Server Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Server, or Waiter, is required to serve food and drinks in restaurants, bars and cafes. Their duties include taking orders from customers, serving food and drinks while clearing tables and accepting payment from customers.

 

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Server duties and responsibilities

Servers have a wide range of duties and responsibilities, for their role varies depending on the setting. Servers in large pubs may be required to prepare alcoholic drinks in conjunction with serving food. Servers in small cafes may also work as baristas.

A Server’s core duties and responsibilities include the following:

  • Welcoming customers into a restaurant before showing them to their table
  • Providing menus, announcing any restaurant specials and recommendations
  • Taking customer orders and successfully delivering orders to the kitchen
  • Delivering food and drink orders from prepping stations and to customer tables
  • Answering queries about food or drinks and providing solutions to customer problems
  • Settling payment disputes from customers and getting Management involved when necessary
  • Setting tables for the next customers
  • Ensuring that hygiene standards are met in the restaurant and in regards to their own appearance

 

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Server Job Description Examples:

 

Example 1

_*Bar & Waiting Team members (Seasonal Full & Part time). All new starters regardless of age start at a minimum of £9 per hour.*_ *Join us on our quest to create a pub with outstanding food, beer and service.* We are the oldest and only remaining traditional pub in St Mawes, *(OWN Transport Essential)*.The Victory Inn is thought to date back to the 16th century. *You will be working alongside a dedicated, friendly team, delivering all the things that are important to us at The Victory Inn, St Mawes.* · Enjoy the fast-paced fun of pub life · Learn new skills to enhance your career · Belong to a supportive, close-knit team · Benefit from a competitive rate of pay Bar work here is not just about knowledge, qualifications or even skill. It's about heart, character and personality. · We value the person you are over the experience you've got · You must be an excellent team player · You have to be warm, friendly and engaging · You'll need excellent spoken English Apply now, as positions are limited for the summer season. Due to our coastal location, you will need your own transport, public transport links will not suffice as majority of the shift finish times will be long after public transport ends. Contract length: 5 months Part-time & Full time hours available *The Victory Inn - St Mawes TR2 5DQ provided the following inclusive hiring information: * We are an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status. Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, Permanent Salary: From £9.00 per hour Additional pay: * Tips Benefits: * Discounted or free food Schedule: * 10 hour shift * 12 hour shift * 8 hour shift * Day shift * Holidays * Night shift * Weekends * Driving Licence (preferred) Work remotely: * No

Example 2

We are looking for a skilled Waiter or Waitress to take orders and deliver food and beverages to our customers. The right Waiter/Waitress uplifts the dining experience for customers. We are looking for someone who will have the patience, personality and perseverance to thrive in this role. Waiter/Waitress responsibilities include greeting and serving customers, providing detailed information on menus, multi-tasking various front-of-the-house duties and collecting the bill. If you are able to perform well in fast-paced environments, we’d like to meet you. To be a successful Waiter or Waitress, you should be polite with our customers and make sure they enjoy their meals. You should also be a team player and be able to effectively communicate with our Kitchen Staff to make sure orders are accurate and delivered promptly. Ultimately, it is the duty of our Waiters/Waitresses to provide an excellent overall dining experience for our guests. * Greet and escort customers to their tables * Present menu and provide detailed information when asked [website] about portions, ingredients or potential food allergies) * Prepare tables by setting up linens, silverware and glasses * Inform customers about the day’s specials * Offer menu recommendations upon request * Up-sell additional products when appropriate * Take accurate food and drinks orders, using a POS ordering software * Check customers’ IDs to ensure they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages * Communicate order details to the Kitchen Staff * Serve food and drink orders * Check dishes and kitchenware for cleanliness and presentation and report any problems * Arrange table settings and maintain a tidy dining area * Deliver checks and collect bill payments * Carry dirty plates, glasses and silverware to kitchen for cleaning * Meet with restaurant staff to review daily specials, changes on the menu and service specifications for reservations [website] parties) * Follow all relevant health department regulations * Provide excellent customer service to guests *Requirements* * Proven work experience as a Waiter or Waitress * Hands-on experience with cash register and ordering information system [website] Revel POS or Toast POS) * Basic math skills * Attentiveness and patience for customers * Excellent presentation skills * Strong organizational and multitasking skills, with the ability to perform well in a fast-paced environment * Active listening and effective communication skills * Team spirit * Flexibility to work in shifts Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, Permanent Salary: £8.21 to £8.50 /hour plus Gratuities Benefits: * Discounted/free food * On-site parking Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Salary: £8.91-£9.50 per hour Job Type: Permanent Salary: £8.91-£9.50 per hour Additional pay: * Tips Benefits: * Discounted or free food * On-site parking Schedule: * 8 hour shift * Monday to Friday * Weekends Work remotely: * No

