When you are looking for a server, how can you be sure to find someone with the right amount of charm and work ethic? It all starts with an effective job description that captures your business’ unique culture and needs. You will need to think about what exactly you are looking for in terms of a good personality and skills match. To help you get started drafting and organizing your description, use the great Server job description sample below.
Server Job Summary
As a Blanca’s Chuletas server, you will be responsible for providing each guest with a quality dining experience. You will address customer concerns and make sure their needs are met on all levels. You will work with hostesses, floor managers and other servers to maintain smooth operation of the dining floor at all times.
Server Responsibilities and Duties
- Aid in dining room set up and breakdown including cleaning tables, setting up decorations, refilling utensils, lighting table candles and related tasks.
- Adhere to all safety and sanitation policies.
- Memorize menu and daily specials and make suggestions to customers when asked.
- Inform kitchen staff regarding customer orders and special instructions.
- Pick up and deliver food and bar orders to customers in a timely fashion.
- Remove plates and refill cups as needed for your tables.
- Handle meal payment including getting change, running cards and acquiring signatures.
- Give responsive service to every customer at your table, such as meal modifications, allergy notes and menu information.
Server Qualifications and Skills
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Bilingual: English and Spanish (non-native speakers welcome)
- Serving or hosting experience preferred
- Ability to thrive under pressure
- Consistently positive attitude
- Multitasker
- Excellent time management skills
- Developed interpersonal skills
Company Profile
At Blanca’s Chuletas, we specialize in authentic Puerto Rican cuisine starting with the staple meat: pork. Of course, we have plenty of bacalao on the menu too and thanks to our seaside location, we only serve the freshest codfish. Whether you’re from the Island, Miami or Nueva York, you’ll find your favorite dish on the menu from mofongo con chuletas fritas to arroz con gandules y tostones.
While serving delicious island food is our main order of business, we consider our restaurant to be a home away from home for our people. However, Puerto Ricans love nothing more than to share food and have a good time, so we strive to make a welcoming environment for everyone! We are currently looking for bilingual servers fluent in English and Spanish (non-native speakers welcome!). If you’re interested in joining our lively festival of food, music and island culture, submit your application below!
Best Practices for Writing a Job Description
- While this sample is a great place to start, you may find you need to tailor it to your needs. As you venture forth into the customized template realm, follow these best practices to help you stay on track:
- Use bullets. Bullets are easy to scan and help you say more in a small space. You will still need to use paragraphs for some sections but whenever you can, try to incorporate bullets into your template.
- Address the reader directly. Don’t just talk about “ideal candidates” or “hires.” Instead, use “you” to address your readers and incorporate them into the job description. They’ll naturally imagine themselves in the position.
- Watch your word count. Try to keep your entire post under 700 words in length. Long posts run the risk of loosing your reader’s attention, so only include the most important details and information.
- Be descriptive. Though you may not have an abundance of space, your post should still be very informative. Give your reader a real idea of what to expect from the job opportunity and be specific.
- Make it natural. You may be tempted to stuff your content with buzzwords and industry lingo, but don’t. Internet users these days can pick out real content from manufactured content. Try to sound natural and even conversational.
- Proofread at least twice. Don’t let typos be the reason a candidate can’t send in their resume or decide to move on. Read over your material at least twice. Tip: Reading out loud helps you catch easily missed mistakes.
Server Job Responsibilities
It takes a special kind of person to be a server. Servers endure considerable stress when interacting with demanding customers, so it’s imperative for managers to hire only the best. How can food service managers be sure they attract top candidates when drafting a server job description? The following tips are sure to help you create a winning ad.
Remember to outline the job responsibilities section of the description well. Identify a server’s functions clearly, and be sure to do so with definitive numbers. For example, if you run a small café in downtown Chicago, you may serve between 50 and 150 customers during the lunch hour. However, if you’re a caterer who services large receptions and banquets, you may provide meals for as many as 700 people in one sitting. The demands on servers in the Chicago café vary greatly from the obligations on those in the large catering business. When you draft the responsibilities section of your server job description, be sure applicants know precisely what you expect from them. Consider outlining your server job responsibilities similarly to the following
- Service approximately 200 customers during breakfast and lunch in a quaint café in downtown Chicago
- Prioritize customer satisfaction, placing customer needs above personal needs
- Adhere to all current food sanitation regulations and building safety requirements
- Prepare the dining room, take customer orders, serve meals and assist in cleanup
Server Job Specifications
Like the responsibilities section of the server job description, the outline of qualifications provides valuable information to potential candidates. With one glance, a jobseeker should recognize whether he or she has the skills and knowledge your company expects in a server. For this reason, when managers specify the requirements of the job, they must offer explicit criteria for the position.
Depending on whether you’re the café owner or a large caterer, your list will prioritize different characteristics. Still, what’s helpful when pointing out job specifications is considering the qualifications your most successful servers have had. Do high school students serve you well because they simply enjoy earning a little money and don’t mind the crazy hours, or do college students seem more appropriate because the age difference has matured them just enough? Think about what’s best for your business, and tailor the server job description for candidates who meet your specific needs.
The following are examples of server job specifications you might include in your job posting:
Summer position in a beachfront café open to college students who desire consistent work during summer vacation Proven customer service skills for a diverse client base Flexibility needed due to long weekday hours and weekend work Willingness to take orders, serve meals, assist in cleanup and perform other duties as assigned