Did you know the restaurant industry is one of the biggest employers in the U.S., with over 15.7 million people working in it? Because no matter how much tech restaurants bring in to cut labor costs, there’s one thing diners value above all else - genuine human hospitality - warm smiles and friendly service matter far more to customers than self-order kiosks or robotic servers.

For you, this means plenty of opportunities but also tough competition - especially when you have no prior experience. The good news? Many restaurants value enthusiasm and a willingness to learn over formal qualifications, giving you the chance to start small, grow your skills, and climb the ranks as you prove yourself.

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Know the different roles of a restaurant

While management positions are typically out of reach for beginners, there are five key roles you’ll encounter. Familiarizing yourself with these can help you determine the best fit and prepare for interviews.

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Busser 

Bussers clear and reset tables to ensure the dining area is ready for the next guests while supporting cleanliness throughout the restaurant.

As a busser, you will be

• Clearing tables: Removing used dishes, glassware, and utensils once guests finish.
• Resetting tables: Wiping down and re-setting tables with fresh linens, utensils, and condiments.
• Maintaining cleanliness: Ensuring the dining area is tidy by sweeping, mopping, or wiping surfaces.
• Supporting servers: Assisting with delivering food or beverages and restocking supplies when needed.

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Host/Hostess

Hosts manage the flow of customers by organizing reservations, assigning tables, and warmly welcoming guests to set the tone for their dining experience.

As a host, you will be

• Greeting guests: Offering a warm welcome upon arrival and thanking them as they leave.
• Managing reservations: Handling bookings, phone calls, and waitlists efficiently.
• Seating guests: Escorting customers to their tables and providing menus.
• Monitoring guest flow: Balancing table assignments to maximize seating while avoiding overcrowding.
• Handling initial concerns: Addressing minor guest issues and escalating bigger problems to management when necessary.

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Food runner

Food runners are responsible for delivering food and drinks from the kitchen/bar to the correct tables quickly and accurately while assisting servers with additional tasks.

As a food runner, you will be

• Delivering orders: Bringing food and drinks from the kitchen to tables, ensuring correct presentation.
• Assisting servers: Clearing used plates, fetching extra utensils, or handling specific requests.
• Communicating with kitchen staff: Relaying special requests, dietary restrictions, or order changes.
• Following safety standards: Maintaining hygiene practices when handling food items.

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Server

Servers oversee their assigned tables, take food and drink orders, ensure a smooth dining experience, and handle payment transactions at the end of the meal.

As a server, you will be

• Presenting menus: Informing guests about daily specials and assisting with menu choices.
• Upselling food items: Suggest additional options that complement the customer's actual order, enhancing the dining experience and increasing sales. 
• Taking orders: Accurately recording and relaying food and drink orders, including special requests.
• Serving food and beverages: Delivering meals and drinks promptly, ensuring proper presentation.
• Monitoring tables: Checking in regularly to ensure guests are satisfied and addressing issues promptly.
• Processing payments: Handling bills, processing transactions, and managing cash or credit payments.
• Coordinating with staff: Working closely with food runners and kitchen staff to ensure timely service.

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Bartender

Bartenders prepare drinks for customers and servers while maintaining the bar area, managing inventory, and ensuring compliance with alcohol regulations.

As a bartender, you will be

• Preparing beverages: Mixing and serving drinks based on recipes or customer preferences.
• Engaging with customers: Providing friendly service, making recommendations, and addressing concerns.
• Managing inventory: Monitoring stock levels of alcohol, mixers, and supplies and restocking when needed.
• Maintaining cleanliness: Keeping the bar area tidy, washing glassware, and ensuring hygiene standards are met.
• Taking payments: Managing tabs and ensuring accurate billing.
• Ensuring compliance: Verifying IDs for legal drinking age and monitoring alcohol consumption responsibly.

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Understand income and difficulty for each position

As in any industry, roles that demand more responsibilities tend to pay higher. So, when getting a restaurant job with no experience, you’ll need to start with an entry-level role and a lower pay rate. The exact amount depends on factors like the restaurant’s location, its popularity, and the tipping culture. 

Tips, in particular, can significantly boost your overall income and vary greatly between roles.

Interestingly, some roles at a restaurant may offer similar pay but differ in difficulty, making it important to choose wisely when starting out.

