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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.

What you’d do

  • Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions.
  • Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities.
  • Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.
  • Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items.
  • Load trays with accessories, such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments.
  • Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.
  • Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed.
  • Remove trays and stack dishes for return to kitchen after meals are finished.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Service Orientation
  • Speaking
  • Coordination
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Food Service Worker
  • Room Server
  • Room Service Server
  • Tray Server
  • Food Server
  • Kitchen Runner
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