waiter (waitress)

Who are they and what do they do? The job of a waiter or a waitress is to wait on customers in catering facilities.

What are the activities of the job? His/her activities are as follows - he/she receives customers and seats them, gives them advice while they are selecting meals and drinks - takes orders - serves meals and drinks, attends to customers both at the counter and at the table - finishes the cooking of meals at the table where necessary (flaming, cutting up, etc.) - participates in working out menus and lists of beverages, takes care of, and pours, drinks and beverages - mixes drinks formulas according to a recipe, and serves them - bills customers, accepts cheques, credit cards, accepts and converts foreign currencies, runs the cash desk - prepares and arranges rooms and sets tables - participates in preparing, and serves at, banquets - accepts, deals with or hands over complaints to the kitchen or another department.

Where is it done and under what conditions? He/she does the job in restaurants, wine bars, pubs, cafés, and other catering facilities. The job requires shift work and you may have to deal with unpleasant customers sometimes.

What tools/equipment do they use? The tools most used are your own legs and hands, the spoken word, bar equipment, serving trolleys, etc.

What do you need to succeed? To succeed in this job you need to have completed an apprenticeship, have the ability to deal with people, patience, a cultivated appearance and manners, arithmetical skills, good memory and good hearing, be healthy and fit and have the ability to learn foreign languages.