Jobs for Teens in Restaurants

Restaurants often look at teenagers to join their staff.

Teenagers looking to find work in the restaurant business will find plenty of options available. Several entry-level positions are suitable for teenagers both at the front and back of the house (dining and kitchen areas). These positions are typically low-paying roles, but hold potential for higher paying work if performance quality is there.

Hosts

Restaurants that employ hosts will often hire younger teenagers to fill these positions. Some restaurants will employ teenagers as young as fourteen or fifteen years old. The duties of this position include greeting and thanking guests, seating guests, operating a seating chart, answering phones, taking reservations and sometimes take-out orders, and assisting waiters in times of high volume.

Waiters

Often waiters are employed only if they are 18 or older; however, depending on the establishment, teenagers as young as 16 might be permitted. Waiters work in a high-paced environment where multi-tasking places an important role. Some of the duties include taking orders, answering menu questions, delivering food items and drinks, itemizing checks, stocking service areas, replenishing items on tables and taking care of all the customer's needs.

Bussers

Bussers are responsible for clearing all dishes, glasses and silverware from the table after the guests have finished. In addition, they are required to set up the table for the next guests including laying out glasses, silverware and napkins. They may also be required to clean other areas of the dining room.

Prep Cooks

A prep cook is an entry-level position whose responsibility is to assist in the preparation of meals. This might include preparing salads or entrees, chopping fruits or vegetables, checking food temperatures and storing leftover food properly.

Cashiers

Sometimes restaurants employ a specific worker to work the cash register, especially in fast food. Cashier duties include ringing up bills and accepting payment (in many forms), giving tips to waiters, balancing the register at the end of the evening. Some fast food cashiers have to take orders and deliver food as well.

Dishwashers

Dishwashing staff are back-of-the-house workers who make sure the kitchen is stocked with clean dishes, glasses, silverware, pots and pans and cooking utensils. Additional duties may include housekeeping, such as mopping, sweeping, taking out the trash, etc.

References

• Better Living Ideas: Jobs for Teenagers
• Restaurant Job Descriptions