Tourism, Food / Beverage
Waiter and Waitress
Related positions: Waiter and Waitress, Waiter, Waitress, Waiter A, Waitress A, Waiter B, Waitress B, Banquet Server, Buffet Server, Cocktail Server, Food Runner, Food Server, Restaurant Server, Server, WaitstaffOverview
A Waiter/Waitress is responsible for providing excellent customer service to restaurant patrons. This includes taking orders, delivering food and drinks, ensuring that customers are satisfied with their meals, and processing payments. Waiters and waitresses must also maintain a clean and organized dining area.
Waiters and waitresses may work in a variety of food service establishments, from casual diners to high-end restaurants. Good communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work well under pressure are important qualities for this profession.
Common tasks
| Task | Related trait(s) |
|---|---|
| Greeting customers | Composed Presence Social Ease |
| Showing customers to their tables | Service Excellence |
| Providing menus and taking orders from customers | Service Excellence |
| Serving menu items to customers | Efficient Multitasking |
| Checking on customers throughout their stay | Efficient Multitasking |
| Processing payments | Service Excellence |
| Keeping working area clean and organized and restocking tables with relevant items | Service Excellence |
| Assisting other staff members | Collaborative Spirit |
| Following all food safety and sanitation procedures | Service Reliability |
| Addressing customer complaints | Social Ease Composed Presence Cheerful Presence Emotional Rapport |
Soft skills measured by TraitForward
| Trait | No of Questions | Cronbach’s alpha (α) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collaborative Spirit | 9 | 0.73 | |
| Can they work harmoniously with others, actively support team members, and contribute to a positive group dynamic in a fast-paced service environment? | |||
| Service Excellence | 10 | 0.80 | |
| Can they consistently deliver high-quality service through attention to detail, organization, and commitment to perfection? | |||
| Composed Presence | 7 | 0.85 | |
| Can they maintain a calm, professional demeanor under pressure, even when dealing with difficult customers or high-stress situations? | |||
| Social Ease | 8 | 0.85 | |
| Can they interact with customers and coworkers naturally and confidently, establishing rapport and making others feel comfortable in their presence? | |||
| Efficient Multitasking | 5 | 0.67 | |
| Can they handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously while maintaining quality service and attention to detail in a busy restaurant environment? | |||
| Cheerful Presence | 8 | 0.77 | |
| Can they consistently project positivity and optimism that enhances the customer experience, even during busy or stressful situations? | |||
| Emotional Rapport | 5 | 0.80 | |
| Can they intuitively understand customers’ emotional states and respond in ways that create genuine connections and a positive dining experience? | |||
| Service Reliability | 8 | 0.77 | |
| Can they consistently follow established protocols, procedures, and expectations to deliver reliable service? | |||
Find out the psychometric properties for the Waiter and Waitress Traitforward questionnaire