How to be a waiter (waiter) (with pictures)

2023 Author: Sybil Carroll | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 06:08

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From Kelsey Grammar to Kelly Clarkson, many people began their careers as a waiter. Working in a restaurant environment is intense work, but very lucrative if you focus it correctly and develop the right skills. If you are kind, trustworthy, and can multitask, then serving food in a restaurant could be a profitable opportunity in the short or long term. Follow our general tips below or find more specific help in the sections mentioned below.

Steps

Learn the skills of a waiter

1. Be charming. Those who go to eat at a restaurant do so for more than the food itself. Eating out is an experience and the wait staff is the most visible part of it. Can you converse with the more serious and less communicative people at a party? Do you easily identify with people? Are you quick with jokes and do you smile? If the answer is yes, you have one of the characteristics necessary to work in a restaurant.

   

   You don't have to be a professional comedian, but you do need to be a good communicator. Quiet waiters are generally just as good as conversationalists, they just need to make sure they have communicative body language, do their jobs efficiently, and listen as much as possible

2. Be quick. Are you good at multitasking? Can you remember multiple to-do lists easily? Do you adapt quickly to changes and new situations? A member of the wait staff needs to be able to take orders, communicate them to the workers at the back of the restaurant, and act as the image of the restaurant to customers. This is a very difficult task, but it will need to be done quickly and efficiently for the restaurant to function properly.

   

3. Be strong. Carrying a tray of wobbly drinks and hot plates full of spicy wings is hard enough on its own, but after a long shift serving a group of rowdy soccer fans? It could be totally exhausting. If you are fit and healthy, being a member of the wait staff will be a much more comfortable transition. You don't necessarily have to be a bodybuilder, but it will help you stay comfortable dealing with a crowded room while holding heavy objects safely and quickly.

   

4. Write clearly and use computers too. If the kitchen can't read your commands, there will be confusion quickly. Keeping abreast of information and legibly recording orders is a critical part of the restaurant process. The whole process starts with you.

   

   In the restaurant, you will be given specific details and you will learn how the system works, but in general you should be familiar with the essentials

   Get a job as a waiter

   1. Apply for a job at the restaurants that will train you. The upscale downtown bistro probably won't hire inexperienced waiters. If you've never worked as a waiter, chain restaurants, like Chili's or McDonald's, will be a good place to start, they will train you and you will have the experience you need to get a job where tips are good. You will learn a lot about how a restaurant works and how to be a good waiter.

      

   2. Prepare your resume. If you don't already have one ready, focus on articulating the skills necessary to serve food in a restaurant. You will need to be good at dealing with clients, working as a team and quickly. Highlight similar work experiences that illustrate these traits.

      

      If you've never worked before and are hoping to land a job as a bartender, you may focus on academic achievement and teamwork environments, such as sports in which you've excelled. Be positive and sell yourself. That's the job

   3. Talk to the manager. When you find a place where staff is being sought, ask to speak to the manager. If you leave the resume to the bartender, it could end up getting lost, and the bartender is not the hiring manager anyway.

      

      Present the resume and your enthusiasm. Say that you are really excited to talk more about the position and that you are ready to get started right away. Because the job of a bartender is about making a good first impression most of the time, treat the process of getting a job as if it were the job itself. Make a good first impression

   4. Anticipate the interview questions. By preparing your answers for possible interview questions, you are ensuring that you will not be caught standing in front of the manager and it will show that you have reflected on the responsibilities of the job.

      

      • Some managers might ask, "What do you like best about our menu?" or “If the kitchen runs out of fish, what would you recommend as an alternative? Check out the menu beforehand on the restaurant's website or by visiting Yelp.
      • Get ready to react to disastrous scenarios. Some managers might ask things like "Someone gives you a fake ID to buy alcohol, what do you do?" or, more directly, "A customer is angry about his food, what should you do?" Think about these scenarios and answer clearly.
      • Have questions ready. Usually a good question, like, "What does it take to be really successful here?" could make a great first impression on the manager. They will almost always give you an opportunity to ask questions, which, if not taken advantage of, could be a great missed opportunity.

      Work as a waiter

      1. Approach your table with a smile and say hello. Introduce yourself and say your name clearly: “Hello, nice to meet you. My name is ___. Here is our menu. Would you like to start with a refreshing drink from our bar? Greet customers with a smile when they enter.

         

         Maintain balanced eye contact, but avoid staring too much. Some customers are uncomfortable and will come to the restaurant in a wide variety of moods. Respond appropriately. As you sit them at their table, maybe make a little conversation while you take their drink orders. If you are not interested in chatting, leave it

      2. Take the drink orders in clockwise order starting from your left. If there are children, ask for their drinks first, followed by the women and then the men, always following the order from left to right.

         

         • This is the time to offer the house specials and promotions available.
         • When you serve them their drinks, ask if they have any questions about the menu. Don't rush them unless they're running late, and still be gentle. If they're ready to order, take them in clockwise order, starting with the one closest to you on the left. If they're not ready, go to the next table.

