How to Get a Job as a Server/Waiter
How to Get a Job as a Server/Waiter
Serving is one of the most flexible and potentially high-earning jobs out there. You can:
Work nights and weekends around school or another job
Make good money in tips if you’re in the right place
Build people skills you can use in almost any career later
The flip side: serving is hard work. It’s fast, physical, and you deal with people at their best and worst.
If you’re willing to hustle, here’s exactly how to get hired as a server or waiter, even if you’re starting from scratch.
1. Understand What Serving Jobs Actually Involve
Not all serving jobs are the same. There’s a big difference between:
A busy pub or sports bar
A family chain restaurant
A fine-dining place with wine pairings and multi-course menus
A small neighbourhood café or brunch spot
What Servers Usually Do
Typical responsibilities:
Greeting guests and making them feel welcome
Taking orders accurately and entering them into the POS
Running food and drinks
Checking back on tables and dealing with problems
Handling bills, explaining charges, splitting checks
Cleaning and resetting tables, side work (rolling cutlery, stocking, etc.)
You’re basically:
Salesperson + host + runner + problem-solver, all while carrying trays and walking 10,000+ steps a shift.
2. Basic Requirements for Being a Server
Exact rules depend on your country or region, but generally you’ll need:
Age and Legal Requirements
A minimum working age (often 16 or 18)
In many places, you must be a certain age to serve alcohol, even if you’re allowed to work younger
In some regions, you might need:
A food handler’s certificate
A responsible alcohol service certificate
Always check your local laws and any requirements listed in the job posting.
Schedule and Availability
Restaurants love people who can work:
Evenings
Weekends
Holidays and busy days (Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, etc.)
If you say you’re “fully available” and then can’t work weekends, you will not be the hiring manager’s favourite person. Be honest but remember: more flexibility = better chances.
Physical Demands
You should be prepared to:
Stand and walk for long stretches
Carry trays, plates, and sometimes heavy items
Move quickly in a crowded space
Comfortable, non-slip shoes are not optional in this job; they’re survival gear.
3. Skills Restaurants Actually Care About
Most managers don’t mind training you on the POS or menu. They care more about your attitude and soft skills.
Key things they look for:
Friendliness and warmth – Guests want to feel welcome.
Clear communication – Can you listen carefully and repeat orders correctly?
Calm under pressure – The kitchen is backed up, three tables just sat at once, and someone spilled a drink. You keep it together.
Teamwork – Serving is a team sport. You help your coworkers and they help you.
Attention to detail – Allergies, modifications, specific requests; you don’t forget them.
Reliability – You show up on time, especially on busy nights.
If you naturally like people and don’t panic when it gets busy, you’re already ahead.
4. Getting Hired With No Serving Experience
Tons of servers started with zero experience. The trick is to package what you do have.
Highlight Transferable Experience
Good feeder jobs include:
Retail or cashier work
Fast food
Café or barista jobs
Call centers or customer service roles
Volunteering at events, festivals, or community dinners
On your resume, focus on:
Handling customers
Working in fast-paced environments
Dealing with complaints or problems
Handling money and tills
Example bullet points:
“Served customers in a high-traffic environment while maintaining friendly service.”
“Handled cash, card payments, and balancing of the till at the end of shifts.”
“Resolved customer issues calmly and professionally.”
Start With Host, Runner, or Busser Roles
If nobody wants to give you a server job right away, aim at:
Host/hostess – greeting and seating guests, managing the wait list
Food runner – bringing orders out from the kitchen
Busser – clearing and resetting tables
These jobs:
Get you inside the restaurant
Let you learn the menu, rhythm, and table numbers
Often lead to server promotions once you’ve proved you can handle the pace
5. Make a Server-Friendly Resume
Even if it’s short, your resume should scream: “I’m good with people and I can work hard.”
What to Include
Your contact info
A short, clear summary (2–3 lines) like:
“Friendly and reliable worker with strong customer service experience, looking to join a busy restaurant as a server or host. Comfortable in fast-paced environments and committed to great guest experiences.”
Work experience (even if not restaurant-related)
Relevant skills:
Customer service
Cash handling
Working under pressure
Teamwork
Multitasking
Keep It Simple and Clean
One page is enough
No fancy fonts, no huge blocks of text
Bullet points with action verbs (serviced, assisted, handled, coordinated, resolved)
6. Where and How to Apply for Server Jobs
Types of Places to Target
Chain restaurants (often more willing to train)
Busy local diners or cafes
Pubs and casual bars
Family restaurants
Fine dining and trendy cocktail bars usually want experience; they’re great long-term goals after you’ve got some shifts under your belt.
