As a professional aspiring to work in the restaurant industry, you must be wondering about the top 10 skills that employers look at while hiring restaurant employees. However, that’s not the case because there is no definite list of the top 10 must-have skills for restaurant employees that employers refer to.   

There are different operations in the restaurant, and the skillsets required to handle a particular task in the back of the house will differ from those required to complete tasks associated with the front of the house.  

Usually, the employee assesses a candidate based on hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are dynamic but soft skills are important to assess whether a particular candidate can become a part of the team and seamlessly mould into the bustling restaurant environment. 

Hence, we have mentioned the top 10 soft skills that a restaurant manager or hiring professional looks for in candidates when hiring employees or staff. 

Skills for Restaurant Employees

Restaurant employees should be competent enough to facilitate customer experiences and eventually lead to high customer satisfaction that will have a positive impact on business productivity. Here are some basic skills restaurant employee should be equipped with.

1. Communication Skills

Effective communication is the most important skill that restaurants require to operate their businesses. People who express correct information through verbal and nonverbal communication are the real players in this business arena. Communication skills consist of verbal and nonverbal skills. 

Here are some things that an ideal candidate should have. 

• Ability to express their thoughts and concerns in a friendly and simple manner. 
• Talk to customers politely, focusing more on listening and responding rather than reacting. 
• Maintain and monitor the posture and expression to demonstrate friendliness to the customers.
• Do not present themselves in negative actions like eye-rolling.
• Maintain a moderate voice volume and tone.

The candidate should maintain responsible communication with co-workers and customers by choosing the right words, facial expressions, and body language, which will help to resolve the conflict if it arises. 

2. Teamwork and Collaboration

Every member of the restaurant staff should have teamwork and collaboration skills. You should learn to respect and trust each other, communicate effectively, work together, and thus be devoted to the common cause of serving the customers better. 

One has to communicate, listen, respect, and feel the circumstances or points of view of others, whether co-workers, senior management, or customers. Tasks will take less time to complete if you spend more time working in groups and sharing tasks and duties. Working and collaborating effectively with your colleagues can eventually create a positive environment at your workplace. 

The coordination between the front desk and the housekeeping staff is an outstanding example of teamwork and collaboration.

3. Customer Service Skills

Customer service is one of the most important soft skills in restaurants since it defines how employees treat customers. This has a significant impact on business success, especially since consumers frequently leave reviews online. 

However, outstanding customer service extends beyond being kind and compassionate. It requires interconnecting your customer service and communication skills. Rapid feedback, attentive listening to remarks, and proactive thinking that anticipates client requirements are all essential components of effective communication in the food industry. 

You must have the following customer service skills for an efficient service:

• Be polite and friendly, and always remember to greet them by name.
• Try to give your best while accommodating their request.
• Pay close attention while taking their order.
• Be knowledgeable about the menu.
• Train yourself to become upsell without being pushy or salesy.

You can foster loyalty by telling customers about additional promotions that are available but they aren’t aware of. Also, always pay attention to the customer’s check to ensure everything is organized.

4. Problem-Solving Skills

As a restaurant worker, you might encounter problems several times, such as finding a certain local wine for a hotel visitor, solving a problem with a double-booked restaurant table, or even conflicts between customers and staff.

Knowing how to take the initiative in resolving such problems can be one of the most rewarding parts of business. 96% of customers said that great customer service made them more likely to be loyal to a brand, according to the State of Global Customer Service Report 2017. The following are ways that restaurant workers can exercise their problem-solving skills.

• Frontline employees must be able to analyze possibilities and make decisions that are in the best interests of the organization.
• They must also be able to predict possible issues and create responses appropriately.
• Decision-making requires the ability to think critically while making decisions that are consistent with the company’s beliefs and objectives.

Furthermore, frontline workers must be able to make conclusions that benefit the customer. Otherwise, it is best to be quick and tell the incident to the manager if you aren’t able to handle the customer’s queries. 

5. Multitasking and Time Management

Effective time management and multitasking are interlinked and are both required in restaurants. Restaurant employees must learn how to prioritize tasks while handling multiple assignments at once without getting confused or overwhelmed.

