Best Hostess Job Description for 2021

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.

What is a Restaurant Hostess?

At a busy restaurant, a restaurant hostess is a professional who ensures that guests have a fine dining experience. At a full-service restaurant, there are a number of duties that need to be performed once a guest arrives.

From ensuring the guest has been marked as arrived in the guest system. To ensure that the guests receive beverage service when they sit down. The hostess seats guests and may inform guests about specials or other opportunities to improve their overall dining experience.

To succeed in the role

A hostess should have good communication skills. And should have the capacity to coordinate with a restaurant manager and other staff.

Having prior experience in the service industry is a strong plus for any job seeker.

Restaurant Hostess Education and Training

No education requirements are necessary for this role. Since this is an entry-level position, many hostesses' are either in high school or college. The hostess responsibilities are one that may require on-the-job training.

Training may include walking through how to greet incoming guests, how to handle the fast-paced environment. And how the entire shift should be handled from the point of view of the hostess.

This could include the act of taking phone reservations (through incoming calls), making calls to confirm reservations, seating large parties, moving guests to their appropriate table, assisting staff in a timely manner, and executing strong organizational skills for the benefit of the other team members.

Training could include taking to-go orders, using the computer system, point-of-sale system, and practicing serving staff/taking special requests.

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.
• Handle the opening and closing duties of the establishment.
• Provide food and beverage menu updates.
• Practice excellent customer service skills at all times.
• Oversee the dining and bar areas sanitation.
• Coordinate with your fellow team members, seat guests quickly, and begin service.

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/hospitality 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 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.

A successful hostess should display these qualities.

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

• FoodEmployment.com
• iHobnob.com
• Nosh.com
• Good Food Jobs

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.

• Book: The Encyclopedia of Restaurant Training: A Complete Ready-to-Use Training Program for All Positions in the Food Service Industry
• Association: Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals
• Book: Presenting Service: The Ultimate Guide for the Foodservice Professional
• The National Restaurant Association

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