Your Server

How long were you a hostess before you became a server at a restaurant?

I have no experience as a server and although I'd prefer to skip hosting it seems like that's hopeless. So if I have to back peddle a bit and work as a hostess I want a commitment from this company to move me to server ASAP! Was anyone able to get a job as a server without experience? How long were you a host before you got moved to server? And let's assume that I'm sharp, and I bust my butt. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. You typically start off as a server and then become host/hostess. A host position is wayy better than a serving position. It's more prestigious and normally pays more.
2. Servers make way more than hostesses. I was a hostess for about six months before moving into a cocktail server position and then a server in the dining room.
3. You'll be a host for atleast 6 months maybe even a year before they even think about promoting you to a server position. I got a job at Olive Garden as a server without any prior experience because I lied and said i was a busser at a private coffee shop. little lie won't hurt anyone if you're sharp and you bust your butt.
4. It really depends on the restaurant and the manager. Don't expect a commitment to become a server, or that they will necessarily stick by it. Make it clear to them that you want to be a server, offer to train and fill in when someone misses work, etc. Keep your eyes open so you see what the servers do. Apply to restaurants (like Islands) where you see many young servers, that would indicate they hire less experienced servers. At first you may have to take certain hours to work during the slow times to become a server. I was a server and never a hostess, but I spoke to a lot of servers and managers before to ask about their job, figured out what I needed to do and say to be employed, and since I'd owned a business for years I came off as confident and competent. I memorized cocktails from a bartender's recipe book so I knew what they looked like because cocktails was where the money was back then. (I was actually working as a server for experience in the restaurant industry.) I loved being a cocktail server, it was like party time for me. I worked serving food for a bit but didn't like it as much, but definitely better than many jobs. It's very hard to get a server job now because people are not eating out and restaurants are going out of business, and so servers have been fired or laid off. Even restaurants with high income clientele are having big problems. Lots of experienced servers are looking for jobs. Good luck!