What does a Hostess do?
Hostesses work at sit-down restaurants ranging from casual family diners to fine dining establishments to make customers feel welcomed and provide attentive service from the moment a customer enters the dining room. They are also in charge of fairly assigning tables to waitstaff so that servers can split the workload fairly and get a fair opportunity to earn tips during their shift. Hostesses lead guests to their tables, manage reservations and communicate with front of house staff about when they have a new party in their section. Hostesses support bussers in clearing tables, wiping down menus and organizing silverware.
Hostess skills and qualifications
A Hostess should have skills that allow them to interact with guests and help keep restaurant operations running smoothly. Some qualifications for a Hostess include the following:
- High school diploma or GED
- Prior customer service experience in the hospitality industry
- Positive attitude and interpersonal skills
- Good communication skills and phone etiquette
- Flexibility when working alternating shifts
- Ability to stand for long periods of time
Hostess Salary Expectations
A Hostess makes an average of $11.63 per hour. Pay rate may depend on level of experience, education and the geographical location.
Hostess Salary Expectations
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Common salary:
13.71 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
7.25 -41.10 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Hostess education and training Requirements
Hostesses typically need a high school diploma or GED for a Hostess position, but some employers offer this position without any formal qualification. High school students often prefer to work part time as Hostesses while working toward their diploma. A bachelor’s degree is often helpful for Hostesses looking to pursue a supervisory role. The job of a Hostess generally does not require any formal training.
Hostess experience requirements
Although an entry-level Hostess position does not require any specific experience, it generally helps for the candidate to have some experience working with people. Candidates with a customer service background, and phone handling experience are ideal for the position. Exact experience requirements vary with the specific job profile and career growth planned for the position. For example, if the Hostess is required to serve alcohol, the Hostess should have relevant experience and a thorough knowledge of different types of drinks.
Job description samples for similar positions
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