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Entry level roles 

Bussing and food running are solid starting points, with both averaging $14/hour. While they pay roughly the same, bussing is the easier option because bussers do more predictable tasks like clearing and resetting tables. On the other hand, food runners face the added pressure of delivering meals quickly and maintaining hygiene, which becomes especially challenging during peak hours.

Overall, both positions involve limited guest interaction and require no extensive menu knowledge, making them beginner-friendly roles.

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Mid-level hospitality roles

Host or hostess positions, averaging $15/hour, are a step up in complexity. These roles don’t involve heavy lifting but demand strong people skills to greet guests, manage reservations, and coordinate seating arrangements.

If you’re good at staying organized and maintaining a calm demeanor during busy hours, hosting can be an excellent way to get your foot in the door. It's a relatively low-stress role but requires confidence and a knack for making guests feel welcome.

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Advanced service roles

Servers and bartenders are among the most rewarding roles in terms of pay, with averages of around $20/hour plus tips. 

It's hard but possible to land a serving job as your first restaurant position. For better chances, we recommend you take the time to familiarize yourself with the restaurant’s menu, work culture, and basic service lingos. Also, as a newbie, opting for less hectic establishments is a smart move to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Bartending, however, is the most advanced and competitive role. It requires expertise in mixing drinks, handling cash, and creating a lively yet professional atmosphere at the bar. Not to mention that you’d have to juggle multiple orders while maintaining accuracy and speed, making it a high-pressure job.

Determine the roles that work for you

The role you choose should align with how you like to work.

If you’re okay with being on your feet, hustling between tables, and handling the occasional mess, bussing and food running are great entry-level options. These positions let you focus on the task at hand without the pressure of engaging with guests.

On the flip side, if you prefer a more organized, customer-facing role where you can showcase your social skills and manage guest experiences, hosting might be a better fit. Hosts deal with a variety of customers, handle reservations, and keep the flow of the restaurant steady without the physical back-and-forth of runners or bussers.

As for serving and bartending, these are roles that typically require you to work your way up. They come with higher pay and more responsibility but are not usually offered to beginners.

With this insight, you can make an informed decision about which roles suit your skills and preferences. For example, while the income of a server may sound appealing, you might need to start as a food runner to get your foot in the door. So, reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, expertise, and comfort levels - and don’t forget to consider the competition in your area when deciding where to apply.

Prepare a strong resume

A well-crafted resume can make or break your chances of landing a restaurant job. 

Even if you don’t have direct experience, you can still create an impressive resume by focusing on your transferable skills and overall work history. Include all previous jobs, highlighting the ones where you stayed the longest - managers pay close attention to consistency and reliability. If you’ve had any kind of customer service experience before, make sure to emphasize that, as it’s a big advantage in the restaurant industry.

Tailor your resume to the specific restaurant you’re applying to. Think about what the role demands based on the type of establishment - fine dining, for instance, has higher standards for professionalism and skill compared to casual dining. A tailored approach shows you’ve done your homework and are serious about the position.

If you’re unsure where to start, using a resume builder can help you organize your skills and experience into a professional format.

Lastly,  any relevant education or certifications could further improve your chances of being considered - especially valuable for bartending roles, where knowing your way around drink recipes or possessing a TIPS certification can give you a head start. In fact, having this knowledge could help you land a starter bartending role and grow your skills on the job.

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Submit your application in person

Restaurant managers get flooded with online applications every time they post a job. So, to stand out and actually get noticed, skip the online queue and drop off your application in person.

Pick a quiet time - definitely not during a dinner rush or on a Friday night - and ask to speak with the manager about the position. This simple step shows you’re serious and sets you apart from the crowd who just hit “submit” online from behind their screens.

In all, walking in with your resume shows initiative and makes you more memorable, giving you a much better shot at landing that interview.

Apply for every role you'd be willing to work

The restaurant industry is competitive, so limiting yourself to just one or two applications won’t be any good. Instead, casting a wider net gives you better odds of landing a job and opens up more options for things like pay rates, tipping systems, working hours, and responsibilities.

For example, applying to 5-6 places (or even more) means you’re more likely to get offers with a variety of perks and flexibility. 

Although this is not what we recommend for most other industries, in restaurants, it’s best to apply every spot you’d be willing to work at. Once the responses roll in, you can pick the best fit for you.

