WAITER AND WAITRESS

Job Definition:

• Waiters serve food and beverages at tables in dining and drinking places, clubs, institutions and canteens, on board ships and on passenger trains.

Job Description:

• Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Check patrons’ identification in order to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• 2) Collect payments from customers.
• 3) Write patrons’ food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
• 4) Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
• 5) Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems.
• 6) Serve food and/or beverages to patrons; prepare and serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
• 7) Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
• 8) Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
• 9) Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
• 10) Inform customers of daily specials.
• 11) Clean tables and/or counters after patrons have finished dining.
• 12) Prepare hot, cold, and mixed drinks for patrons, and chill bottles of wine.
• 13) Explain how various menu items are prepared, describing ingredients and cooking methods.
• 14) Prepare tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.
• 15) Perform food preparation duties such as preparing salads, appetizers, and cold dishes, portioning desserts, and brewing coffee.
• 16) Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
• 17) Garnish and decorate dishes in preparation for serving.
• 18) Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
• 19) Escort customers to their tables.
• 20) Describe and recommend wines to customers.
• 21) Bring wine selections to tables with appropriate glasses, and pour the wines for customers.

Activities:

• 1) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• 2) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 3) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• 4) Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• 5) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 6) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 7) Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• 8) Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• 9) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Abilities:

• 1) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 2) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• 3) Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• 4) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• 5) Trunk Strength — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without ‘giving out’ or fatiguing.

Knowledge:

• Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.