You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian, but you do need to be a good communicator. Quiet servers are often just as good as talkative ones, they just need to make sure they’re communicating with body language, doing their job efficiently, and listening as well as they possibly can.
At the restaurant, you’ll get specific details and learn how the system works, but in general you want to be familiar with the essentials.
If you’ve never worked before and hope to get a job as a server, you might focus on school successes and teamwork environments like sports in which you’ve thrived. Be positive and sell yourself. That’s the job.
Bring your resume and your enthusiasm. Tell them you’d be really excited to speak more about the position and that you’re ready to start right away. Since being a server is about making a good first impression most of the time, treat getting the job like the job. Make a good first impression.
Some managers might ask, “What’s your favorite thing on our menu?” or “If the kitchen ran out of fish, what would suggest as an alternative?” Brush up on the menu of the restaurant before hand by checking out Yelp or the restaurant’s website. Be prepared to respond to disaster scenarios. Some managers might ask, “Someone gives you a fake ID to buy alcohol. What do you do?” or, more directly, “A customer is angry about their meal. What should you do?” Think through these scenarios and respond thoughtfully. Come with questions of your own. Usually, a good question like “What does someone need to be really successful here?” can leave an extremely good first impression on a manager. They’ll often give you the chance to ask questions, which can be a missed opportunity in an interview.
Maintain balanced eye-contact, but avoid staring too much. Some customers are uncomfortable and will come to the restaurant in a variety of moods. Respond appropriately. As you seat them at their table, perhaps stir up small conversation as you proceed to take their drink orders. If they’re not interested in chatting, leave it at that.
This is also the time to discuss the specials and any promotional deals the restaurant is offering at this time. When you have served their drinks, ask if they have any questions about the menu. Don’t rush them unless they are late, and even then do it gently. If they are ready to order, take their order clockwise starting at the left and closest to you. If not, proceed to your next table.
Bring out orders in their entirety. Never bring one guest’s food without the other’s, unless specially instructed otherwise (this may happen if one or more in the party plans to leave early). Normally, there shouldn’t be any circumstance causing one part of an order be ready much later than another. If on occasion you foresee this happening and causing a problem, briefly explain the situation and ask how the customer would prefer handling this.
Before clearing plates, be sure to ask politely if they are ready. Use a manner and tone consistent with both the atmosphere and the customer. Generally, “May I take this/these for you?” is good. Don’t ask if they’re obviously still eating. If someone is talking and has food on their plate, don’t interrupt their story to ask if they’re finished. Wait and come back.
Clear any complimentary breads and/or soup from before the main course before ordering the dessert course.
When you return, thank them and say something like, “It’s been nice to see you” , “Hope to see you again soon”, OR if they seem to be lingering after their meal, just say “thank you”, as they may need refills and such.
When their good food and conversation is over, they will start looking around at other diners or the walls. This can tell you when to clear plates, offer desserts or drop the check.
Learn to gauge your customers quickly. If a couple seems tense and like they might be in the middle of an argument, it’s probably not the time to ask “Celebrating something tonight?” or other breaking-the-ice questions. If a table seems like they’re having a good time and are hesitant to leave, suggest drinks or coffee. If they feel like chatting, take a moment to chat. If not, leave them in their conversation.