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Leverage any connections you have

Getting a restaurant job without any connections is totally doable, but having a few can definitely give you a leg up. A lot of restaurant workers say friends tend to get hired first. So if you know someone in the industry, use it to your advantage!

It doesn’t have to be a close friend – even a friend of a friend can help get your foot in the door. Basically, if someone can vouch for you, you're more likely to stand out over other applicants.

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Practice common interview questions and responses

When applying for your first restaurant job, getting familiar with common interview questions will give you a head start. Here’s how to nail some key questions:

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1. "Why do you want to work here?"

This isn’t a question you can answer with a generic, "I need money for college." 

Managers want to know why you’re specifically interested in their restaurant. For instance, if the restaurant is busy, you can say, "I’m looking for a fast-paced environment where I can stay busy and improve my multitasking skills." 

On the other hand, if the restaurant is more laid-back, you could say, "I prefer a quieter environment where I can focus on providing top-notch service to a smaller group of customers."

To set yourself apart, do some research. If the restaurant has a good reputation or strong reviews, mention that, like "I’ve heard great things about this place, especially from online reviews. I love that you focus on high-quality customer service, and I’d love to be part of a team that prioritizes that."

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2. "What do you know about our menu?"

When you don’t have prior experience, showing that you’ve taken time to familiarize yourself with the menu will set you apart.

Look through the restaurant's menu and highlight a few dishes that stand out to you. For example, if you’re vegan,  you might say, "I noticed your roasted cauliflower steak with quinoa salad  -  as a vegan, I really appreciate how you offer creative plant-based options. I’d love to learn more about the ingredients you use."

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3. "Have you served before?"

If you don’t have experience, don’t just say “no” -  pair it with a skill or trait that makes you a strong candidate. For example, instead of saying, “I’ve never served before,” try, “I’ve never been a server, but I’m excellent at multitasking and love talking to new people, so I think I would enjoy the role and adapt quickly.”

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4. "Why are you a good fit for this role?"

Managers want to know what you can bring to the team. Highlight your strengths and match them to the job.

 If you're applying for a server position, you could say something like, “I’m very organized and enjoy working under pressure, so I think I’d thrive in a server role. I also have great communication skills, which I know are key when dealing with both customers and kitchen staff.” 

If you’re applying for a role like a food runner, mention your ability to keep things moving quickly and stay organized.

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5. Situational or Hypothetical Questions

Be ready for questions like, "Tell me about a time you turned a bad situation into a good one," or "What would you do if a customer was upset about a long wait?" These are designed to gauge how you think on your feet. 

You can either give a real-life example from previous jobs (even non-restaurant ones) or discuss how you would approach the situation. For example, "If I were serving a table and the food took longer than expected, I’d keep the customer updated, apologize for the wait, and offer something like a free drink or dessert to make up for it."

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7. Review the Company and Culture

Before the interview, look into the place’s values, culture, and reputation. 

When asked, "Why do you think you'd be a good fit here?" you could respond with something like, "I really admire your commitment to sustainability, and I feel like my personal values align with that. I’m excited to work in a place that takes care of both customers and the environment." 

Knowing about their POS system? Mention it, like "I have experience using POS systems, and I’m comfortable learning new ones quickly."

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8. Work Hours and Availability

Restaurants will often ask about your availability, so be clear on when you can work. Expect questions like, "What shifts are you available to work?" Be upfront and flexible, if possible. It shows you’re committed and serious about the role.

If your availability is complicated, bring a printed copy of when you can work. It’s much easier than “I’m available Mondays from 2:00 pm, Thursdays from 5:00 pm…” etc.

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Dress appropriately for the interview

For a restaurant job interview, aim for business casual. A pair of slacks and a button-up shirt will do - no need for a suit and tie. The goal is to show you’re serious about the job, and a polished look goes a long way in making a strong first impression.

Follow up after your interview

If you haven’t heard back after your interview, a polite follow-up can show your continued interest. 

Stop by the restaurant with a hard copy of your resume to reinforce your professionalism. But before showing up, call ahead to ask when would be a good time to visit, showing respect for the manager’s time. 

During your visit, take note of the restaurant’s atmosphere - this can be useful in follow-up conversations and shows you’re engaged with the environment.

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