Occupation Details
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.
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Interests
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Enterprising
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.
Work Values
Achievement
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.
Relationships
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
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$29,430.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$32,000.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$39,020.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
11,960
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
24,360
+1,240 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
5,436
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
1.0%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
Some Training - Certificate or hands-on training
Experience Requirements
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 Requirements
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Training Details
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.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
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, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
School Programs
School Programs information is not available for this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Active Listening
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
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Negotiation
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
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
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Food Production
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
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.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Carbonated beverage dispensers
- Cash registers
- Commercial coffeemakers
- Desktop computers
- Handheld calculators
- Ice-making machines
- Juice dispensers
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Point of sale POS computer terminals
Technology
- Avenista Table Reservations
- GuestBridge Reserve
- Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Windows
- OpenTable
- Point of sale POS software
- Reservation software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- explain work orders, specifications, or work techniques to workers
- hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
- process payroll documents, records, or checks
- complete time or attendance forms
- use cash registers
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
- monitor worker performance
- schedule restaurant reservations
- schedule employee work hours
- oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
- evaluate premises for cleanliness
- balance cash register
- investigate customer complaints
- prepare bank deposits
- calculate monetary exchange
- use oral or written communication techniques
- plan menus
- plan for entertainment or dining activities
- direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
- resolve customer or public complaints
- access media advertising services
- understand government alcoholic beverage service regulations
- understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
- collect payment
- provide customer service
- greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers
- assist patrons at entertainment events
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Provide guests with menus.
- Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
- Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
- Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.
- Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.
- Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
- Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
- 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.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Food and beverage serving and related workers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More