How to Become a Waiter

From Kelsey Grammar to Kelly Clarkson, many people start their careers as waitresses. Working in a restaurant environment is quick and beneficial if you approach the job appropriately and develop the necessary skills. If you are charming, dependable, and someone who can handle multiple tasks at once, serving in a restaurant could be a great short- or long-term opportunity for you. Find out more about our general advice in the article or find out more specifically by checking the headings below this article.

Table of Contents

Learn Skills

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Become graceful. Diners come to restaurants not just for the food. Eating out at a restaurant is an experience for them, and the wait staff will be the most visible part of that experience. Can you even chat with difficult and quiet people at parties? Can you easily empathize with others? Can you quickly come up with jokes and smiles? If your answer is yes, you have one of the essential qualities of a good waiter.

You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian, but you do need to be a good communicator. Quiet waiters can be just as great as communicators, they just need to remember how to communicate through body language, do their job effectively, and listen when possible. .

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Is a quick person. Are you someone who is capable of multi-tasking? Can you easily memorize every list? Can you quickly adapt to change and new circumstances? Members of the catering department need to be able to take orders from guests, communicate with the “backroom” staff, and act as the “face” of the restaurant. This is quite demanding, but you need to do it quickly and efficiently in order for the restaurant to function effectively.

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Become strong. It’s hard to carry a wobbly tray of drinks and plates filled with spicy chicken wings without spilling once, and especially after a long shift to cater to boisterous football fans. heat? This can be downright exhausting for you. If you are fit and healthy, being a member of the wait staff will be more comfortable. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder, but it helps a lot when you have to serve diners in a crowded room and still be able to carry heavy loads safely and quickly. .

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Write clearly and use a computer well. If the kitchen department can’t read your handwriting on the order sheets, things can quickly become chaotic. Tracking information and clearly recording customer requests is an important part of the restaurant’s operation. The whole process starts with you.

At the restaurant, you will be guided through the details and learn how the whole system works, but generally you need to familiarize yourself with the essentials.

Looking for a Service Job

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Apply for jobs at restaurants that can train you. High-end restaurants in the city center will certainly not hire inexperienced waiters. If you have never worked as a waitress before, fast food chains such as KFC or Lotteria are a good place to start, training and experience will be essential. It helps you to find a good job with a higher salary. You will learn a lot about how the restaurant works and skills so that you can become a good waiter.

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Create a resume. If you don’t have a resume ready, focus on demonstrating the skills needed for a restaurant waitress position. You need to be good at handling customers, working in a team, and getting things done quickly. Emphasize similar work experience to illustrate these qualities.

If you have never worked before and you are hoping to find a job as a waitress, you should focus on presenting your accomplishments in school as well as in a group setting such as in the sport you are good at. Be positive and advertise yourself. This is your job.

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Talk to the manager. When you find a place that’s hiring, ask to see a manager. If you give your résumé to a bartender, your resume may be lost, and either way, the bartender isn’t supposed to hire the staff.

Submit your resume enthusiastically. Let them know that you’re really looking forward to talking more about the position and that you’re ready to start working right away. Being a waiter means you have to make a good impression at all times, treat the application process the same way you would for the job. Make a good first impression.

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Anticipate interview questions. Preparing answers to frequently asked interview questions will ensure that you don’t get flustered in front of your manager and that you’ve fully thought through your job responsibilities. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Some managers will probably ask you, “What’s your favorite dish on our menu?” or “If the kitchen ran out of fish, what would you suggest to diners instead?” Research the restaurant’s menu in advance by checking on a website such as Yelp or on the restaurant’s official website.
Be mentally prepared for a bad situation. Many managers will ask you, “If someone showed you a fake ID so they could buy alcohol, what would you do?” or more specifically, “A diner is angry about their meals. What would you do?” Think about these situations so you can come up with the right answers.
Please present your own question. Usually, a question such as “What do I need to do to be successful in this position?” can leave a good impression on the manager. They often give you an opportunity to ask your questions, and this is often an opportunity that is easily missed during the interview process.

Waiters

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Approach diners with a smile and greeting. Introduce yourself and introduce your name clearly. “Hello, nice to meet you. My name is ___. Please see the menu. Would you like to start your meal today with a refreshing drink at our bar?” Greet diners with a smile as they enter the restaurant.

Maintain eye contact, but avoid staring too much. Some customers may be feeling uncomfortable and may walk into the restaurant with different emotions. Respond appropriately. As soon as you see them sit down at the table, you can start with a small conversation as you proceed to record the drink they ordered. If they don’t like chatting, skip this step.

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Proceed to record the drink the customer ordered clockwise starting from your left side. If children are also present at the table, consult the children first, then the women, and then the men, from left to right.

This is also the right time for you to discuss the restaurant’s specialties and promotions.
Once you’ve served them drinks, ask them if they have any questions about the menu. Don’t rush them to order unless they’re pretty late, and even if this happens, be gentle. If they want to order, record the request clockwise from the position to the left and closest to you. If not, move on to the next table.

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Once the main course has been served, always remember to ask, “Would you like to order something else?” and give them a few minutes to think. Check back in 5 minutes with the question, “Are you satisfied with everything?” Ask about the food they ordered: “Did your steak taste good?” Listen to their answers and consider their body language: many people are shy when it comes to their problems, and they may blame you when they consider giving money. boa.

Take out the dishes at once. Never bring one diner’s dish before the rest, unless you are asked to (this can happen when one or more attendees have to leave early). Usually, there isn’t any reason why one part of an order might be filled later than others. If in a situation where you could have foreseen it and you know it would cause trouble, explain the situation briefly and ask how the client would want to handle the situation.

