Servers are the food service workers who deal with customers in restaurants. They may also be referred to as Waiters or Waitresses. The service customers receive when visiting restaurants often determines whether or not they will return. Servers work in a variety of settings in casino and casino hotel restaurants small, informal cafes or large, elegant restaurants. Whatever the setting, individuals are responsible for making the patron’s gastronomic visit an enjoyable experience.
While specific duties are similar for all Servers, they are often performed differently, depending on the type of establishment in which the person works. Those working in coffee shops in the hotel provide fast, efficient, and courteous service. However in the hotel’s fine restaurants, the wait staff must be more attentive. Meals in these settings are served in a more leisurely manner, and servers offer more personal attention to customers. Individuals working in these settings may, for example, recommend wines or explain how various items are prepared. They may also prepare certain dishes at tableside, such as salads or flaming desserts.
Servers take customers’ orders and tell customers about specials. When orders are ready, individuals bring the food and beverages from the kitchen and serve the customers. After the meal, Servers prepare an itemized check, manually or by computer. Servers must be able to stand for long periods of time and carry heavy trays of food and dishes. Many people, however, enjoy such work as it affords individuals the opportunity to meet a large number of people, often on a flexible work schedule. Usually larger or more prestigious fine restaurants employ special people to handle specific projects. Individuals working in smaller restaurants may handle more generalized tasks. In some settings Servers are required to perform duties associated with other food and beverage service jobs. These may include the following:
Earnings for Servers in this industry vary tremendously. As a rule, earnings are a combination of hourly wages and tips from customers. Hourly earnings vary depending on the type of establishment in which the person works. Base wages range from approximately USD 5.50 to USD 8.50 or more per hour. With tips, Servers earn between USD 15 and USD 60 per hour or more. Tips generally average between 10 percent and 20 percent of a patron’s check. Therefore, those working in expensive, fine restaurants usually earn more than their counterparts in other types of eateries.
There are unlimited opportunities for both full- and parttime employment. Servers work in a variety of settings, including coffee shops, casino hotel fine restaurants, onsite casino restaurants, ice-cream parlors, fast food eateries, family restaurants, and buffet-style restaurants. Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Detroit offer the greatest number of job possibilities. Other employment settings include casino hotels in other areas of Nevada, Mississippi, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Arizona, and California. Other regions hosting Indian gaming and land-based or riverboat gaming facilities offer additional opportunities. New casinos and casino hotels and constantly under construction. More casinos and casino hotels are opening every year as areas legalize gambling.
Some individuals look on this position as a job, not a career. It offers immediate income and flexible hours. Others who enjoy the flexibility and the opportunity of meeting different people see it as a career choice. Opportunities for advancement in this career are often limited. Individuals may, however, increase earnings and tips by locating similar jobs in better, more expensive restaurants. Some Servers advance to supervisory jobs such as dining room supervisor or maitre d’hotel.
While there are usually no formal educational requirements, most food establishments in the gaming industry prefer applicants to have at least a high school diploma or GED. Some restaurants provide on-the-job training so that Servers have the ability to wait on customers in a manner specified by the restaurant.
Experience as a Server is required by some fine restaurants, especially those with rigid table service standards. In others, there may be no experience requirement. Individuals in this line of work should be pleasant and well spoken with a neat and clean appearance. They should enjoy dealing with others. The ability to carry heavy trays is often needed. A good memory is also useful, as are math skills.
Many states require employees working in the food or beverage industry to provide a health certificate showing they are free of contagious diseases as well as a TAM (Techniques of Alcohol Management) card. Depending on the specific state and type of eatery, there may also be minimum age requirement.
Depending on the location and specific casino, this may or may not be a unionized position. For example, in unionized casinos and casino hotels in Las Vegas, Servers might be members of the Culinary Workers Local #225. In Atlantic City Servers are represented by the Local 54 Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union. Additional career information may be obtained by contacting the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE).
1. If you have no experience and are interested in working in a fine restaurant, find a short-term job as a Server in another type of eatery first to get experience.
2. jobs in this field are advertised in newspaper classified sections under headings such as “Waiter,” “Waitress,” “Food Server,” Server,” “Casino Hotels,” “Casino Restaurants,” “Food Service,” and “Riverboat Cruises.”
3. Stop by the employment office of a casino or casino hotel. There is often a great deal of turnover in these jobs.
4. Check casino job hotlines. These are frequently updated messages listing jobs available. Call each casino directly to get its job hotline phone number.
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