What does a Server do?

A Server is employed within a food-service business to wait tables and mediate customer requests. Servers are required to provide excellent customer service to diners, not only taking orders but also dealing with feedback and ensuring that customer satisfaction is high. Servers are often required to sell drinks, liaise with the restaurant kitchen and take payments at the end of a meal.

Servers may be asked to perform varied tasks on a day-to-day basis, including cleaning jobs within the restaurant and administrative tasks such as inventory checks.

 

Server skills and qualifications

Servers need excellent customer service and communication skills to excel in delivering the right meals and beverages. They will require a mixture of practical restaurant skills alongside food and beverage knowledge.

Important skills and qualifications for Servers include the following:

  • Call and response speaking and writing
  • Applied arithmetic and accurate cash-register accounting
  • Multitasking to manage multiple tables, orders and meal deliveries at once
  • Barista and drink mixing
  • Food and beverage preparation, regarding garnishes and dish identification

 

Server experience requirements

Servers should have experience working under pressure while they are multitasking. They need experience in working within a team and knowledge of the specific consumer that a restaurant receives. Previous experience working in a fast-paced restaurant, bar or cafe environment is ideal. Direct experience waiting tables, taking orders and serving food is preferable, but experience working in kitchens or other customer-facing roles can also be appropriate for the job.

Entry-level Servers might have no restaurant experience, but a willingness to learn and gain new skills is important for the job.

 

Server education and training requirements

Formal qualifications aren’t always necessary to become a Server, but in-house and on-the-job training is imperative for success if a candidate is joining at entry-level. Servers need basic school qualifications, including General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs) in mathematics and English. Some Servers have training from college courses in customer service, food handling and hospitality.

College courses include a Level 1 Certificate in Food and Beverage Service or a Level 1 Award in Introduction to Employment in the Hospitality Industry. Active servers also possess apprenticeship placements in the hospitality industry, earn respected degrees in hospitality or restaurant management at a university.

 

Server salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Server is £9.26 per hour. This salary can vary depending on their level of experience, location and type of food they serve.

 

Job description samples for similar positions

If a Server is not quite the professional you’re looking for, then here are several similar roles that could fit your needs in food service:

 

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Server FAQs

 

What should you look for in a Server CV?

A great Server CV clearly demonstrates prior experience in the restaurant industry and working in a fast-paced environment. If the applicant does not have direct-restaurant experience, then proof of customer-facing and customer-service skills should be asked of them.

 

How can you make a Server job description stand out?

A great Server job description explains the daily duties and responsibilities of a successful applicant in detail. Aim to give potential candidates an excellent idea of your work environment and tasks they’re expected to undertake.

 

Who does a Server report to?

A Server typically reports to a Restaurant Manager who has the central authority on a restaurant’s serving floor. The Restaurant Manager sets a Server’s working hours and makes clear their duties and responsibilities for each shift. Since a Server is also required to liaise with the kitchen, they must report to the Executive Chef, or Head Chef, when there are matters concerning food.

Job Description Examples

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