What You'll Do

  • Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
  • Collect payments from customers.
  • Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
  • Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
  • Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
  • Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
  • Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
  • Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
  • Inform customers of daily specials.
  • Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.

Essential Skills

Service Orientation 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.5/5
Speaking 3.5/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.38/5
Coordination 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 2.88/5
Reading Comprehension 2.75/5
Persuasion 2.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.75/5
Time Management 2.75/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Stress Tolerance, Self-Control, Dependability, Integrity, Social Orientation

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Oral Expression 3.75/5
Speech Recognition 3.75/5
Speech Clarity 3.75/5
Time Sharing 3.25/5
Trunk Strength 3.25/5
Stamina 3.25/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

Blink Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation Compris software Facebook Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale Intuit QuickBooks Point of Sale MICROS Systems HSI Profits Series NCR Advanced Checkout Solution NCR NeighborhoodPOS Point of sale POS software The General Store

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Stress Tolerance (High importance: 4.44/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.33/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.28/5)
  • Social Orientation (High importance: 4.16/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Banquet Server Banquet Waiter Banquet Waitress Bar Waiter Bar Waitress Buffet Waiter Buffet Waitress Busser Carhop Club Waiter Club Waitress Cocktail Server Cocktail Waitress Deck Steward Dining Car Server Dining Car Waiter Dining Car Waitress Food Runner Food Server Formal Waiter Formal Waitress Informal Waiter Informal Waitress Restaurant Server Room Service Server Server Server Assistant Singing Waiter Singing Waitress Skating Carhop Waiter Waitress Wine Steward Wine Stewardess