In an industry where customers come in and out often, restaurant staff must work on their multitasking abilities. Furthermore, you should understand time management so that you can plan ahead of time, delegate responsibilities as required, prioritize tasks according to their importance and get to know what to do with the little amount of time there is remaining.

Despite being disorganized, these skills can be learned and put into practice. You may learn how to use tools like apps, calendars, and lists that can help with scheduling, planning, tasking, and time management.

6. Attention to Detail

Every restaurant worker should understand that attention to detail is crucial in this industry. Has someone been trying to sign you up or desire a table? Has there been no more chilled drinks for the organisms? Just before supper, is the dining space disorganized? Such abilities are important in making a great restaurant employee since they enable one’s eyes to pick such happenings around the places where they happen.

Fortunately, it is possible to train yourself and improve your ability to observe closely while becoming aware of tiny things regarding your job. Keep a checklist of all that you have to remember, and review it periodically while you are working. Use mindfulness skills to avoid distractions and pay attention to everything coming from the room.

7. Adaptability and Flexibility

The restaurant industry is a profession that often involves handling unexpected situations. Shifts are often scheduled differently every week; people may have customers who could ask for something outside their usual thinking, among other things. 

The skills to adapt go hand in hand with your multitasking abilities, determination, and imagination. You will discover that adapting becomes much easier for you if you put all of your effort into these aspects. 

In addition, changes within restaurant work involve unexpected or last-minute events; therefore, in order to cope with this ever-changing nature, an individual should always be ready for unexpected situations with flexible adjustment.

Strong flexibility abilities make you adaptive, understand how to set priorities, and communicate with people as you shift from one work to another. Staying cool under pressure is the characteristic of a great employee.

8. Technical Skills

Working effectively in restaurants also requires some basic technical skills, such as using POS (point of sale) systems and cash registers to facilitate credit and currency transactions with speed and accuracy, along with the ability to do the math in one’s head to generate change.

Hence, living in a world surrounded by tech gadgets and software, employees need to understand the new trends in technology. An employee is aware of all the recent evolutions happening in technology to streamline operations, and you should always remain open to learning new technologies to increase the depth of your knowledge. 

As a result, an employee would be able to learn about using mobile ordering apps, self-ordering kiosks, and contactless payments, among other things. Backed by such changes, you can streamline all the operating processes, enhance productivity, and equip the time-changing needs of the various customers.

9. Physical Stamina and Endurance

Believe it or not, there are over 2 million Google search results for the subject of “bartender injuries.”, according to a 7Shifts blog. Bartenders, much like any other employee in the restaurant business, are on their feet for a very long period and basically work with their hands. 

Restaurant workers can be more physically taxing than one might think; therefore, stamina and endurance are required. A good restaurant employee has both physical and mental stamina. An employee of this nature has to be physically fit—walking around for long periods, lifting, and carrying plates and chairs to move tables—but all of that work and smiling through it requires mental stamina.

10. Knowledge of Food Safety and Hygiene

Food safety is a critical aspect of any restaurant. A trained worker appreciates good hygiene, handling, and preservation of foodstuffs. They are aware of foodborne illnesses, how to prevent cross-contamination, and the correct temperatures for cooking and storing various foods. Following all the guidelines on food safety ensures that customers are able to enjoy safe, good food that is devoid of health risks.

One could consider holding frequent workshops or seminars led by food safety training professionals as part of the initiative to keep the staff updated on the changing regulations within the industry. Continuous training is believed to make employees more aware and mindful of food safety, which would reduce the tendency for contamination while ensuring a high degree of hygiene in the restaurant. 

The Bottom Line, 

Restaurant employees are among the most competent professionals available, especially when it comes to developing emotional intelligence along with soft skills. 

Although millions of people are employed in restaurants, the industry has an exceptionally high rate of turnover combined with low skill and training levels. The few who take the initiative to pursue and develop new restaurant skills set themselves apart from the myriad of employees working in restaurants. By doing so, they get to enjoy a long, rewarding, and successful life in the restaurant business.

Candidates who are aspiring to build a career in the restaurant industry should take online courses on building the core and soft skills needed to grab a job. Besides, it is best if you can learn the intricacies involved in restaurant management through an experienced senior. 

Soumyajit