Become A Waitress

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Working As A Waitress

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Performing General Physical Activities
Getting Information
Selling or Influencing Others
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Deal with People
Outdoors/walking/standing
$18,783
Average Salary

What Does A Waitress Do

Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to customers in dining establishments.

Duties

Waiters and waitresses typically do the following:

Greet customers, present menus, and explain daily specials to customers
Answer questions related to menu
Take food and beverage orders from customers
Relay food and beverage orders to the kitchen staff
Prepare drinks and food garnishes
Carry trays of food or drinks from the kitchen to the dining tables
Remove dirty dishes and glasses, and clean tables after customers finish meals
Prepare itemized checks and take payments from customers
Set up dining areas, refill condiments, and stock service areas

Waiters and waitresses, also called servers, are responsible for ensuring that customers have a satisfying dining experience. The specific duties of servers vary with the establishment in which they work.

In casual-dining restaurants that offer simple menu items, such as salads, soups, and sandwiches, servers provide fast, efficient, and courteous service. In fine-dining restaurants, where more complicated meals are prepared and are often served over several courses, waiters and waitresses emphasize personal, attentive treatment at a more leisurely pace. For example, they may suggest a beverage choice such as a wine recommendation with certain foods.

Waiters and waitresses may meet with managers and chefs before each shift to discuss the menu or specials, review ingredients for potential food allergies, or talk about any food safety concerns. They also discuss coordination between the kitchen and the dining room and review any customer service issues from the previous day or shift.

In establishments where alcohol is served, waiters and waitresses verify the age of customers and ensure that they meet legal requirements for the purchase of alcohol.

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How To Become A Waitress

Most waiter and waitress jobs are entry level, and workers learn through short-term on-the-job training. No formal education or previous work experience is required to enter the occupation.

Most states require workers who serve alcoholic beverages to be at least 18 years of age, but some states require servers to be older. Waiters and waitresses who serve alcohol must be familiar with state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Education

No formal education is required to become a waiter or waitress.

Training

Most waiters and waitresses learn their skills through short-term on-the-job-training, usually lasting a few weeks. Trainees typically work with an experienced waiter or waitress, who teaches them basic serving techniques.

Some full-service restaurants provide new employees with some form of classroom training that alternates with periods of on-the-job work experience. These training programs communicate the operating philosophy of the restaurant, help new servers establish a rapport with other staff, teach serving techniques, and instill a desire to work as a team. They also discuss customer service situations and the proper ways to handle unpleasant circumstances or unruly customers.

Training for waiters and waitresses in establishments that serve alcohol typically involves learning state and local laws concerning the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some states, counties, and cities mandate the training, which typically lasts a few hours and can be taken online or in-house.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Waiters and waitresses must listen carefully to customers’ specific requests, ask questions, and relay the information to the kitchen staff, so that orders are prepared to the customers’ satisfaction.

Customer-service skills. Waiters and waitresses spend most of their work time serving customers. They should be friendly and polite and be able to develop a rapport with customers.

Detail oriented. Waiters and waitresses must record customers’ orders accurately. They need be able to recall the details of each order and match the food or drink orders to the correct customers.

Interpersonal skills. Waiters and waitresses should be courteous, tactful, and attentive as they deal with customers in all circumstances to resolve any issues that arise.

Physical stamina. Waiters and waitresses spend hours on their feet carrying heavy trays, dishes, and drinks.

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Waitress jobs

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Waitress Demographic

Gender

Female
79.8%
Male
18.1%
Unknown
2.0%

Ethnicity

White
78.0%
Hispanic or Latino
13.2%
Asian
7.0%
Unknown
1.4%
Black or African American
0.5%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
59.0%
French
7.9%
Chinese
4.7%
Mandarin
4.1%
German
2.9%
Italian
2.8%
Japanese
2.5%
Cantonese
2.2%
Russian
2.2%
Portuguese
2.1%
Korean
1.9%
Arabic
1.8%
Vietnamese
1.7%
Polish
1.0%
Greek
0.7%
Hmong
0.7%
Thai
0.5%
Hebrew
0.5%
Hindi
0.4%
Swedish
0.4%

Waitress

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Waitress Typical Career Paths

Average Length of Employment

Head Waitress 3.3 years
Waitress/Bartender 2.6 years
Bartender, Cook, And Waitress 2.6 years
Buffet Waiter/Waitress 2.5 years
Restaurant Server 2.3 years
Customer Service And Serving 2.3 years
Waitstaff 2.2 years
Cook And Waitress/Waiter 2.2 years
Waitress 2.0 years
Bar Waiter/Waitress 1.9 years
Waitress/Hostess 1.9 years
Server 1.8 years
Host/Waiter 1.8 years
Dishwasher/Waitress 1.8 years
Waiter And Cashier 1.7 years
Cocktail Waitress 1.7 years
Informal Waiter/Waitress 1.6 years
Barista/Waitress 1.4 years
Cashier/Host 1.4 years
Hostess Cashier 1.4 years
Cashier And Waiter/Waitress 1.2 years
Food Runner/Busser 1.2 years

