Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop

Specific duties and responsibilities regularly performed in this occupation.

• Provide guests with menus.94
• Greet guests and seat them at tables or in waiting areas.92
• Maintain contact with kitchen staff, management, serving staff, and customers to ensure that dining details are handled properly and customers' concerns are addressed.90
• Assign patrons to tables suitable for their needs and according to rotation so that servers receive an appropriate number of seatings.86
• Speak with patrons to ensure satisfaction with food and service, to respond to complaints, or to make conversation.84
• Inspect dining and serving areas to ensure cleanliness and proper setup.83
• Operate cash registers to accept payments for food and beverages.83
• Supervise and coordinate activities of dining room staff to ensure that patrons receive prompt and courteous service.82
• Answer telephone calls and respond to inquiries or transfer calls.82
• Assist other restaurant workers by serving food and beverages, or by bussing tables.81
• Inspect restrooms for cleanliness and availability of supplies, and clean restrooms when necessary.80
• Direct patrons to coatrooms and waiting areas, such as lounges.79

Developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge.

• Active Listening63

  Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Service Orientation53

  Actively looking for ways to help people.

• Speaking53

  Talking to others to convey information effectively.

• Social Perceptiveness50

  Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

• Coordination47

  Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

• Monitoring47

  Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

• Reading Comprehension47

  Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

• Critical Thinking44

  Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

• Active Learning41

  Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

• Negotiation41

  Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

• Persuasion41

  Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

• Time Management41

  Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Organized sets of principles and facts that apply in general domains.

• Customer and Personal Service88

  Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

• English Language67

  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

• Food Production50

  Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

• Psychology37

  Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

• Computers and Electronics36

  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

• Foreign Language36

  Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

• Personnel and Human Resources36

  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

• Administration and Management34

  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

• Public Safety and Security34

  Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

• Sales and Marketing34

  Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

• Education and Training32

  Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

• Mathematics31

  Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance.

• Oral Comprehension75

  The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

• Oral Expression75

  The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

• Speech Recognition56

  The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

• Speech Clarity53

  The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

• Deductive Reasoning50

  The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

• Inductive Reasoning50

  The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

• Near Vision50

  The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• Problem Sensitivity50

  The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

• Written Comprehension50

  The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

• Far Vision47

  The ability to see details at a distance.

• Information Ordering47

  The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

• Selective Attention47

  The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

General types of job behaviors occurring on multiple jobs.

• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships70

  Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

• Getting Information69

  Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

• Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People66

  Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public66

  Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

• Performing General Physical Activities66

  Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others64

  Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events61

  Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings60

  Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

• Assisting and Caring for Others59

  Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials59

  Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems57

  Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others56

  Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job.

• Cooperation84

  A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.

• Social Orientation82

  A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.

• Optimism71

  A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even under difficult circumstances.

• Dependability69

  A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.

• Empathy61

  A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feelings at work.

• Self-Control54

  A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in response to criticism or difficult situations at work.

• Sincerity52

  A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, without concern for personal gain or self-interest.

• Attention to Detail47

  A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.

• Stress Tolerance42

  A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.

• Self-Confidence39

  A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control one's work-related outcomes.

• Adaptability38

  A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas at work.

• Humility37

  A tendency to be modest and humble when interacting with others at work.

Holland's six occupational interest types (RIASEC) this work tends to attract.

• Social71

  Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

• Enterprising57

  Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

• Conventional52

  Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

• Realistic37

  Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

• Artistic12

  Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

• Investigative0

  Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work.

• Spend Time Standing

  • Continually or almost continually90%

• Contact With Others

  • Constant contact with others93%

• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

  • Every day85%
  • Once a week or more but not every day11%

• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

  • Every day85%

• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

  • Extremely important77%
  • Very important15%

• Spend Time Walking or Running

  • Continually or almost continually61%
  • More than half the time33%

• Telephone Conversations

  • Every day63%
  • Once a week or more but not every day23%
  • Never13%

• Frequency of Decision Making

  • Every day51%
  • Once a week or more but not every day26%
  • Once a month or more but not every week17%

• Physical Proximity

  • Very close (near touching)39%
  • Moderately close (at arm's length)44%
  • Slightly close (e.g., shared office)18%

• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions

  • Continually or almost continually57%
  • More than half the time18%
  • About half the time20%

• Freedom to Make Decisions

  • A lot of freedom42%
  • Some freedom35%
  • Limited freedom21%

• Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

  • Extremely important66%
  • Not important at all18%

Education levels O*NET survey respondents in this occupation most often reported having.

• Less than high school diploma
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Some college, no degree

Specific software and technology tools commonly used on the job.

• Spreadsheet software

  Microsoft Excel

• Point of sale POS software

  Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha Point-of-Sale

• Data base user interface and query software

  Avenista Table Reservations, GuestBridge Reserve, OpenTable, Reservation software

• Office suite software

  Microsoft Office software

• Operating system software

  Microsoft Windows

• Web page creation and editing software

  Facebook

• Calendar and scheduling software

  iMagic Restaurant Reservation

Organizations related to this occupation, such as industry and licensing bodies.

• National Restaurant Association
• UNITE HERE

Occupations that call for similar work and worker requirements.

• Waiters and Waitresses
• Miscellaneous food preparation and serving related workers, including dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
• Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
• Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
• Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
• Bartenders
• Miscellaneous Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers
• Transportation attendants, except flight attendants
• Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
• Models, Demonstrators, and Product Promoters
• First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
• Food Service Managers
• Baggage Porters, Bellhops, and Concierges
• Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
• Chefs and Head Cooks
• Food Preparation Workers
• Cooks
• Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
• Lodging Managers
• Cashiers

More specific, granular versions of the Work Activities above.

• Present food or beverage information or menus to customers.
• Assist customers with seating arrangements.
• Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel.
• Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction.
• Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards.
• Operate cash registers.
• Process customer bills or payments.
• Provide customers with general information or assistance.
• Coordinate activities of food service staff.
• Assist chefs or caterers with food or drink preparation.
• Record operational or production data.
• Package food or supplies.