How to hire a shift leader and server

How to hire a shift leader and server, step by step

Here's a step-by-step shift leader and server hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a shift leader and server, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A shift leader and server's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, shift leader and servers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of shift leader and servers.

   Type of Shift Leader And Server	Description	Hourly rate
   Shift Leader And Server	Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.	$9-14
   Lead Crew Member	A lead crew member is responsible for supervising crew members during their tasks, ensuring that they provide the highest customer service to ensure customer satisfaction that would boost the business' reputation, generate revenues, and increase profitability. Lead crew members assist the team on food handling procedures for safe consumption, as well as reiterating the sanitary and hygienic standards during operations... Show more	$12-20
   Guest Services Leader	Guest services leaders are professionals who manage a team of guest service representatives who help hotel guests get the service they need as well as accommodate their requests. These professionals are required to manage front desk operations as well as cater to their guests' reservations and transportation needs... Show more	$13-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • POS
   • Food Preparation
   • New Servers
   • Customer Complaints
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Food Orders
   • Food Service
   • Excellent Guest
   • Fine Dining
   • Bartending
   • Safety Procedures
   • Drink Orders
   • Guest Complaints

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide customers with a great dining experience while serving or bartending.
   • Accommodate individual needs such as food allergies, drink preferences, and make suggestions.
   • Coach server team in upselling techniques to maximize ticket totals / high service standards.
   • Cater to their dining and bartending needs, while suggestively selling new items on the menu.
   • Recognize for exceeding sales goals on a consistent basis by upselling, suggestively selling and cross-selling.
   • Create delicious tasting food items and be responsible for knowing how to run the (POS) system.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your shift leader and server job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A shift leader and server can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, shift leader and servers' average salary in oklahoma is 46% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level shift leader and servers 39% less than senior-level shift leader and servers.
   • Certifications. A shift leader and server with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a shift leader and server's salary.

   Average shift leader and server salary

   $11.93hourly

   $24,814 yearly

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   Entry-level shift leader and server salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

4. Writing a shift leader and server job description

   A job description for a shift leader and server role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a shift leader and server job description:

   Shift leader and server job description example

   New Hire Bonus up to $750!

   Currently seeking team members who are passionate about building lasting vacation memories for owners/guest visiting our resort properties! Are you someone whose service orientated, courtesy, wanting to ensure our owners/guests receive the highest standards of quality of beverage, food and service.

   As a Food & Beverage Server you would be responsible for maintaining a clean professional work area at all times. Serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and food to patrons.

   • Obtain knowledge and service of menu items and prepared beverages. Performs in accordance with all state regulations with regards to alcohol service and consumption. Serve hot and cold food to guests as needed in a timely manner.

   • Follow all Steps of Service including, but not limited to: greeting/welcoming guests, upselling, establishing rapport, serving, pre-bussing, thanking guest, and inviting guest back.

   • Collect monies for beverages served. Perform general cleaning tasks using standard cleaning products as assigned by your supervisor to adhere to health standards. End of shift reports

   • Carries out all reasonable requests by management; willing to "pitch-in" and help co- workers with their job duties and be an outstanding teammate.

   • Regular attendance in conformance with the standards, which may be established and revised by HGVC from time to time, is critical to the successful performance of this position.

   Our dedication to excellence is recognized and celebrated by some outstanding accolades including being named to Newsweek's Most Loved Workplaces list in 2021, a Stevie American Business Awards Gold winner for Company of the Year in Hospitality and Leisure, ranked a top company by LinkedIn in Travel & Hospitality on its 2022 Top Companies Industry Edition list and becoming a Great Place to Work certified company, earning our 2022 certification.

   We offer an excellent benefit package to our full-time Team Members that include medical, dental and vision insurance, 401K plan, Paid Time Off (PTO) program and extraordinary travel benefits!

   Qualifications

   Hilton Grand Vacations is a leader in the vacation ownership industry, operating with an unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and continued growth. At the core of our company's success are our Team Members. To fulfill this role successfully, you must possess the following minimum qualifications and experience:

   • High school Diploma/GED

   It would be advantageous in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions:

   • Alcohol Awareness Certification, to be obtained within 30 days of employment.

   • Food Safety Certification.

   We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

   We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right shift leader and server for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with shift leader and servers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit shift leader and servers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your shift leader and server job on Zippia to find and recruit shift leader and server candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with shift leader and server 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 shift leader and server

   Once you've found the shift leader and server candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new shift leader and server first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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