How to Become a Hostess

The hospitality industry requires people who are hard working, enthusiastic, and concerned about the customer's comfort. If you're looking to become a restaurant hostess, this page can help. Read on to learn how to become a hostess.

Introduction

A host or hostess greets the customers as they arrive at the restaurant, matches them with a server, and is available to make sure they have a pleasant stay. In order to become a hostess, it is helpful to have some experience working in a restaurant. You also need to present a polished and professional image, as you are the first contact the customer has with the restaurant.

Step 1: Get a Job As a Waitress

Creative Commons photo by LAYeiser

While not essential, experience as a server is very helpful when working as a hostess. One of the main responsibilities of a host or hostess is to match guests with available tables. To do this, they need to understand the server's job responsibilities, so they can assess whether or not they can effectively take on an additional table. If the hostess makes the wrong decision, the customer's experience will be adversely affected. Having prior experience in the trenches helps the host or hostess with this aspect of the job.

Step 2: Polish Your Image

Although formal education is not required to be a hostess, it is important that they be well versed in etiquette, displaying good manners at all times. A host or hostess should also have a good command of the English language, with proper diction and grammar. If the restaurant is located in an ethnic area, where there is a large population of non-English speakers, the host or hostess would ideally be fluent in the local tongue as well. The host or hostess should also be neat, clean, and well dressed.

Step 3: Apply for the Opportunity

Hostesses may be promoted from the existing wait staff, or hired directly into the position. Newspapers, internet job boards, and word of mouth are all good ways to locate job openings..

Conclusion

If you'd like to become a hostess, you should have some restaurant experience, and be able to present a professional image when dealing with customers. While not a lucrative position, it can be a doorway to further opportunities in the hospitality industry.