According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints. | 92% |
| Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment. | 92% |
| Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary. | 92% |
| Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders. | 91% |
| Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary. | 91% |
| Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper. | 91% |
| Balance receipts and payments in cash registers. | 91% |
| Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars. | 90% |
| Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures. | 90% |
| Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas. | 90% |
| Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory. | 88% |
| Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food. | 87% |
| Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages. | 87% |
| Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing. | 87% |
| Distribute food to servers. | 87% |
| Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals. | 87% |
| Set up dining areas for meals, and clear them following meals. | 87% |
| Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions. | 86% |
| Wrap menu items such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout. | 86% |
| Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders. | 85% |
| Prepare and serve cold drinks, frozen milk drinks, or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen-custard machines. | 84% |
| Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready. | 84% |
| Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags. | 83% |
| Replenish foods at serving stations. | 81% |
| Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions. | 77% |
| Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs. | 75% |
| Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees. | 74% |
| Arrange reservations for patrons of dining establishments. | 52% |
