Server: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire a server?

Servers provide excellent customer service to people at restaurants, bars, or events. They are the first point of contact between your business and customers and can bring in more clientele when they do their job well.

Contributions of a great server:

• expertise in customer service
• can engage in conversation with customers
• can work in a fast-paced environment
• prioritizes cleanliness and adheres to food safety and hygiene standards
• improves / upholds your establishment’s reputation

What are the different types of servers?

Servers work in a variety of settings serving food and drinks to the public. Servers will often work for different types of establishments depending on what they are suited for or where they have gained previous experience. The following is a list of different types of servers that you may come across.

• Waitress/waiter: Servers who work in restaurants
• Cocktail server: Serves drinks at events or bars
• Catering company server: Works with catering companies serving large groups of people
• Formal dining servers: Works in formal restaurants serving food and beverages

Where to find a server

To find the right server for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Referrals: Asking friends, family, and colleagues is a great way to find a server. By doing this, you may be more likely to hire someone who is reliable and has experience.
• Professional associations: Depending on what type of business you run, you should be able to find servers through local associations. These servers will be experienced and have years of working as a server.
• Networking websites: Finding a server can be easier if you look at networking websites that are dedicated to the hospitality industry.
• Hospitality industry events: People in the hospitality industry will often hold networking events. By attending such an event, you could be in a good position to find a qualified server for your company.
• Post your job online: Try posting your server job on Indeed to find and attract quality server candidates.

Skills to look for in a great server

A great server candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:

• that they are very friendly and approachable
• their ability to work on their feet for long periods of time
• their knowledge of food and beverages
• good memory and time management skills
• their ability to work as part of a team
• their knowledge of server software programs

Writing a server job description

A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified server candidates. A server job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your server job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on server jobs, according to Indeed data:

• server
• restaurant
• waitress
• waiter
• restaurant server
• hospitality
• serving
• food service
• hotel
• bartender

Interviewing server candidates

Strong candidates for server positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Experience with difficult customers
• Experience memorizing menus and specials
• Ability to keep track of many orders and tables
• Experience working as part of a team
• Food safety and hygiene

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of interview questions for examples (with sample answers).