Waiter/Waitress, Captain Career

*A job as a Waiter/Waitress, Captain falls under the broader career category of First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers. The information on this page will generally apply to all careers in this category but may not specifically apply to this career title.

Job Description for First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers : Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.


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First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker Career

What First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers do:

  • Assign duties, responsibilities, and work stations to employees in accordance with work requirements.
  • Train workers in food preparation, and in service, sanitation, and safety procedures.
  • Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas to ensure efficient service and conformance to standards.
  • Supervise and participate in kitchen and dining area cleaning activities.
  • Observe and evaluate workers and work procedures to ensure quality standards and service, and complete disciplinary write-ups.
  • Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.
  • Recommend measures for improving work procedures and worker performance to increase service quality and enhance job safety.
  • Control inventories of food, equipment, smallware, and liquor, and report shortages to designated personnel.
  • Record production, operational, and personnel data on specified forms.
  • Perform food preparation and serving duties, such as carving meat, preparing flambe dishes, or serving wine and liquor.
  • Perform various financial activities, such as cash handling, deposit preparation, and payroll.
  • Specify food portions and courses, production and time sequences, and workstation and equipment arrangements.
  • Compile and balance cash receipts at the end of the day or shift.
  • Forecast staff, equipment, and supply requirements, based on a master menu.
  • Analyze operational problems, such as theft and wastage, and establish procedures to alleviate these problems.
  • Perform personnel actions, such as hiring and firing staff, providing employee orientation and training, and conducting supervisory activities, such as creating work schedules or organizing employee time sheets.
  • Present bills and accept payments.
  • Estimate ingredients and supplies required to prepare a recipe.
  • Develop equipment maintenance schedules and arrange for repairs.
  • Evaluate new products for usefulness and suitability.
  • Greet and seat guests, and present menus and wine lists.
  • Conduct meetings and collaborate with other personnel for menu planning, serving arrangements, and related details.
  • Purchase or requisition supplies and equipment needed to ensure quality and timely delivery of services.
  • Develop departmental objectives, budgets, policies, procedures, and strategies.
  • Schedule parties and take reservations.
  • Assess nutritional needs of patients, plan special menus, supervise the assembly of regular and special diet trays, and oversee the delivery of food trolleys to hospital patients.

What work activities are most important?

Importance Activities

Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

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.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

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 materials.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Holland Code Chart for a First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker