Hostess Job Description (2021)

a picture of a Hostess and business professional ready for an interview

Free hostess job description. A hostess or restaurant host is a professional responsible for greeting customers as they enter an establishment and assist with their dining reservations. The hostess assists the patrons by providing them with restaurant menus and showing them to their seats. The hostess may handle the incoming phone calls and customer questions regarding the restaurant, menu, and creating dining reservations.

A hostess sometimes gets referred to as a restaurant hostess or coffee shop hostess.

Below is a host/hostess job description template to use when writing job descriptions for a business.

hostess job description

Restaurant Hostess Job Description Sample

Job description sample brief:

Our fine dining restaurant is seeking a hostess who can create a high-quality dining experience for our patrons and guests. A hostess will greet guests, mark their reservations, and review the seating chart. Then assist guests to their seats while providing them with a restaurant menu. Our hostess will oversee the dining room and front desk. The hostess should have a positive attitude at all times. Especially during busy periods. And provide guests with accurate wait times with a friendly attitude.

Hostess Job Description Duties and Responsibilities

Below are the host/hostess job duties and responsibilities for a job listing.

Greet customers as they arrive.
Work closely with the kitchen staff and waitress or waiter to start service for a new customer.
Show guests the lounge and bar area for a beverage during long wait times.
Work closely with the wait staff to ensure table rotation.
Ensure the waiting area is clean, clear of obstructions and guests have a place to sit.
Provide each guest with a high quality experience.
Provide customer service to each guest who has questions about the menu, table settings, or other questions.
Offer a smile and a warm welcome while greeting guests.
Provide excellent customer service while seating guests.
Ensure guest satisfaction by asking about their meals.
Help waiters and waitress staff. Get the patrons' drink orders and send the order to the bar.
Mark each guest reservation as they arrive. Make sure they experience a warm welcome.
Answer phone calls and take guest reservations.

Lobby Hostess Duties and Responsibilities

Greeting guests as they arrive and informing them of specials and events. Adding them to the waiting list if required.
Thanking guests as they leave and inviting them back.
Managing a waiting list, seating guests, bussing tables, and assisting servers.
Answering telephone calls. Assisting dining room staff and restaurant staff as needed.

Lounge Hostess Duties and Responsibilities

Answering the phones and book reservations.
Greeting customers and making them feel welcome.
Estimating wait time for guests.

Hostess Requirements

Qualified host or hostess job candidates should have the following:

High School diploma or equivalent.
Previous experience in the food industry.
Ability to practice excellent customer service.
Previous work experience as a host/hostess preferred.

Hostess Salary and Job Outlook

Including the salary range is common when posting a hostess job description or job listing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a server earns $11.54 on hour, per average. Equalling $24,010 in median annual wages.

Hostess Job Description Skills

When writing a host/hostess job description, it can be beneficial to understand the required skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, top candidates should have the following skills:

Communication skills. Food and beverage serving and related workers must listen carefully to their customers’ orders and relay them correctly to the kitchen staff so that the orders are prepared to the customers’ request.
Customer-service skills. Food and beverage serving and related workers must listen carefully to their customers’ orders and relay them correctly to the kitchen staff. That way, orders are prepared to the customers’ request.
Physical stamina. Food and beverage serving and related workers spend most of their work time standing. Carrying heavy trays, cleaning work areas, and attending to customers’ needs.
Physical strength. Food and beverage serving and related workers need to be able to lift and carry stock. Equipment that can weigh up to 50 pounds.

In addition to these skills, Humanity.com says that charm is a key skill to look for in a hostess. Saying, "A great host or hostess must be well-spoken and polite at all times. Whether they are talking to customers in person or taking reservations over the phone. A great host or hostess will speak clearly and collectedly, never rushing their conversations or showing any signs that can imply rudeness."

Other skills, characteristics, qualities, traits, and behaviors to look for in a hostess includes:

Team Spirit
People Skills
Composure
Confidence

Hostess Job Boards

Employers who are posting a restaurant hostess job advertisement should post their job description on a "niche" job board. Before opening it up to a wider, national job board like Indeed, Monster, or Dice.com. Job seekers who are using the "niche" job board have a greater likelihood of being passionate about their career advancement. And passionate about their work.

Top restaurant hostess job boards

Posting on these job boards before opening up a wider search using national job boards is advised. In addition, employers can post the available job on community center websites or community center bulletin boards. Local cities have Facebook Groups where a job posting can be listed, as well. Most commonly, restaurant hostess positions are filled in local geography rather than a national search.

Related: Hostess Resume

Hostess Certifications

Most restaurant hostess positions are entry-level employment opportunities, where on-the-job training is provided by the employer. While no certifications are required for this position, the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute provides a Certified Restaurant Server (CRS) certification. A restaurant hostess who has obtained this certification can show significant promise in treating their role with the utmost professionalism. While the program is intended for restaurant servers, a restaurant hostess has similar job duties and responsibilities. And can benefit from this certification.

Hostess Resources

Those looking to advance themselves in the restaurant hostess job title. Or employers looking to place restaurant hostess positions may want to consider the following resources. These resources can provide helpful insight into creating an ideal workplace and understanding the role with clarity. And ensuring a healthy work relationship between employee and employer. See the following related articles.

Related job descriptions

Download the free hostess job description PDF template. And use the sample hostess job description provided to make an efficient job posting for your company. For more information please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.