- Home
- My Career Path
- Fast Food and Counter Workers
Fast Food and Counter Workers
Also called : Cafe Server, Cafeteria Server, Cafeteria Worker, Deli Worker (Delicatessen Worker), Food Server, Food Service Assistant, Food Service Worker, Prep Cook (Preparation Cook), School Cafeteria Cook, Serv
What they do
Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.
On the job, one would
- Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
- Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
- Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.
- Perform cleaning duties such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
- Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
KNOWLEDGE
- Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Food Production
Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
SKILLS
- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
ABILITIES
- Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
PERSONALITY
People interested in this work, will do well at jobs that need;
- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
- Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Social Orientation
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
TECHNOLOGY
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Office suite software
- Operating system software
- Point of sale POS software
- Spreadsheet software
- Web page creation and editing software
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Preparation
Little or No Preparation Needed
- Education
High school diploma.
- Experience
Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
- Jobtraining
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.