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Waiter/Waitress

Do you want to become a Waiter/Waitress? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

The job of a waiter or waitress is to take orders, serve food and prepare tables. Their tasks vary depending on where they work, but making customers feel welcome and comfortable is an essential part of the job.

Waiters/waitresses usually:

• greet customers when they arrive and show them to a table
• give out menus and explain the choices
• take orders and relay that information to staff in the kitchen and bar
• serve food and drink at the table
• prepare tables before meals are served, and clean and tidy up afterwards
• give customers their bills and deal with payments.

Working hours vary, but usually include evenings, weekends and public holidays. It is common to do shift work. Overtime, part-time and seasonal work may be available.

The starting salary may be around £8,000, and a head waiter or waitress may earn £12,000 or more. Tips usually increase this income.

Waiters/waitresses need:

• a welcoming, friendly attitude
• excellent communication skills
• to work quickly and stay calm under pressure
• to be careful, and aware of health and safety issues
• physical fitness and good stamina
• numeracy skills for dealing with bills and payments
• to enjoy looking after customers.

There are more than 150,000 waiters/waitresses working in a whole range of hotels, restaurants, cafes, bistros, bars, fast-food outlets and contract catering companies throughout the UK. Staff turnover is high, so there are always vacancies.

Knowledge of a foreign language may improve opportunities to work overseas in hotels, restaurants and resorts, and on cruise ships, but competition for these jobs is fierce.

There are no set entry requirements, but skills in maths and English may be useful. Most employers look for people with an outgoing and pleasant personality. It is possible to do a general catering course leading to NVQs/SVQs in Catering and Hospitality at Levels 1 and 2. Most training is on the job under supervision. NVQs/SVQs in Food and Drink Service are also available.

In a small cafe or restaurant, promotion prospects are limited. Waiters/waitresses may have to change jobs as they gain experience. Large restaurant and hotel chains are more likely to have a career structure, offering opportunities for promotion to supervisory and management positions.

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