Apply Online and In Person
Many restaurants have online applications, but in hospitality, showing up in person helps a lot.
Tips for applying in person:
Avoid peak hours (don’t go at Friday dinner rush). Late afternoon is often best.
Dress neat and clean, like a toned-down version of what you’d wear on the job.
Bring printed copies of your resume.
Ask: “Hi, is the manager available? I’d love to drop off my resume and introduce myself.”
If the manager isn’t there, you can still leave your resume, but if they are there, you just got a mini-interview.
7. How to Nail the Server Job Interview
Interviews for serving jobs are usually quick and casual, often right at the bar or in a booth.
Common Questions
You might hear:
“Tell me about your previous experience.”
“How do you handle rude or difficult customers?”
“Are you comfortable working nights, weekends, and holidays?”
“Can you tell me about a time you worked in a fast-paced environment?”
“What does good customer service mean to you?”
“How would you handle a situation where an order came out wrong?”
If you have experience, use specific examples. If you don’t, draw on any other job or volunteer situation where you had to deal with people, pressure, or problems.
How to Answer Well
Be honest but confident.
If you haven’t served before, say so, but add:“I haven’t been a server yet, but I’ve worked in fast-paced customer service at [job] and I’m a quick learner.”
Show enthusiasm.
Managers would rather train an eager beginner than hire a jaded pro with a bad attitude.Emphasize reliability.
Mention things like good attendance, willingness to pick up shifts, and ability to stay late when needed (within reason).Keep your energy up.
Smile, make eye contact, and be engaged. They’re imagining you interacting with guests.
8. Be Ready for a Trial Shift
Some places will ask you to do a trial shift or “stage.”
This might involve:
Shadowing a current server
Running food or drinks
Bussing tables
Helping with side work
Your goals during a trial shift:
Be polite and friendly to everyone
Move with purpose (don’t stand around staring at your phone)
Ask simple, focused questions: “What can I do to help next?”
Don’t vanish—stay visible and useful
Even if you’re not allowed to take tables on your own, they’re watching how you handle the environment.
9. How to Succeed Once You’re Hired
Getting the job is step one. Keeping it and making good money is step two.
Learn the Menu Fast
Study the menu before and after shifts
Learn ingredients and common allergens
Memorize key selling points (“This one’s our most popular pasta,” “This drink is lighter and not too sweet,” etc.)
Watch the Strong Servers
Notice how they talk to guests
Watch how they organize tickets and tables
Copy good habits (checking back at the right time, pre-bussing, anticipating needs)
Be a Team Player
Run food for others when you can
Help bus and reset tables, even if they’re not “yours”
Trade information politely: “Table 12 was asking about dessert, they might order more.”
The better the whole restaurant runs, the better the guest experience and the tips.
10. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Try not to:
Show up late or call in “sick” last minute all the time
Argue with guests, even if they’re clearly wrong
Talk badly about the restaurant or coworkers in front of guests
Disappear for long smoke or phone breaks
Ignore side work or leave messes for the next shift
Serving is a small world. Build a reputation as someone who:
Shows up
Works hard
Doesn’t create drama
Future managers will hear about it.
11. Step-by-Step Action Plan
If you want to get a serving job in the next few weeks or months, do this:
Make a simple one-page resume.
Focus on customer service and reliability.
Get any required certificates.
Food handler or alcohol service, if needed where you live.
Pick your targets.
Choose 5–10 restaurants where you’d actually like to work.
Include at least a couple of chains or busy casual places that are more likely to train.
Apply in person at the right times.
Late afternoons or between meal rushes.
Ask for the manager and introduce yourself.
Prepare for interviews.
Have 2–3 customer service stories ready.
Practice answering questions about pressure, complaints, and teamwork.
Be open to starting as host, runner, or busser.
Use that to learn the ropes and move into serving later.
Once hired, treat the first month like a long audition.
Show up early, work hard, learn quickly, and help your team.
Final Thoughts
Getting a job as a server or waiter isn’t about having the perfect resume. It’s about:
Showing you can deal with people
Handling pressure without losing your cool
Being reliable and easy to work with
Being willing to learn and hustle
If you bring those qualities, apply strategically, and show up in person, you give yourself a very real shot at landing a serving job—even if you’re completely new to the restaurant world.
