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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $17K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $19K
Median Salary: $23K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $28K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $32K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.

Provide guests with menus.

Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.

Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.

Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.

Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.

Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.

Take and prepare to-go orders.

Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.

Receive and record patrons' dining reservations.

Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.

Hire, train, and supervise food and beverage service staff.

Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.

Prepare cash receipts after establishments close, and make bank deposits.

Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies and clean restrooms when necessary.

Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.

Direct patrons to coatrooms and waiting areas such as lounges.

Plan parties or other special events and services.

Prepare staff work schedules.

Order or requisition supplies and equipment for tables and serving stations.

Perform marketing and advertising services.

Confer with other staff to help plan establishments' menus.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Calendar and scheduling software
iMagic Restaurant Reservation
Data base user interface and query software
Data entry software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Point of sale POS software
Point of sale POS software
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Communications Devices and Accessories
Multi-line telephone systems
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Institutional food services equipment
Carbonated beverage dispensers
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Handheld calculators
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
91%
Importance

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.

English Language
77%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Food Production
75%
Importance

Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Sales and Marketing
68%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Mathematics
60%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Administration and Management
58%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Public Safety and Security
54%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Communications and Media
53%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Computers and Electronics
53%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Telecommunications
49%
Importance

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
73%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking
68%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Service Orientation
65%
Importance

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness
65%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination
60%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Critical Thinking
58%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Negotiation
58%
Importance

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Reading Comprehension
58%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Monitoring
55%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Persuasion
55%
Importance

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression
78%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Speech Clarity
68%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition
68%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Near Vision
65%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Problem Sensitivity
60%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Deductive Reasoning
58%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning
58%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Information Ordering
58%
Importance

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Written Comprehension
58%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Top 10 Work Activities
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
82%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
72%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
71%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
71%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Getting Information
69%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
67%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
62%
Importance

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
61%
Importance

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
59%
Importance

Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Performing General Physical Activities
59%
Importance

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.

Detailed Work Activities

Present food or beverage information or menus to customers.

Assist customers with seating arrangements.

Provide customers with general information or assistance.

Operate cash registers.

Process customer bills or payments.

Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction.

Package food or supplies.

Take customer orders.

Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel.

Schedule dining reservations.

Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards.

Assist chefs or caterers with food or drink preparation.

Coordinate activities of food service staff.

Train food preparation or food service personnel.

Perform human resources activities.

Record operational or production data.

Plan special events.

Manage food service operations or parts of operations.

Order materials, supplies, or equipment.

Plan menu options.

Work Context
Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Spend Time Standing

How much does this job require standing?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Spend Time Walking and Running

How much does this job require walking and running?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People

How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?

Frequency of Decision Making

How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Education
Interests
Enterprising
86%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Social
62%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Conventional
43%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Realistic
43%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Artistic
19%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Investigative
15%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Top 10 Work Styles
Cooperation
86%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Self Control
82%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Stress Tolerance
82%
Importance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Dependability
80%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Adaptability/Flexibility
78%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Social Orientation
78%
Importance

Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Integrity
77%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Concern for Others
76%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Attention to Detail
74%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Initiative
71%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Work Values
Relationships
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support
43%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Achievement
39%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
36%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Independence
34%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Recognition
34%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.