To become a waiter, you usually need to be hired by a restaurant and trained on the job. Experience in less expensive restaurants is often required for upscale restaurants. Some chain restaurants may have a formal training program, while exclusive restaurants require significant food knowledge and may require a knowledge of wine and cocktails.
To become a waiter, you will typically need to be hired by a restaurant and trained on the job. Typically, to become a waiter in an upscale restaurant, you will need to have significant experience as a waiter in less expensive or less formal restaurants. In some cases, a restaurant will want you to work in a support role, perhaps bussing tables or working as a food runner before allowing you to wait on tables.
There are no formal training programs or educational requirements to become a waiter, although waiters are generally fluent in the language spoken by their customers so they can take orders and provide assistance. Many people enter the profession without experience, although they may be forced to start working as a waiter in “snack bars” and cheap cafes. In some restaurants that do a high volume of business, waiters may be assisted by food runners who actually bring food to tables after the waiter takes the order and sends it back to the kitchen. If you get a job at one of these restaurants, you may need to start out as a food or bus runner before you can work as a waiter.
Some chain restaurants may have a formal training program that you must complete to become a waiter. This training program may include online or video training along with a requirement that you read an employee handbook. You may also be asked to follow an experienced waiter for several days as you learn the organization’s procedures and how to properly interact with customers. Once you become a waiter in the restaurant, you may be assigned to work the less busy shifts, which may not be as lucrative as times when business is at its peak, but will allow you to gain experience in the restaurant.
In more exclusive restaurants, you are expected to have experience in food service, along with significant food knowledge, before starting to work as a waiter. The managers and owners of these restaurants often rely on their waiters and waitresses to sell their food to customers. You may also be required to demonstrate a knowledge of wine and cocktails, as these can be an important source of revenue in a restaurant. While you might learn about wine on the job, you may find that taking a wine appreciation class can further help your career as a waiter.
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