Want to work in a restaurant, but unsure how to get a job without experience? Well look no further, our guide will help get you started.
Working in a restaurant is a great opportunity that comes with many perks. You meet new people, get free food and work a flexible schedule, all while learning valuable skills that will shape the way you work for the rest of your life. Working in a restaurant is a great first job, but like any job, it can be a little tricky without experience. So here’s our guide on how to get a job in a restaurant.
Step one: Figure out what role you want to play in the restaurant.
Every job in a restaurant is different, but they’re all equally important to the function of the business. It’s not set in stone, but usually where you begin your restaurant career determines where you move up. So consider what you’re currently interested in and where you’d like to end up later. If you begin as a host or busser – both entry level positions – you’ll develop the necessary skills to be promoted to server. If you begin as a dishwasher or prep cook, you could be on your way to becoming an Executive Chef.
Step two: Get your Food Handlers card already!
If you know you want to work in a food establishment, you need to get your food handlers card first. The certification is required and getting it done now will not only show that you’re proactive (which is a plus in a restaurant) it will provide you with the necessary knowledge to properly handle food and can be considered some experience. If it’s your first time ever taking a Food Handler test then start early so you have more time to study and take a practice test beforehand.
Step three: Prepare a resume.
Putting together a resume without any relevant experience can be difficult, but there are options! If you have never held a job before, create a functional resume. This is where you list any volunteer work or extracurricular activities where you learned some skills that could be of use in a restaurant. If you do have experience, but not in a restaurant, you can still do a functional resume or a chronological resume. Make sure to describe how your experience can relate to the job you’re applying for in a cover letter. Once you’ve created your resume you can easily upload and save it in your Poached account to make the next step a piece of cake.
One of the beautiful aspects of the restaurant industry is that anyone who wants to work in one and has a solid work ethic can find a job.
Step four: Hunt for a job
Once you have an idea of what job you want in a restaurant, passed your Food Handler test and have an uploaded resume, it’s time to search on Poached! (you can search at any point, but now you’re really ready). Poached makes it easy for job seekers to look for jobs — just select the Job Category to find the jobs that most interest you. When you find some jobs that speak to you, just select Apply and you’re good to go! We’ll keep you posted on the status of your application so you’re always aware.
Step five: Prepare for an interview
When you submit an application and an employer is interested in setting up an interview, they will message you within the Poached messaging interface. This is when it’s time to start preparing for an interview. Begin by doing some research on the restaurant to have a general idea of the business. Then find some mock interview questions and practice how you might answer them. You can either do this with a friend or practice in front of a mirror. Lastly, don’t forget to come up with a few questions of your own! Interviews are just as much for you as they are for the employer. Come up with some questions that will give you a good idea of the business and if it will be a good fit for you.
And that’s how to get a job in a restaurant! One of the beautiful aspects of the restaurant industry is that anyone who wants to work in one and has a solid work ethic can find a job. While some higher up positions take skill and experience, there are plenty of entry level positions and room to learn. So start looking for your first job now!
