Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

The Work

Before a restaurant is open or before the guests arrive at a function (such as a wedding) the waiting staff may have several jobs to do.

As a waiter/waitress you might have to put out tablecloths, napkins, cutlery, crockery and table decorations. The cutlery and glasses might have to be polished and you must also ensure that each table has a full set of condiments (i.e. salt, pepper etc.) and that any other equipment is clean and ready.

Once the restaurant is open and guests start to arrive it is your job to make sure that they feel welcome, show them to their tables and possibly hang up their coats. Although sometimes this is the job of a head waiter and/or Restaurant Supervisor.

When people sit down you show them a menu and ask if they would like a drink. You answer any questions about the menu and let them know of any special offers or dishes available for that day. You take orders for meals and hand them in to the kitchen. In some restaurants, you should also be able to recommend the appropriate wines/drinks to complement the meal.

While guests are eating, you need to stay alert in case the diners ask for anything else or need to have their drinks glasses refilled.

Once the meal is over you clear and re-set the table, present the customers with their bill and deal with payments for meals, in the form of cash or credit card payments.

When the restaurant closes or the function ends, you clear the tables, put the linen aside for washing and generally help to tidy up.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
• Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and take action to correct any problems.
• Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
• Collect payments from customers.
• Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorise orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
• Prepare checks that itemise and total meal costs and sales taxes.
• Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
• Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
• Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
• Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.

Further Information

• Waiting (Food and Beverage) Staff - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

This is an entry level job, where qualifications may not be required. Waiting experience may not be necessary either, but some form of waiting or customer service experience would give you an advantage compared to applicants without such experience.Some restaurants offer training to their waiting staff, for training & development. 

Training & Development

Customer care

Silver Service

Barista training

As a waiter/waitress, there are a lot of opportunities for ‘career development’ as you can progress to a supervisor role, a restaurant manager (of one or more restaurants), or you may eventually decide to open your own restaurant.

You may progress on from a waiting position by building up experience and by undertaking additional responsibilities in the restaurant, as well as qualifications and training Search our FET Coursefinder 

There are further education courses, undergraduate, and postgraduate degrees in hospitality supervision and management which can help you progress in your career in the Tourism & Hospitality Sector.

Last Updated: October, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €35k

Salaries vary by employer, location, shift pattern, experience, duties, and role. 

Data Source(s):
Excel Recruitment/ Indeed/ WRC/ Gov.ie

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Although employment grew strongly for both waiters/waitresses and bar staff between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 12,000 persons employed combined, the numbers remained below preCOVID-19 levels. While waiters/waitresses were predominately female, the opposite was the case for bar staff with males accounting for the higher share.

Those aged 15-24 years accounted for the majority of persons employed as waiters/waitresses and bar staff, at 73% and 64% respectively; at least 75% of those employed in these occupations were working part-time. Both occupations had high volumes of recent job hires highlighting that job churn is a particular feature of these roles. Although issues with attracting candidates to the roles are evident, no shortages have been identified.

• Fáilte Ireland

  • Amiens Street, Dublin 1
  • (01) 884 7700
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• SIPTU (Services, Industrial, Professional, Technical Union)

  • Liberty Hall, Dublin 1
  • (01) 858 6300
  • Click Here

• Restaurant's Association of Ireland

  • 11 Bridge Court, Citygate, St Augustine Street, Dublin 8
  • 01 6779901
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here