      3. When you serve the main dish, always ask "Do you want me to bring you something else?" and give them a few seconds to think about it. Come back to the table five minutes later and ask them: "Is everything okay?" Or at least refer specifically to the host's dish: "How's his steak?" Listen to their response and watch their body language - many people are shy when it comes to talking about problems and may blame you when it comes to tipping.

         

         Take out the completed orders. Never take out a customer's plate without that of the other members of the group unless they have asked for it that way (this could happen if one or more diners need to leave first). Normally, there should not be any circumstance that causes one person's request to take much longer than that of others. If you see something like this happening and causing a problem, briefly explain the situation to customers and ask how they would like to deal with it

      4. Remove the plates from the table when you see that it is obvious that the customer wants you to take them away. Always completely remove dishes from the previous dish before bringing new dishes from the next dish to the table.

         

         Before taking the dishes away, be sure to politely ask if they are ready for you to remove. Use a manner and tone consistent with the atmosphere and the customer. Usually a "Can I pick up?" is usually sufficient. However, don't ask if they are still eating. If someone is chatting and has food on their plate, don't interrupt their talk to ask if they are done. Wait and come back later

      5. Once you've picked up the main course, ask, "Would you like to see the dessert menu?" By asking them you will be giving them the opportunity to place their request without the need for it to be a special request. They will be more likely to order dessert if you ask them.

         

         Pick up the breads or soup from the main course they were having before they order, even if they are not finished

      6. Receive your payment. Inform the customer that you will process their payment, for example, you will bring their change if they have paid in cash or you will process their credit card. Never ask if they want change or assume that change is your tip, just quickly bring the money back along with the receipt.

         

         When you come back, thank them and say something nice like: "Thank you for your visit", "I hope to see you soon" or if you see that they are extending their stay, just say "Thank you", as they may want to have something else

         Earn good tips

         1. Make sure you are presentable before going to the restaurant. Always arrive at least 15 minutes before your work shift, always well groomed and with clean clothes. Wear clean shoes and socks. Your hair should be neat and combed, your nails clean, and your uniform ironed and presentable. Apply a moderate amount of makeup for a fresh, natural look.

            

         2. Watch the signs. If someone at a table wants something, they will look for you. Learn to stay alert as you walk around the room, do not stare directly at the clients. Most customers will make eye contact as a sign that they want something. Customers will have the feeling that you are paying attention to them without harassing them.

            

            When they run out of good food and conversation, customers will start looking at other diners around them or at the walls. This will tell you when to pick up the dishes; Offer them the desserts or give them the bill

         3. Talk less. Avoid going into eagle mode or being too pushy. Customers do not like to be watched or constantly interrupted in their conversations while eating, although it will take a little bit from time to time. It is a delicate balance.

            

            Learn to analyze your customers quickly. If a couple seems tense, as if they are arguing, it may not be the best time to ask "Are you celebrating something tonight?" or ask other kinds of questions that break the ice. If the patrons at a table seem to be having so much fun that they don't want to leave, offer them drinks or coffee. If they feel like chatting, take a moment to chat with them. Otherwise, let them chat

         4. Don't assume the man will pay. If they let you know in advance who will pay, then leave the bill on the table with him or her. Otherwise, put the bill in the center of the table. The bill is always face down and, if it goes inside an envelope, leave it spread out on the table.

            

         5. Keep calm. When customers get nasty or rude, listen and communicate with them openly. Remember: it is a job, it is not personal. If they are clearly confrontational, which annoys the other customers, or they are obviously drunk, go to the manager and let the boss take care of it.

            

            Advice

         6. Never try to hide a mistake from the manager, it will only make the problem worse. You will have to let them know as soon as possible to find a solution.
         7. If your friends are visiting, keep the conversations short and treat them like other customers. If they are not going to eat or order anything, it is not well seen that they stay more than a couple of minutes.
         8. Never go to a table smelling like cigarettes. If you are allowed a smoke break, wash your hands at the end, rinse your mouth, and when possible, sprinkle a pinch of lemon water on your clothes to decontaminate them.
         9. If you wear cologne or perfume, make sure you NEVER wear too much. The scent can be overwhelming and scare customers instead of inviting them in.
         10. Learn the dishes that customers typically prefer before the main course. If they order a soup, salad, and main course, be sure to ask if they would like you to bring the soup or salad before the main course, as most of the time they will say yes. Even if the restaurant automatically serves the soup and salad first, ask why some customers would prefer to eat the entrée first. Learn the other dishes that come out in a certain order so that you can customize their arrival according to the taste of the customers.
         11. If you're good at remembering things, try to remember the usual foods and drinks that regular customers order. This can make the ordering process easier and more efficient.

         Warnings

         12. Don't let a single mistake spoil your night. If you let just one bad thing get to you, you will keep making more mistakes. Shake yourself, take a deep breath, and get on with your work. Talk it over with someone you like or trust and take a load off yourself. Saying: "I blew it! I'm sorry" lightens the load as does the honest answer: "You should have been here when I was doing your job."