If you want to get a job in a restaurant, the best solution is to prepare a resume and go directly to the restaurant to ask about employment opportunities. In some restaurants, you will need to fill out forms prepared by the restaurant, which will contain your contact information, work preferences, etc. Also, if one of your friends or acquaintances works in this restaurant, you will be asked to provide their contact information. It is best to apply for work in the first hour of the restaurant’s operation since later there will be a lot of visitors in the restaurants and managers will be busy.
If you have no experience in a restaurant or the service industry, you will most likely not be able to get a position higher than “busser” or “host.” However, rising from one position to another depends on what you desire. It would help if you talked about your desire for growth directly with the general manager. You can also consult with the assistant managers about your chances of promotion and whether employees are needed for the position you are considering.
Also, working in a restaurant implies the presence of “tips” that do not go to your salary. If you work as a waiter, you will receive tips, just as if you work as a bartender and visitors sit at the bar. All other positions in the restaurant receive a percentage of the tip servers or bartenders earn. The size of the tip percentage also depends on your position and the restaurant.
You can get a job as a busser without having specific experience in the service sector. The position of “busser” includes polishing cutlery and glasses, clearing dishes, cutlery and glasses from tables and cleaning the tables, and preparing tables for new visitors. Bussers receive the smallest percentage of tips, around 5% on average.
When applying for a job without a specific work experience, you can also apply for the position of “host.” The host makes the first impression on the guests entering the restaurant or communicating by phone. The host’s tasks include meeting guests and seating them, answering phone calls, making reservations via phone or face-to-face, and receiving take-out orders by phone. The host also orders a taxi for visitors, and explains how to get to the nearest hotel and airport. Hosts receive tips ranging from 5% to 7%.
You can also be hired for the dishwasher position without any experience. The dishwasher is responsible for high-quality washing of plates, cutlery, glasses, glasses, and other kitchen equipment used in the preparation or cooking of products. The employee also puts all the dishes and equipment in place. This position also receives a small percentage of tips.
In preparation positions,employees do not need specific qualifications, but experience in the kitchen is desirable since the quality of dishes largely depends on the preparation. This position is responsible for orders, and their quality, quantity, and completeness. Preparation is also responsible for preparing and cooking all the blanks that need to be completed before the restaurant opens—the percentage of tips that preparation receives is similar to the above positions.
The job of cook can be divided into three positions: line cook, salad cook and appetizer cook.
To get the line cook position, you need to graduate from the Academy of chefs and get a certificate. A line cook is responsible for preparing main dishes such as steaks, ribs, fish, burgers, etc. The salad cook’s tasks include the preparation of salads and desserts, and, accordingly, the appetizer cook is responsible for cooking appetizers. Chefs receive perhaps the most significant percentage of tips, but this work implies tremendous stress since everything must be prepared efficiently and on time.
To be taken into a large restaurant for a server position, you must have experience in this field or at least in the service sector. The server directly contacts the guests and, depending on their service, the guests form an opinion about the restaurant. It would help if you were over 18 years old for this position since many large restaurants serve alcohol. The minimum age is 16 in order to serve alcohol, but you cannot open, pour or mix the drinks. The role of the server means serving guests their food and drinks. The server should also be able to navigate the menu freely and know the features of dishes and drinks for the best service of guests.
The complexity of the bartender’s work depends on whether there are bar tables in the restaurant or not. With the presence of bar tables, the bartender makes cocktails for the entire restaurant and serves bar tables. To get this position, you need experience in the service sector and at the bar, and it would help if you were over 18 years old. This position includes preparing drinks, changing kegs, in-depth knowledge of wines, beer, hairballs, and liqueurs. If a restaurant has bar seats, bartenders should also have the skills to serve guests and knowledge of restaurant dishes. Bartenders also get high tips.
Summing up, we can highlight the pros and cons of working in a restaurant. There is the possibility of making extra money with tips, and rapid career growth can also occur. You get discounts on restaurant meals, new acquaintances and connections, acquiring new skills that can be put on resumes, and a flexible schedule.
The cons mean you deal with a large number of visitors, and the work becomes very stressful. You may end up staying late to close the restaurant, and it could be problematic to get home at night without a car.
Working in a restaurant is one of the best options for students, as it allows them to earn more than the minimum wage without any specific work experience. Also, working in a restaurant is an excellent opportunity to find acquaintances outside the university, especially if you are new in the city. Undoubtedly, any of the positions in the restaurant are stressful, but thanks to close-knit teamwork, the day passes much faster and is more fun! Also, the late opening hours of restaurants will allow you to combine work with study even on weekdays, without missing classes! Are you still looking for a job? Try your hand at a restaurant!
