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Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

  • Bright Outlook
  • Numerous Job Openings

Welcome patrons, seat them at tables or in lounge, and help ensure quality of facilities and service.

What you’d do

  • Provide guests with menus.
  • Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.
  • Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.
  • Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.
  • Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.
  • Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.
  • Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.
  • Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Service Orientation
  • Speaking
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Monitoring

How to get there

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

Also called

  • Buffet Hostess
  • Greeter
  • Host
  • Hostess
  • Dining Coordinator
  • Host Coordinator
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