware, and linen.
- Computes cost of meal or beverage.
- Removes dishes and glasses from table or counter and takes them to kitchen for cleaning.
- Accepts payment and returns change or refers patron to cashier.
- Fills salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
- Prepares salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portions desserts, brews coffee, and performs other services as determined by establishment's size and practices.
- Carves meats, bones fish and fowl, and prepares special dishes and desserts at workstation or patron's table.
- Cleans and arranges assigned station, including side stands, chairs, and table pieces, such as linen, silverware, and glassware.
- Garnishes and decorates dishes preparatory to serving.
- Prepares hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chills bottles of wine.
- Serves, or assists patrons to serve themselves, at buffet or smorgasbord table.
- Presents menu to patron, suggests food or beverage selections, and answers questions regarding preparation and service.
Related Careers
- Bartenders
- Cashiers
- Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
- Counter and Rental Clerks
- Food Preparation Workers
- Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
- Parts Salespersons
- Stock Clerks, Sales Floor
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Performing for/Working With Public
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Establishing & Maintaining Relationships
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Communicating With Persons Outside Organization
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Provide a Service to Others
- Deal With External Customers
- Indoors
- Standing
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.