Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop
Hosts and hostesses (restaurant, lounge, and coffee shops) welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in the lounge, and help ensure the quality of facilities and service.
If you take pleasure in interacting with people, love to dress well, and need a job that doesn't require a lot of training, you can consider working as a host or hostess in a restaurant, lounge, or coffee shop. The host or hostess plays a vital role as they are the first impression to the customer.
The restaurant host's job description includes greeting and assisting customers with seating arrangements, presenting food or beverage information/menus to customers and providing customers with general information or assistance. Moreover, they operate cash registers and process customer bills or payments.
A host or hostess needs a certain hostess skill set to ensure that the guests are happy. The restaurant hostess’ job is to ensure the smooth functioning of the restaurant. Providing excellent customer service, interacting with customers with great communication ability, multitasking and systematically organising tasks, listening to the needs of the customer, computer skills and maintaining patience and composure are key areas that a host hotel's career requires.
Restaurant hosts and hostesses work part-time and in shifts. They often work on weekends, evenings, and holidays.
To be successful in hostess jobs, knowledge of a foreign language may be helpful in restaurants specializing in foreign food. A positive attitude, a neat and clean appearance, and a smile are the three things you should bring to your job.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- Bachelor's Any Subject
- NSQF Level 3 Showroom Hostess or Host
Tasks
- Provide guests with menus.
- Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
- Receive and record patrons' dining reservations.
- Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
- Inform patrons of establishment specialties and features.
- Direct patrons to coatrooms and waiting areas such as lounges.
- Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.
- Prepare cash receipts after establishments close, and make bank deposits.
- Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
- Prepare staff work schedules.
Progression Routes
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