How to Be Breakfast Server - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jun 14, 2020 / 4 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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Failing to adequately train breakfast servers can lead to a number of negative outcomes. This includes poor customer service, unhappy customers, and a decrease in overall restaurant profits. Without the necessary training, servers may struggle to provide customers with accurate information on menu items and may be unable to upsell items.

This can result in fewer orders and lower tips. Furthermore, servers may not understand how to properly handle customer complaints, which can result in customers leaving the restaurant feeling dissatisfied and reducing the likelihood of a return visit. To ensure that breakfast servers provide the best possible service and experience to customers, it is essential for restaurants to provide them with adequate training.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent. Most employers require breakfast servers to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Earn a food safety certification. Many employers require breakfast servers to have a food safety certification. This ensures that food is being served in a safe and sanitary manner.
Get experience in the restaurant industry. Many employers prefer to hire breakfast servers who have some experience in the restaurant industry. Working as a busser, host, or server in a restaurant can help you gain the necessary experience for a breakfast server position.
Find a job as a breakfast server. Look for job postings on job boards, classifieds, and restaurant websites to find an open breakfast server position.
Apply for the position. Once youve found an open breakfast server position, complete the application and submit your resume.
Participate in an interview. You may be asked to come in for an in-person or virtual interview to discuss your qualifications, experience, and availability.
Start your job as a breakfast server. Once youve been hired, you can start your job as a breakfast server. Make sure to learn the menu items and how to properly serve them to customers.

Staying updated and capable as a breakfast server requires a combination of dedication and hard work. The first step is to stay informed of current menus, ingredients, and recipes in order to properly serve customers. it is important to be familiar with the restaurant's policies and procedures in order to ensure customer satisfaction.

it is important to maintain a friendly and professional attitude while interacting with customers to provide excellent service. Furthermore, staying organized and having a good system for taking orders and delivering food can help ensure that customers receive their meals quickly. having a strong knowledge base, an affable personality, and excellent organizational skills are all necessary to be an effective breakfast server.

You may want to check Wine Steward, Food Runner, and Barback for alternative.

Job Description

Greet guests and take their orders for breakfast.
Set up tables with napkins, silverware, and condiments.
Refill beverages and clear away dishes as needed.
Answer guest questions regarding menu items and dining policies.
Ensure all orders are prepared according to restaurant standards.
Provide excellent customer service at all times.
Run food orders to tables in a timely manner.
Balance cash drawer at the end of each shift.
Follow all health and safety regulations.
Clean and sanitize work area at the end of each shift.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of breakfast menu items and preparation techniques
Ability to take orders accurately and in a timely manner
Ability to upsell and suggest menu items
Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
Ability to multitask and handle multiple orders at one time
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Ability to provide excellent customer service
Strong communication skills
Problem-solving skills
Knowledge of cash handling procedures

Good customer service is the most important skill for a breakfast server to have. This skill requires the server to be friendly and polite with guests, as well as knowledgeable about the restaurant's menu. Being a good listener is also essential for a breakfast server, as it allows them to understand customers' needs and respond appropriately.

Finally, a breakfast server should have a positive attitude, as this can make all the difference in how customers perceive their experience. Having these qualities will not only help ensure that guests have a pleasant experience, but it can also result in higher customer satisfaction ratings, improved customer loyalty, and increased revenue for the restaurant.

Host/Hostess, Greeters, and Coffeehouse Server are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

How would you handle a customer who was unhappy with their meal?
Describe your experience working in a fast-paced environment.
How do you ensure customer satisfaction in a breakfast service setting?
What do you think sets you apart from other breakfast servers?
How do you prioritize tasks when serving multiple customers at once?
Describe how you would deal with a customer complaint in a breakfast service setting.
What safety protocols do you follow when serving food?
Describe the most challenging breakfast service situation you have faced and how you handled it.
What techniques do you use to memorize orders and ensure accuracy?
How do you ensure that all customers receive their order in a timely manner?

Common Tools in Industry

Microsoft Office Suite. A collection of programs (e. g. , Word, PowerPoint, Excel) used for creating documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. (e. g. , creating a spreadsheet to track customer orders)
Point-of-Sale System. A computerized system used for tracking sales and managing inventory in a restaurant. (e. g. , entering orders into a POS system to generate a customer receipt)
Kitchen Display System. An electronic system used to display orders in the kitchen and track their status. (e. g. , displaying orders to the kitchen staff and updating their status as they are prepared)
Cash Register. A mechanical or electronic device used to record and process payments from customers. (e. g. , accepting cash, debit, and credit card payments from customers)
Inventory Management System. A computerized system used for tracking food and supplies in a restaurant. (e. g. , ordering new items when stock is low)
Customer Relationship Management Software. A program used to manage customer data and interactions with customers. (e. g. , collecting customer feedback and preferences for future use)

Professional Organizations to Know

American Culinary Federation
National Restaurant Association
International Foodservice Manufacturers Association
National Association of Foodservice Professionals
International Council of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education
Institute of Food Technologists
Specialty Coffee Association of America
National Bartenders Association
Professional Convention Management Association
International Association of Conference Centers

We also have Dishwasher, Cafeteria Worker, and Bar Waiter jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Restaurant Server. A restaurant server is a person who works in a restaurant, taking orders and serving food and drinks to customers.
Busser. A busser is a restaurant employee who cleans tables and assists servers.
Host/Hostess. A host or hostess is an employee at a restaurant who greets guests, takes reservations, and manages the seating of customers.
Food Runner. A food runner is a restaurant employee who delivers food from the kitchen to the customer's table.
Waiter/Waitress. A waiter or waitress is a restaurant employee who takes orders and serves food and drinks to customers.