How To Write A Server Job Description

If you’re noticing that you need a little extra help around your restaurant, it might be time to hire an extra server or two. After all, servers help keep your establishment organized and ensure that your customers are provided with efficient service.

To attract the best candidates, you’ll need to post an alluring, competitive job description. Knowing what qualifications you need and what servers expect to be paid is a must.

However, if you’re new to writing job descriptions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Don’t worry!

This article will explain the most important elements of a server job description and provide a professional example you can utilize.

How to Write a Server Job Description

Odds are, the candidates you want will be shopping around the job market quite a bit. Remember, there could be dozens of restaurants in your area.

With that in mind, you’ll want a job description that has an attractive offer and is easy to read. Personalize your job summary so candidates can separate your position from others like it. Instead of writing: “The Server does X,” capture your desired candidate. Here are a few examples of an interesting job summary:

• Looking for a worthwhile part-time gig? Our bar offers laid-back service with excellent pay. You’ll earn $12.50 an hour with tips pooled over the week. We have morning and evening shifts available, Tuesday-Saturday. Come join our team!

• We’re looking for lively additions to our 35 strong team of dining room professionals. Our reputation for exceptional service comes from the fantastic people we have working the floor, and you can be one of them. If you love food, wine, people, and being a part of an effective team, please apply. We have several evening shifts available, Monday-Friday.

• Know that feeling of being at the stadium on game day? Then you know what it’s like to work at Jerry’s Pub. It’s fun. It’s fast-paced. We’re always at the top of our game, and we want to keep it that way. You’ll be the go-to guy or gal with the knowledge and confidence to serve our guests. A team player who can communicate with our other staff. What’s in it for you? A lot! Competitive pay, Team Member discounts, incentive contests, and flexible scheduling. So join our team today and get ready for an adventure.

As shown, you can include important information while also giving candidates a taste of what makes your job unique. These examples pull candidates in and make them more likely to apply.

Another way to attract more qualified candidates is to make your job description easy to read. This can be achieved by using bullet lists instead of lengthy paragraphs.

For instance, when you’re outlining the job requirements, create a neat and organized bullet list of everything candidates will need to know. That way, there will be no confusion about the skills they need to have.

Shift Information

Chances are that you might need your new server to cover particular times of the day. Maybe you’re finding that you’re short-staffed on the weekends, or maybe one of your dinner staff recently resigned. If you are looking to fill a particular time slot, make sure you include that information in your job description.

Remember that different shifts can receive differential pay. For instance, the night-shifter at a bar will expect a higher salary than the server who works the slow morning shift.

Additionally, you’ll want to specify whether the position is full-time, part-time, or temporary. Keep in mind that full-time applicants will expect some form of benefits, so if you’re looking for full-time servers, you should be prepared to list their potential benefits in your job description. However, for this type of work, part-time is the most popular choice for employers.

Server Duties and Responsibilities

If you’re looking to hire a server, you probably know why you need one. Yet, it’s important to outline exactly what kind of work your candidates will be doing. Here is a comprehensive list of the duties and responsibilities you should include in your job description:

• Provide exceptional customer service

• Greet customers, take their names and provide wait times if needed

• Give customers an appropriate amount of menus

• Clean and set tables

• Answer customer questions and provide suggestions

• Up-Sell new menu items

• Record orders accurately

• Effectively communicate with other staff members

• Serve food and drinks to customers

• Deliver checks and collect payments

• Follow relevant health department regulations and adhere to our customer service guidelines

Important Skills and Qualifications

To perform tasks effectively, your potential servers will need to have certain skills and qualifications. These include:

• Organized and Tidy

• Team player with excellent communication

• Capable of performing in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment

• Punctuality and time-management skills

• Active listening skills

• Able to lift and stand for at least 8 hours

Education Requirements

For servers, Education doesn’t typically play an important role in on-the-job success. While some high-end restaurants require a high school diploma, many restaurant owners do not.

As the employer, you can choose what level of education you want to require. However, requiring anything more than a high school diploma isn’t recommended.

Consider the nature of your restaurant. Do you own a small diner, a cafe, or a gourmet eatery? If you have a lengthy menu or high-end culinary cuisine, you might consider requiring a high school diploma.

More importantly, you should ensure that your candidates speak whatever language/s you need them to speak fluently. After all, communication with customers is a crucial part of the job.

Experience Requirements

To ensure that you’re getting someone who knows what they’re doing, you can list experience requirements in your job description. Luckily, being a server isn’t incredibly complicated, so you don’t have to go overboard. Here are a few examples of experience requirements you can use:

• 1-5 years of experience working as a Server

• 1-5 years of customer service experience

• 1-5 years of experience operating a cash register and other retail systems

• 1-5 years experience working with food, with knowledge of food safety regulations

Remember that you don’t necessarily need to rely on a candidate’s experience. For example, if there’s an applicant with an incredible resume, who’s missing 2 out of 3 of your experience requirements, you might still consider hiring them. After all, you’ll be providing on-the-job training regardless of how experienced your hiree is.

Overall, you can train your employees to become more experienced, but you’ll have a much harder time altering their personality or work ethic.

Server Salary Expectations

Of course, your job description will be useless if applicants aren’t satisfied with the pay. Once you know the average server salary, you can go from there.

Generally speaking, the average server in the United States makes $11.59 per hour or $24,000 per year. Keep in mind that this number may vary from state to state, as some states have a higher minimum wage than others.

When you create your job listing, consider the following factors:

• Do you need to hire urgently?

• Do you need a higher level of experience?

• Which shift are you looking to fill?

• Is your position casual or fast-paced?

• Will your server need to work at a bar?

Knowing all of these factors is important because they can increase your server’s salary expected to be paid. Think about what you need, and calculate your income, so you know what kind of salary will go beyond your means.

For this kind of job, it can also be beneficial to list tips as supplemental pay. While it won’t guarantee someone’s interest, it is a good bonus.

Server Job Description Example

Now that you have all of the information you need, here’s a reference example to help you get started on writing your job description:

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.