How can you become a good hostess at a restraunt?!
How can you become a good hostess at a restraunt?
I just got a job as a hostess in a restraunt. I was told by one of my friends who works at the same restraunt that they will not teach me how to seat people because it is "so easy". This is my first job, and I don't want to be totally clueless when I go in there. Also, I am not a very outgoing person, I am more on the shy side and have anxiety problems, and I'm afraid that when I greet people I'm going to be nervous and stumble over my words. Also, I'm taking into consideration that I'll have to greet parties with children and ask if they need high chairs and things like that. I feel like I'm a freshman in high school again and I'm just being thrown into this new environment without anybody guiding me. I might be making it out to be bigger than it is. Does anybody have any tips on how to be successful my first day?
Answers: As a consumer, I always love it when the hostess is "attentive"....not talking to her friends or not giving my need for seating preference priority. Here's the deal...most people believe that being "just a hostess" isnt worthy of acknowledgement but you are usually the very first person the customer see's when they walk thru that door and you should be tastefully dressed *no cleavage or hooker tight outfits, smiling and concerned. If there is a wait, make that customer feel as though they are more important than any other person in that restaurant...just your curiosity on what to do on making the job the best-proves to me that you'll be fine. You're already a step ahead of the game and Im sure the restaurant that hired you will be glad they did. Best of Luck!!! ;-) Seating isn't "so easy" as to not require any training.
Avoid seating people near the kitchen, washrooms or any other high traffic area unless there are no other tables.
If there is a choice, as if they would prefer a table or a booth.
Try to leave an empty table between every seated table (until you need to seat someone there). It's frustrating to be placed next to the family with 5 kids when there are empty tables on all sides.
Treat the servers with respect - don't overload any one section.. And try not to overload a new server. They will need some time to learn the ropes.
A good restaurant takes all these things into consideration. If the hostess doesn't do a good job seating, the servers can't keep up, which causes customer complaints...
If you need assistance, ask! I can relate. I am kinda shy/timid, but people always tell me that I'm really personable. Soo, Be personable, polite, smile a lot...etc. I think smiling makes people feel immediately at ease, so I'd got with that first. Always be courteous/respectful to people in a higher position, you never know, they could put a "good word" in for you!
Hope I helped :D They must have some sort of training. I know when I was 16 and took my first job at Red Lobster as a hostess, they had you follow a seasoned hostess. They can't expect you to know how to seat and in which sections without any training.
It is really easy and after a few times, you;ll get the hang of it and not stumble over your words. When you see someone coming into the door, walk towards them and say "Hi, Welcome to ___________. How many in your party this evening?" Trust me, you will most likely be following someone your first night.
Call your new manager and explain to her/him that you are wondering what type of training they have.
Good luck! Oh honey, it'll be ok. Just go with the flow and smile smile smile......I worked at a coffee shop...I remember my first day solo.....I just kept telling myself, as the line kept growing and growing, that 'I can only do what I can do....' It doesn't help to stress out about it...as a matter of fact...it'll show on your face...so DON'T stress....smile, welcome them to the restaurant, ask how many in their party....and enjoy the experience..... you'll have it down in no time...and you'll laugh when you think about how nervous you were...especially when you're training the next newby that they hire....have fun The best thing to do is talk to your manager privately, Explain to him or her that you want to make sure you do a good job and that you were wondering if there are certain things that you should ask or tell customers. Managers would rather you ask questions instead of doing your job incorrectly. But the thing is to relax! Customers generally are not mean people; they are just hungry!