Jobs: Tips and advice to become a good waiter / waitress

Waiter and waitress is not an ideal jobs for everyone, but being a waiter or a waitress is not an easy job, it takes hardship to become an experienced waiter or waitress. Many people think that serving food and drinks, preparing tables for customer, taking orders and etc. is an easy tasks, but take note that every proper arrangement of this task needs enough training in able to cope up with proper services that is being given to the customers. Here are some tips if you are going to apply for the positions of waiters or waitresses.

First you must know your task depending on size and type of the restaurants, they might: greetings to customers and show them to their respective tables, take orders from the customers, serving food and drinks, bring extra cutlery and cleaning away the dishes, give customers their bills and deal with payments, or cleaning and preparing tables and dining area. Waiters and waitresses usually work on evenings or into the night. Or it can be public holidays, shift work is usual in this position, Sometimes this type of position is being offered during holiday season like Christmas, New years and etc . In this job, there are times you spent your time in the kitchen and dish washing area, which are likely to be hot, uncomfortable, humid and noisy. You must be prepared in this type of conditions, for you to able to last this kind of jobs.

Second, the upcoming waiter and waitress must possess the following skills and personal abilities like: friendly and polite attitudes for welcoming the customers, next is excellent communication skills and memory, working quickly and stay calm in times of pressures, aware of health and safety issues, able to deals with bills and payments of the customers, clean and tidy with good personal hygiene, knowledge and interest in food and drinks, know how to cooperate with the rest of the team and last is patience and tact. Employers usually are restaurants, bistros, hotels, cafes, fast food outlets and catering services. Staff turnover is usually high that's why there is always vacancies in this position. People with an outgoing and pleasant personality are being notice most of the employers. Formal qualification is not usually necessary to a waiter or waitress, but skills in maths, English and knowledge in other languages maybe useful.

In small restaurant and cafes, promotion prospect are limited. But waiters and waitress that has enough experience may have to change the employers point of view. In hotels and large restaurant offers career structure, with the opportunity to progress to head waiters/waitress, or hotels/restaurant supervisor. Waiters and waitresses maybe able to promote to other areas such as purchasing, kitchen management, stock controls and etc. Interest in food and drinks and enjoyment in serving and helping other people is a large factors in becoming a waiter or waitress.