Are you planning an event and looking for tips on hiring? You’ve come to the right place.
Job descriptions are critical first points of contact in the server hiring process. That’s why we’ve put together this article on how to create engaging and informative job descriptions to attract prospective employees for your catering business.
Follow along and we’ll help you write a banquet server job description, including all the relevant banquet server duties, qualifications, and more.
What Is A Banquet Server Job Description?
Banquet servers are a part of the waitstaff at events. The job entails helping set up, serving food and drinks, and maintaining quality customer service.
The event planner or caterer’s first step is to create a job description. Writing a specific job description that details your requirements will help target quality candidates that fit your description. The job description will then be posted on job boards and social media sites to attract prospective employees.
The Elements of a Banquet Server Job Description
There are four basic elements of any banquet or catering server job description: the job title, the job summary, the duties and responsibilities section, and the qualifications and skills section.
The best banquet server job descriptions also include job type, pay, and an equal opportunity employment (EEO) disclaimer.
Job Title
Job titles should be concise and informative, not fun. Catchy, unique titles may sound like a good idea, but they limit the number of prospective employees who see your post on job boards.
Job boards work based on keywords like search engines. There isn’t much room for creative job titles like Beverage Dissemination Officer or Field Nourishment Consultant. Your job listing will go unseen or confuse potential candidates. Instead, try a job title from our list below.
Job title examples:
- Banquet Server
- Banquet Server (1+ Year Experience)
- Catering Server
- Bartender/Server
- Waitstaff
- Dining Server
Summary
The job summary is a brief introduction to the position. The summary contains details about the hiring company, its mission, and culture.
We compiled a few questions to help you determine what unique information you may want to add to the summary.
Summaries can answer the questions:
- Why are you looking for servers?
- What are the major functions of the job?
- Why would a candidate be interested in the role?
- Are there any cool perks (free food, etc.)?
Duties & Responsibilities
The most important part of the job summary is the duties and responsibilities section. It should contain the primary duties and responsibilities of the position, not an exhaustive list of all the possible tasks a server might perform. This list should also be as specific to your event.
We’ve included general banquet server duties and responsibilities that you could easily make specific to your event.
Common banquet server duties:
- Attend pre-event meetings
- Set up for event
- Assist with food preparation
- Dress to event standards
- Memorize event menus
- Serve food and beverages
- Clear tables
- Clean up after the event
- Demonstrate excellent customer service
Skills & Qualifications
Next, outline the required basic skills and qualifications for the position—from the physical requirements, such as lifting heavy objects or standing for an extended period, to necessary licensing, like food handler’s cards.
For a banquet server job description, the skills and qualifications section is separated by general job skills and physical requirements.
General skills and qualifications:
- Willingness to work nights and weekends
- Adherence to dress code and grooming standards
- Access to reliable transportation
- Strong customer service skills
- Minimum 18 years of age
- The ability to work in a team environment
- Food handler’s card or the ability to get one
- Previous catering experience, preferred
- High school diploma/GED, preferred
Physical requirements:
- Stand and walk for extended periods
- Frequently lift/carry up to 25 lbs.
- Occasionally lift/carry up to 50 lbs.
- Climb and descend stairs
- Bend, stoop and kneel
The basic qualifications help candidates, event planners, and caterers determine if they will perform well on the event day. However, if a candidate excels in an area but doesn’t meet certain qualifications, the hiring manager may consider adjusting the role to their strengths.
Job Type
Your job description should clarify the type of job you’re hiring. Advertising for a server role without putting that it is only for a single event might end up wasting candidates’ time.
The three main types of jobs are part-time, full-time, and independent contractors.
Pay
You can also include a pay range for your banquet server job descriptions.
Not all employers choose to include pay, but, according to Monica Lewis, head of product for Linkedin Jobs, “when people are looking at job descriptions, they are looking for the details that drive their motivations when changing jobs.”
In a recent Linkedin study on what candidates want during the job hunt, over 70% of people said they want to hear about salary more than anything else.
The average hourly salary of a banquet server in the US is $15.28. However, the pay grade will increase for experienced servers. You may want to list a salary range on your job posting to draw experienced candidates.
EEO Disclaimer
An equal employment opportunity (EEO) disclaimer should be included in every job description in the US. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has made it a legal requirement for most companies with over 15 employees.
Banquet Server Job Description Example
Banquet Server (1+ Year Experience)
[Catering company] is seeking full-time banquet servers for its busy banquet schedule.
[Catering company] is a small-business based in [City]. We enthusiastically share our dishes made with nothing but love and talent. We hope by joining our team, you’ll also grow an appreciation for international cuisine.
Banquet servers will be responsible for setting up assigned tables for our banquet functions. Servers will enthusiastically serve our guests, ensuring they have everything they desire, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and food orders.
[Catering company] offers a competitive hourly rate and a generous PTO policy. Full-time employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, and a 2% match 401K plan. All employees are eligible for a free meal for every shift work and a free bus pass.
[Catering company] is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and offer a drug-free work environment.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for setting up tables and buffet using linen, china, glass, and silverware
- Clear tables and buffets using trays and tray stands
- Serve banquet guests according to the server training manual
- Maintain proper grooming standards and abide by the uniform policy outlined in the employee handbook
Qualifications/Skills
- 1+ year working knowledge of the appropriate table settings, service ware, and menu items
- Ability to work in a team setting
- Ability to read, speak and write English in order to understand menus and special promotions, professionally communicate with guests, assist guests with special requests, and take orders.
- Ability to frequently lift/carry 25 lbs.
Compensation
- $15 hourly rate
- 401K plan with 2% match
A Better Way to Hire Banquet Servers
Writing job descriptions is time-consuming, but even more stressful is reading hundreds of resumes and interviewing dozens of candidates.
If you’re using traditional job boards to find banquet servers, there’s a better way. It’s called Qwick.
It’s 2022—why not take advantage of the gig economy for quickly finding event staff? The flexibility is perfect for the catering industry!
Most event planners don’t have the excess funds in their budget, the free time, or the appropriate resources to dedicate to hiring banquet servers. That’s where on-demand staffing can help fill event personnel needs—fast.
At Qwick, our on-demand staffing platform lets you post a shift at the click of a button. Then, pre-vetted Qwick professionals will answer the call, and you’ll have a fully staffed event without the hassle of hiring.
No more interviewing banquet server candidates or sending hundreds of emails, it’s all taken care of with Qwick’s easy-to-use platform.
Life as an event planner will be a lot easier with all your staffing needs covered. Get started with Qwick today.
