What Is a Cocktail Waitress and How to Become One
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What Is a Cocktail Waitress?
A Cocktail Waitress is a service industry worker who serves beverages to patrons. Like other waitstaff jobs, Cocktail Waitresses take orders for drinks and deliver them to the bartender. Different workplaces have different guidelines for attire or uniforms, and a themed restaurant or bar may have matching costumes relating to the theme. Cocktail Waitresses work in restaurants, casinos, bars, lounges, and nightclubs where they earn tips for fast and friendly service. They must move swiftly around their tables, balancing heavy trays and delivering drinks to customers.
How to Become a Cocktail Waitress
To become a Cocktail Waitress, you must have excellent people and customer service skills. Cocktail Waitresses are on their feet for the majority of their shifts, so physical stamina is required. It takes balance and strength to carry trays of drinks to each table. Since most Cocktail Waitresses serve alcoholic beverages, you must be old enough to serve alcohol in your state legally. In some establishments, the money that is earned from the bar and from servers is split and shared at the end of the night. In others, you will be able to keep all your tips.
How to Be a Good Cocktail Waitress
Cocktail Waitresses are friendly and often chat with their customers while serving their beverages. While a friendly and outgoing personality will serve you well in the role, it is your professional customer service skills that matter the most. A good Cocktail Waitress will be attentive to their customers when they are ordering, and fast when delivering orders to the bartender or kitchen. Your patrons will appreciate quick service from the bar.
Cocktail Waitress Job Description Sample
With this Cocktail Waitress job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Cocktail Waitress role.
Job Summary
We are looking for a Cocktail Waitress to join our food server staff and grow our beverage sales. Our ideal candidate has experience in the foodservice or hospitality industry, preferably in a waitress role. Bartending or sales experience is also beneficial. You need excellent communication skills to ensure our patrons have a positive experience and to promote sales of certain drinks or specials. You must be able to work nights and weekends to cater to our customer base. Having a food handler's card is a plus, but we are willing to help you earn one after you start working.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide menus and information on daily specials, making recommendations as requested by customers
- Take food and drink orders from customers
- Check IDs to make sure customers can legally order alcoholic beverages
- Deliver orders to tables
- Dispense and collect checks
- Clean and reset tables after customers leave
Requirements and Qualifications
- Experience in the foodservice or hospitality industry
- Bartending and alcoholic beverage knowledge
- Excellent communication and customer service skills
- Flexible schedule to work nights and weekends
- Food handler's card (preferred)
