How to hire a fountain waitress/waiter

How to hire a fountain waitress/waiter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step fountain waitress/waiter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a fountain waitress/waiter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new fountain waitress/waiter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the fountain waitress/waiter you need to hire. Certain fountain waitress/waiter roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect fountain waitress/waiter also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of fountain waitresses/waiter and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Fountain Waitress/Waiter	Description	Hourly rate
   Fountain Waitress/Waiter	Food and beverage serving and related workers perform a variety of customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants, cafeterias, and other eating and drinking establishments.	$9-15
   Cafe Server	A cafe server is responsible for serving customer orders, ensuring timeliness and efficiency. In some establishments, they are the first to greet the customers, taking their orders courteously and professionally... Show more	$9-16
   Concession Worker	A concession worker is responsible for selling foods, beverages, and other concession items in various public events. Concession workers' duties include promoting products to guests, preparing their food orders, operating cash the register and processing payments, and maintaining the sanitary standards on the concession area... Show more	$9-16

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Food Handling
   • Customer Service

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop relationships with regular patrons; develop an understanding of their personal needs and expectations, including preferences and food allergies.
   • Monitor guest for intoxication and immediately report concerns to management.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your fountain waitress/waiter job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A fountain waitress/waiter salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, fountain waitresses/waiter' average salary in mississippi is 31% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level fountain waitresses/waiter earn 38% less than senior-level fountain waitresses/waiter.
   • Certifications. A fountain waitress/waiter with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a fountain waitress/waiter's salary.

   Average fountain waitress/waiter salary

   $12.46hourly

   $25,909 yearly

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   Entry-level fountain waitress/waiter salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

4. Writing a fountain waitress/waiter job description

   A fountain waitress/waiter job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a fountain waitress/waiter job description:

   Fountain waitress/waiter job description example

   This serving position earns a competitive wage starting at $2.13 per hour plus tips and then increases to $2.50 per hour plus tips after four months. Some shifts offer $7.25 per hour plus tips depending on the schedule. We provide great benefits , including medical, dental, vision, and paid vacation time for full-time team members . We are also providing our team with a new discount program that offers discounts on travel, gyms, cell phones, restaurants, auto purchases, apparel, and electronics . Additionally, our team members get free shift meals . If this sounds like the right full- or part-time food service opportunity for you, apply today!

   
   

   ABOUT IHOP

   Since 1958, IHOP has been the place where people can connect over breakfast, enjoy study breaks, grab a bite to eat before or after sporting events, and so much more. No matter what menu items our customers order, one ingredient is always a constant - a smile. In fact, smiles are so much a part of our culture that we changed our logo to include one. We know the shortest distance between two people is a smile. Our values of integrity, excellence, innovation, accountability, inclusion, trust, and community are ingrained in everything that we do, ensuring our customers always receive the highest quality of service.

   When you work for IHOP restaurants, we encourage you to "be the pancake you wish to see in the world." Our team members are more than just traditional employees. They help create smiles for the future with their warm and friendly service. To show our appreciation for all the hard work that our employees do, we promote a supportive work environment that encourages building lifelong friendships and offers opportunities for professional growth .

   
   

   A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SERVER / WAITER / WAITRESS

   In this food service position, you play a huge part in the experience each customer has at our restaurant! As guests come in you warmly greet them, promptly take orders, and follow up to ensure exceptional customer service. Your awareness serves you well as you refill drinks and clear dishes at appropriate times. In addition to serving-related tasks, you perform other responsibilities like cleaning and presetting tables, stocking, and practicing superior cash handling standards when collecting payments.

   Your problem-solving skills come in handy when you need to rectify guest complaints, and you always promptly notify the management of these situations. Whether you're interacting with customers or coworkers, you always behave in a professional manner and follow uniform guidelines. Overall, you love working with lots of different people and having the opportunity to be an important part of the team !

   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS FOR A SERVER / WAITER / WAITRESS

   • Ability to be on your feet for long periods of time and lift up to 25 lbs.
   • Exceptional customer service skills

   Experience with computers is preferred but is not required. Are you adaptable and able to work well under pressure? Can you effectively prioritize multiple tasks? Do you have solid interpersonal and communication skills? Can you represent our company in a professional manner? Are you service-oriented? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment? Are you a team player and willing to help out wherever you're needed? If yes, you might just be perfect for this full- or part-time food service position!

   
   

   WORK SCHEDULE FOR A SERVER / WAITER / WAITRESS

   This serving position is full- or part-time and works a varied and flexible work schedule.

   
   

   ARE YOU READY TO JOIN OUR RESTAURANT SERVING TEAM?

   If you feel that you have the right serving skills for this full- or part-time food service job with our restaurant, please fill out our initial 3-minute, mobile-friendly application . We look forward to meeting you!

   Location: 37343

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right fountain waitress/waiter for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your fountain waitress/waiter job on Zippia to find and recruit fountain waitress/waiter candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with fountain waitress/waiter candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new fountain waitress/waiter

   Once you've decided on a perfect fountain waitress/waiter candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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