Food service workers perform customer service, food preparation, and cleaning duties… in food service establishments from fast food restaurants to hospitals and hotels. Counter attendants and baristas take orders, process payments, and serve food at fast food restaurants, snack bars, cafeterias, movie theaters, and coffee shops. They heat simple food items and assemble salads or sandwiches. Counter attendants also fill beverage orders and may prepare specialties, such as milkshakes and ice cream sundaes. Dining room and cafeteria attendants, also called bussers, clean and set tables, remove dirty dishes, and keep serving areas stocked with trays, dishes, and silverware. They may also fill water glasses and distribute dishes to diners. Bartender helpers clean bar equipment and glasses. These workers spend most of the time on their feet and often carry heavy trays. During busy dining periods, they are under pressure to serve customers quickly and efficiently. Minor injuries such as slips and burns are common. To reduce risks, workers often wear gloves, aprons, or nonslip shoes. Part-time work, seasonal work, and early morning or late evening hours are common… especially for fast food workers. Workers serving alcohol generally must be 18 years of age or older. Most food and beverage service workers receive short-term, on-the-job training. There are no formal educational requirements.
What they do:
Facilitate food service. Clean tables; remove dirty dishes; replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.
On the job, you would:
Run cash registers.
Serve ice water, coffee, rolls, or butter to patrons.
Scrape and stack dirty dishes and carry dishes and other tableware to kitchens for cleaning.
Business
customer service
sales and marketing
Arts and Humanities
English language
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
food production
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
changing what is done based on other people's actions
looking for ways to help people
Endurance
exercise for a long time without getting out of breath
Hand and Finger Use
hold or move items with your hands
keep your arm or hand steady
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Self Control
Cooperation
Dependability
Social Orientation
Integrity
Stress Tolerance
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Point of sale POS software
Cafe Cartel Systems
Plexis Software Plexis POS
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
high school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.