Waitress Education

Schools

University of Phoenix
16.4%
Kaplan University
6.6%
Liberty University
6.1%
Southern New Hampshire University
5.6%
West Virginia University
5.3%
Texas State University
5.0%
Ashford University
4.6%
University of Houston
4.3%
Northern Virginia Community College
4.2%
Houston Community College
4.1%
Texas A&M University
4.0%
Pennsylvania State University
4.0%
Sam Houston State University
4.0%
University of North Texas
4.0%
Michigan State University
3.7%
Texas Tech University
3.7%
Temple University
3.6%
Tarleton State University
3.6%
Delgado Community College
3.5%
Southern Connecticut State University
3.5%

Majors

Degrees

Other
38.6%
Bachelors
35.1%
Associate
14.9%
Certificate
4.7%
Masters
3.7%
Diploma
1.9%
License
0.8%
Doctorate
0.3%

Waitress

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Real Waitress Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Head Waiter	U-Me Sushi Japanese Restaurant	Nanuet, NY	May 30, 2008	$32,849
Waiter	Gizzo Enterprises, DBA Surf Club	New Rochelle, NY	Sep 14, 2010	$28,404
Waitress	E & J Restaurants LLC	Oklahoma City, OK	Feb 20, 2008	$27,131
Waiter	Wycliffe Golf and Country Club, Inc.	Wellington, FL	Dec 15, 2014	$27,131
Waiter	Wycliffe Golf and Country Club, Inc.	FL	Oct 31, 2014	$27,131
Restaurant Waitress &Kitchen	Browndog Investments Inc.	MA	Jun 01, 2014	$25,044
Head Waiter	Winner's Chinatown, Inc.	Washington, DC	Apr 18, 2012	$25,022
Waiters	Immigration Solutions Group, LLC	Boca Raton, FL	Jan 01, 1970	$24,794
Waiters	Best Solutions USA, LLC	Shelter Island Heights, NY	Apr 01, 2015	$24,794
Waiters	Pine Hollow Country Club	East Norwich, NY	Apr 01, 2015	$24,794
Waiter	Tartufo Restaurant	Newton, MA	Dec 20, 2007	$22,978
Waiters	Immigration Solutions Group, LLC	FL	Oct 01, 2014	$22,936
Waiters	Pine Hollow Country Club	NY	Apr 01, 2014	$22,915
Waitress	La Rana Restauraunt	Lake Forest, CA	Aug 24, 2010	$20,536
Waitress	Chodang Tofu, Inc.	Cerritos, CA	Jun 02, 2015	$20,426
Waiter	Retolistllc	Fort Myers Beach, FL	Dec 09, 2014	$20,181
Waiter	Tartufo Restaurant	Newton, MA	May 15, 2008	$19,993
Waiters	Nosh LLC Dba Nosh Eatery & Creative Catering	Hudson, OH	Jan 23, 2015	$19,367
Waiter	Panthal Inc.	Orange, CT	Oct 30, 2009	$19,326
Waiter	Trattoria Tiramisu	Palm Desert, CA	Jun 25, 2010	$19,096
Waiter	Shogun HS, Inc.	Lincoln, NE	Aug 26, 2016	$19,000
Waitress	Jump Tokyo	San Diego, CA	Aug 30, 2012	$18,013
Waitress	Suwon. Inc.	Logan, UT	Sep 29, 2015	$17,992
Waitress	KOCA, Inc.	San Diego, CA	Jun 29, 2015	$17,763
Waitress	GUMO, Inc.	Glendale, AZ	Oct 14, 2015	$17,534
Waiters	Pine Hollow Country Club	NY	Apr 01, 2013	$16,821
Waiter	Dong Bang Corporation	Fort Lee, NJ	Jun 08, 2015	$16,806
Waitress	Shogun HS, Inc.	Lincoln, NE	Sep 10, 2015	$16,765

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Top Skills for A Waitress

Top Waitress Skills

Outstanding Customer Service
Food Orders
Current Menu Items

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Dedicated to outstanding customer service in a fast paced environment.
Prioritized time management in placing food orders and checking on up to 5 tables at a time.
Memorize and explain to customers the specials that aren't printed on their menus, and describe current menu items.
Requested and recorded customer orders and computed bills using cash register, or pencil and paper.
Perform food preparation duties such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.

Waitress Videos

Career Advice on becoming a Waitress/ Bar Person/ Manager by Kirsty M (Full Version)

How to Serve and Clear Plates Like a Waitress

Career Advice on becoming a Waitress by Joanna V (Full Version)

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