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Clear the dishes of the current meal as soon as the customer shows an attitude of wanting you to clean them. Always remember to completely remove the dishes from the previous dish before setting the dishes for the next dish.

Before cleaning up the dishes, be sure to politely ask the customer to find out if they’re done. Use a tone and manner appropriate to the environment and to the customer. Usually, you can use saying “Can I clean the dishes for you?”. Don’t ask when they are clearly eating. If diners are chatting and there’s food left on their plate, don’t interrupt the conversation to ask if they’ve finished their food. Please wait and come back soon.

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When diners have finished their main course, ask, “Would you like to take a look at the dessert menu?”. Asking questions will give them the opportunity to order more dishes without them having to make a specific request. Customers will be able to request dessert if you suggest it.

You should clear any crumbs of complimentary bread and/or soup before the main course and before diners order dessert.

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Receive payments from customers. Let the customer know that you will prepare the bill for them, make some changes if they pay by cash, and process the payment through the diners’ credit card if they want to pay by card. . Never ask a customer if they want a change or think it’s a tip for you – just give them the bill and be sure to come back quickly to return the change/receipt for them.

When you return, thank them and say something like, “Nice to meet you,” “Hope to see you soon,” OR if they seem hesitant after their meal, ask. say “thank you”, as they might want more food or something like that.

Follow Good Advice

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Make sure you always dress up when you go to the restaurant. Always arrive 15 minutes earlier than the start of your shift, dressed and dressed in clean clothing. You should wear clean socks and shoes. Your hair should be neat and clean, your nails clean, and your uniform/clothing should also be neat and simple. Use a limited amount of cosmetics for a natural and fresh look.

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Recognize customer cues. If diners want to ask for something, they will look around to find you. Most customers will use eye contact to let you know that they need you. This gives them the feeling that you’re paying attention to them without you having to hover around their table.

When they’ve finished their food and finished their conversation, they’ll either look at the other table or toward the wall. This is a signal to let you know that it’s time to clean up the dishes, offer a dessert suggestion, or give them the bill.

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Don’t talk too much. Avoid loitering around customers’ tables and disturbing them. Diners don’t like being stared at or constantly interrupted when they’re in a conversation or dining, but sometimes they’ll need your help, too. So you need to balance it delicately.

Learn to rate customers quickly. If a couple seems stressed and they look like they’re arguing, this is not the right time to ask, “What holiday are you celebrating today?” or other embarrassing questions. If diners look like they’re enjoying their time and are hesitant to leave the restaurant, suggest the restaurant’s drinks or coffee. If they like to chat, take a moment to chat with them. If not, let them enjoy their own space.

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It should not be assumed that men will pay the costs. If you know well who will pay the expenses, you can place the invoice at her or his place. Conversely, if you are not sure, leave the invoice in the middle of the table. Invoices usually have to be placed face down on the table. If the invoice is contained in an envelope, place the envelope neatly on the table.

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Keep calm. When customers appear annoyed or rude, listen to them and communicate openly with them. Remember: this is your job, not a personal matter. If they appear aggressive, harass other customers, or get too drunk, call management and let your boss handle the matter.

Advice

Never approach a customer when you smell tobacco. If you are allowed to smoke during breaks, wash your hands immediately afterwards, rinse your mouth and – if possible – deodorize your clothes by spraying some lemon on your body.
If your friends come to visit you, have a brief chat and treat them like other customers. If they don’t order, it’s not good for them to stay in the restaurant longer than a few minutes.
Never try to hide your mistakes from your manager – you will only make matters worse. In general, at most restaurants, when a dish is prepared the wrong way (such as an overcooked steak), the manager will usually bring out another plate of properly prepared food – but if you don’t say it – management won’t know! Admit mistakes in a timely manner so they can help you resolve the situation.
If you use perfume, don’t use too much. Fragrances that are too strong can make customers uncomfortable and “drive” guests out of the restaurant instead of enticing them.
Find out about the dishes that customers usually want to eat before the main course. If they order soup, salad, and main course, be sure to ask them if they would like soup and/or salad before the main course, as in most cases customers will. Even if the restaurant where you work usually serves soups and salads first, you should ask this question because many diners want to eat the opposite way. Learn the order in which dishes are served so you can tailor them to your diners’ preferences.
Make sure you perform all routine procedures quickly and consistently. Avoid forgetting anything – for example – if you are serving tea, make sure you bring a cup, small plate, milk and a tea spoon.
Usually, there’s an obvious type of question that most customers ask. Whether it’s “Do you sell coffee?” (when they’re standing at the ‘order coffee here’ sign) or “How much is the sponge cake?” (while they’re looking at the menu), feel free to reply to them at all times. You’d better answer in an even clearer way than their question so future guests won’t repeat the same question.
If you’re good at memorization, keep in mind the foods and drinks that customers usually order. This will make ordering easier and more efficient.

Warning

Don’t let one mistake bring you down. If you allow a small mistake to affect you, you will continue to fall. Shake them off, take a deep breath, and move on. Share it with someone you love or respect and take the weight off your shoulders – saying “I messed everything up! I’m sorry” will ease the burden on your heart as well as when you receive it. the answer that “You should be present at a time when I am also doing your job!”

Things you need

Useable pens, scratch paper, tableware, a lighter (if the restaurant allows smoking), and the waiter’s friend (bottle/wine opener) .
A comfortable, high-quality shoe with non-slip grooves (kitchen floors can be quite slippery).
If you have long hair, make sure you bring some extra hair ties in case you or your coworker need one.

Steps