Waiter/waitress
A waiter or a waitress is a customer service and sales professional who works in the restaurant sector. Their tasks include selling and serving meals and café products, taking orders and charging for them and ensuring that customers are comfortable. Workplaces include different kinds of restaurants, cafés, ships, restaurant cars on trains and companies specialising in catering services. Work in different types of restaurants requires customer service skills, language skills and knowledge of the products that are being sold.
Different kinds of restaurants, cafés, passenger ships, restaurant cars on trains and companies specialising in catering services.
A waiter needs to be skilful at serving and customer service. They have to be familiar with the restaurant’s products and services and know how to match food with drinks. A waiter needs customer service skills, the ability to get along with different kinds of customers and often also language skills. Knowledge of allergies and special diets is also necessary. The work also involves responsibilities related to the cleanliness and comfort of a restaurant or café, which often requires the ability to pay attention to many things at the same time.
Busy hours of the workday require good memory and the ability to work systematically. As work at a restaurant is based on cooperation, a waiter needs to have interaction skills. They have to observe hygienic working methods. IT skills and the knowledge of electronic tools, such as different kinds of reservation systems, are necessary for the work.
A waiter often has to adapt to shift work. The work is mainly done on your feet, so physical fitness is necessary. The work involves handling different foodstuffs and possibly chemical detergents, so it is not suitable for anyone allergic to foods or detergents.
A basic degree qualification in Restaurant and Catering Services (waitress) can be completed in upper secondary vocational institutions. After gaining competence, you can also complete a vocational qualification in customer service at a restaurant. The qualification can also be completed through apprenticeship training.
Waiters handle unpackaged perishable food, so they need to have a Hygiene Passport. Hygiene Passport tests are organised around Finland. In most cases, you can take the test at an educational institution providing studies in restaurant services.
A waiter needs a license to serve alcohol if they work as the responsible manager of licensed premises, i.e. as a bartender. The licence to serve alcoholic beverages is a certificate proving that a person has sufficient knowledge of alcohol legislation.
Persons working on seagoing vessels are required to complete safety training required by international maritime regulations.
Median salary
2351 €/mo
The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.
Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries
