What Do Waiters and Waitresses Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Waiters and Waitresses take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment. They also take orders from patrons for food or beverages.

Other tasks include:

• Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems.
• Check patrons’ identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Collect payments from customers.
• Write patrons’ food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
• Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
• Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.

We asked Waiters and Waitresses how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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56% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 30% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Waiters and Waitresses take orders from patrons for food or beverages. They collect payments from customers.

A typical day for a Waiter and Waitress will also include:

• Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems.
• Write patrons’ food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
• Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
• Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
• Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters and take them to kitchen for cleaning.

We asked some Waiters and Waitresses a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	62% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	69% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	88% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	48% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	30% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	54% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Waiters and Waitresses also escort customers to their tables. They may also provide guests with information about local areas, including giving directions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Waiters and Waitresses Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers. They might also Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.

In addition, they Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Perform food preparation duties such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.

To some Waiters and Waitresses, it is also their responsibility to Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.

Working life

Less than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Waiter and Waitress, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/food-preparation-and-serving/waiters-and-waitresses.htm

http://www.chrie.org/

http://www.restaurant.org/