Tourism, Food / Beverage
Service Captain
Overview
A service captain is responsible for managing the dining experience in a restaurant. They greet customers, take orders, and ensure food is delivered on time. They also train and supervise servers, handle customer complaints, and oversee restaurant operations.
Service captains may have a variety of duties, including overseeing the work of servers, bussers, and other restaurant staff, greeting guests and seating them, taking orders, making recommendations, and ensuring that all guest requests are handled promptly and efficiently. They may also be responsible for training and mentoring new staff members, as well as for managing the inventory of food, beverages, and supplies.
Additionally, service captains must have excellent communication and customer service skills, as well as the ability to remain calm and professional in high-pressure situations. They must also be knowledgeable about the restaurant’s menu and offerings, and be able to answer any questions that guests may have.
Common tasks
| Task | Related trait(s) |
|---|---|
| Managing waitstaff | Calmness under pressure Socially savvy Understating customer needs Collaborative leadership Inclusivity in leadership Effective leadership |
| Taking part in the hiring process of waitstaff and train waitstaff | Calmness under pressure Socially savvy Inclusivity in leadership Effective leadership |
| Greeting and seating guests | Calmness under pressure Socially savvy Understating customer needs |
| Taking orders | Calmness under pressure Socially savvy Understating customer needs |
| Monitoring the quality of menu items | Precision in service |
| Ensuring adherence to health and safety | Rule compliance |
| Ensuring that the dining area is clean and organized | Precision in service |
| Processing payments | Precision in service |
| Ensuring the service is pleasant | Rule compliance |
| Handling customer complaints | Calmness under pressure Socially savvy Radiant positivity Understating customer needs |
| Maintaining inventory and supplies | Precision in service |
Soft skills measured by TraitForward
| Trait | No of Questions | Cronbach’s alpha (α) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precision in service | 9 | 0.78 | |
| Do they have a desirable work ethic? | |||
| Calmness under pressure | 7 | 0.85 | |
| Are they calm? Do they respect others? | |||
| Socially savvy | 9 | 0.85 | |
| Are they skilled in handling social situations? | |||
| Multitasking | 5 | 0.67 | |
| Can they multitask? Can they handle demanding workloads? | |||
| Radiant positivity | 7 | 0.78 | |
| Are they joyful? | |||
| Understating customer needs | 5 | 0.77 | |
| Do they understand the emotions of others? | |||
| Rule compliance | 6 | 0.71 | |
| Can they follow orders? | |||
| Collaborative leadership | 9 | 0.73 | |
| Are they good team members? | |||
| Inclusivity in leadership | 11 | 0.73 | |
| Are they biased? | |||
| Effective leadership | 6 | 0.87 | |
| Can they take charge? | |||
Did you Know?
Source: US Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median wage:
$43,980 / per year
$21 / hour
The median annual wage for this profession is $43,980. Nonetheless several professionals may not be paid in that rate. A relatively low salary the 10th percentile of the annual wage is $30,970 whilst a relatively high salary, the 90th percentile of the annual wage is $60,000.
Entry Education level:
To become a service captain, one typically needs a high school diploma or equivalent, as well as several years of experience working in the restaurant or food service industry. Many employers prefer candidates who have completed some training or education in hospitality management, and some may require certification or licensure depending on the state or country where they work. Additionally, service captains must be able to work well as part of a team, and be able to motivate and inspire their staff to provide the best possible service to guests.
Find out the psychometric properties for the Service Captain Traitforward questionnaire