Hostess Skills: Definition and Examples

A hostess is responsible for making sure the dining room runs smoothly. Some examples of skills needed in a hostess position include:

Excellent customer service

The hostess is the first point of contact with customers and is the person who sets the tone for the restaurant. They must remain professional and friendly and have the patience to work with all types of people. A good hostess will be able to keep their composure when confronted with rude customers and will even have the ability to resolve conflicts with customers. The hostess needs to promptly respond to the needs of customers and be able to take care of their requests.

Communication skills

The hostess not only interacts with the customers but also needs to have the communication skills to interact with the restaurant staff. Good communication skills are needed to address any problems in the dining room, whether it is letting a manager know how many people are waiting to get a table or letting the customers know how long they might have to wait. The hostess also has to communicate with the servers to let them know how many tables they have and how many people are at each table.

Organizational skills

The hostess has several tasks going on at the same time, so it is important to stay organized. In addition to seating walk-in customers, the hostess has to keep track of reservations, make sure the tables are cleared and set for the next party, and help out wherever needed.

Listening skills

A good host or hostess listens to customers and team members. Good listening skills allow you to understand what the customers want, without having to ask them to repeat themselves. Listening is also important with team members. You need to hear what the servers need and often work with other hosts and hostesses at the front of the house.

Ability to be a team player

Restaurants get busy, and it’s important for everyone to chip in to get the job done. A good hostess will see when the bussing staff needs an extra hand and help out when they can; they might even run food to tables if needed. This all needs to be done while keeping an eye on the door for incoming guests.

Ability to multitask

A hostess’s job responsibilities often go beyond the basics of greeting guests and bringing them to their seats. They are usually responsible for answering the phone and taking reservations, which includes making sure the restaurant has tables available for the new reservations. The job also includes taking to-go orders and putting the information into the computer system for the kitchen. With curbside delivery rising in popularity, walking orders out to cars and providing service to customers picking up their orders is also a significant part of the job.

Patience and composure

Working with the public takes patience, no matter what type of job you have, but it is essential for a hostess. Some guests are hard to please, but it is your job to make them comfortable and happy. It often takes a great deal of composure to accommodate difficult customers.

Computer skills

Every restaurant uses a point of sale system and has a procedure for opening and closing. The hostess often has to process customer payments, manage the cash in the register, and enter orders into the system. Proficient computer skills are necessary for almost any hostess job.

Excellent speaking skills

A good hostess must be able to speak clearly and enunciate while speaking with customers. Since you are the first point of contact when customers come in and are responsible for answering the phones, it’s important that you speak clearly and articulately without mumbling so the customers will understand you.

To perform effectively as a hostess and make sure all guests have the best possible experience, follow these tips for improving your hostess skills.

1. Get to know the guests. Many restaurants have regular customers. The more you know about each of the guests who walk in, the better you can serve them. Make notes about customers you see come in more than once to help you remember their preferences so you can be ready the next time they arrive.
2. Work on your communication skills. The best way to improve your communication skills is to listen, pay attention to body language, and maintain eye contact.
3. Develop organizational skills. Staying organized is essential as a hostess. Work on your organization by prioritizing tasks, and keeping a running tab of what needs to be accomplished. You can do this in your head, or write it down if needed.
4. Be confident. One of the toughest hurdles to overcome when learning a new job is confidence in your abilities. Tell yourself “you’ve got this” and start each shift with confidence in your ability to get the job done.
5. Work on staying positive during difficult and stressful situations. The fast pace of a busy restaurant can be stressful, so it’s important to stay positive, even when you have guests who have complaints. If things go wrong, work through them with a positive attitude and find a solution.
6. Practice looking for small details around the room. A good hostess sees what’s going on all around the dining room. Practice looking around at all the tables to see what customers might need or want.

Every hostess has the same basic responsibilities. Running the front of the house includes greeting guests, assigning servers, and filling in where needed. Hostess skills in the workplace include:

• Planning for service: Look at all the upcoming reservations, manage both online and in-house reservations, and assign tables as guests arrive.
• Keep track of table status: The hostess needs to know where each table is throughout service in order to keep the flow going.
• Greet and seat all guests with a smile: The most important responsibility of the hostess is to warmly greet every customer.
• Take to-go orders accurately and efficiently: Most restaurant hostesses man the phone lines and take the to-go orders.
• Coordinate with servers about available seating: The hostess needs to coordinate with all the servers to make sure they have the right number of tables. They often use a seating chart or electronic seating software to manage this.
• Provide exemplary customer service: A hostess needs to have a rapport with the customers and accommodate any special requests such as high chairs for children.

Hostessing is a great way to make money, which means there can be some stiff competition for hosting jobs. In order to make your application stand out, you need to highlight your skills and qualities and describe your experience in a way that will get you the interview and the job.

Hostess skills for a resume

• Greet incoming guests with a smile and eye contact.
• Escort guests to tables, present their menus and announce their server’s name.
• Inform guests of any restaurant promotions, and provide a smooth handoff to their server.
• Respond to guests’ special requests such as high chairs for children.
• Answer incoming phone calls and take to-go orders with accuracy and efficiency.
• Use visual cues to observe guests’ needs throughout their dining experience.
• Help dining room and bar staff by clearing tables or refilling drinks when needed.

Hostess skills for a cover letter

Your hostess cover letter should include skills that your resume doesn’t cover. It introduces you as an excellent candidate for the job. Hostess skills for your cover letter can include:

• Problem-solving abilities with an example from a previous job.
• Professionalism.
• Attention to detail with examples of how it applies to being a hostess.
• Your ability to work as part of a team.

Hostess skills for the job interview

Once you get the interview, the hiring manager will want to find out how you handle situations that will come up during a shift. Research the restaurant before the interview so you know the atmosphere and culture. Since hostess jobs are often entry-level, with on-the-job training, skills developed in other positions will transfer over. Emphasize your ability to communicate, bring your best personality and positive attitude and the interviewer will be impressed.

You can find answers to common interview questions in our database of interview questions.