art Gonzales had worked in factories and in various other jobs, but he never whistled while

he worked until he took a job as a waiter.

“Factory work was not for me,” he recalls. “It made me feel closed in, doing the same routine every day. I would even bring my work home with me. But when I started serving, I’d come home and still be in a good mood,” he said. “That’s one of my main reasons for staying in it so long.”

Gonzales began his career in the restaurant industry as a host at a Bob Evans restaurant, where he later

trained to become a waiter. Good restaurants have excellent training programs for servers, he said, which is important because the more able a waiter or waitress is the better income he or she will generate.

“You do have to get into a routine and the training makes a big difference,” he said. “Every restaurant has special menu items and the training allows you to get to know that menu before you get on the floor. You also have to know the drink menu.”

Being knowledgeable about the menu selections allows a waiter to make suggestions and that in turn can result in a larger sale. Larger sales, or per person check averages, create larger tips and that results in a better income at the end of the day.

But tips are not the only motivating factor, Gonzales said. Waiters and

waitresses must be personable and work hard to make sure customers have a good dining experience. “Not everybody who enters the restaurant comes in with a good mood,” he said. “But everybody wants to go somewhere where they will

feel comfortable, have some social interaction, get good service and a good meal.”

After working at Bob Evans, Gonzales took a job as a waiter at the former Mountain Jack’s restaurant near the Westfield Midway Mall and worked there for five years. He enjoyed the more upscale nature of that restaurant and the fine dining

experiences that patrons were able to get there, he said.

Chain restaurants like TGIFridays or Applebee’s offer dynamic training programs that will give anyone who is considering a job in the industry a good basis to get started, Gonzales said. Generally, when

This information is derived from careful research and ongoing feedback from Lorain County employers. Empowered with this knowledge, it is up to all of us to create a vibrant and productive workforce for the county.

Do You Like...

Waiters and Waitresses

Kind of Work You Can Expect

Technical Skills and

Knowledge You Will Need to Develop

RELATED OCCUPATIONS

Bartenders Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers,

Including Fast Food Counter Attendants,

Cafeteria/ Food Concession/

Coffee Shop Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants

and Bartender Helpers Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant/Lounge/

Coffee Shop Flight Attendants Wine Stewards/ Stewardesses

Gaming Services Workers

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Information

Network, O*NET OnLine, http:// online.onetcenter.org/

someone is first starting out on a restaurant wait staff they will be assigned a section of the restaurant with two tables, and as they become more experienced, the section size will be increased.

Don’t expect to make a lot of money real fast because it takes time to train and get your serving style, he said, but once you get it down you will start making decent money. “The income is directly related to how many customers you can handle at a time.”

It’s also important to stay organized in order to give the best service possible, he said, and it’s also important to keep up your appearance. “You have to make sure that you are spot-free,” he said. “You represent the restaurant. You represent how

the food is prepared. Cleanliness is very important.”

B

Occupational Information Network, O*NET OnLine, http://online.onetcenter.org/

Occupational Information Network, O*NET OnLine, http:online.onetcenter.org/

The average of the tips he receives comes out to be about 18 percent of the check totals for his customers, Gonzales said, and at the end of the work week, the money is good. But some days are slower than others and other days can be very busy. The income averages out, however, and Gonzales said he enjoys his work.

“If you’re not having fun at what you’re doing then it affects you in every aspect of your job,“ he said. “If it’s not something you like, you’ll know right away.”

Gonzales currently works at the newly opened Pagani’s Restaurant in downtown Lorain. He and his wife Valerie live in Lorain and have two children, a daughter Gabrielle, 7, and a son, Nathaniel, who is 4.

Occupational Information Network, O*NET OnLine, http:/online.onetcenter.org/

STEPS TO SUCCESS Minimum Education These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.

Occupational Information Network, O*NET OnLine, http://online.onetcenter.org/

Educational/Training Level

Occupational Information Network, O*NET OnLine, http://online.onetcenter.org/

High School or less 55%

Some College 32%

Bachelor’s Degree or higher 12%

Percentage of Respondents Educational Level Attained

OHIO

REGION

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Projections to 2014

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Research, Assessment and Accountability, Job Outlook to 2012: Northern Ohio -

Economic Development Region 8 (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Lorain Counties)

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office of Research, Assessment and Accountability, Ohio Job Outlook to 2012

Total Job Openings

2004 2014 Change in Percent Due to Growth Annual Projected Employment Change & Turnover

Employment Employment 2004-2014 2004-2014 2004-2014

2,252,000 2,627,000 376,000 16.7 % 1,534,000

84 ,280 99,160 14,880 17.7 % 58,240

14,290 16,530 2,240 15.7 % 9,590

NATIONAL

Job Openings

To find past profile pages visit www.chroniclet.com, click on: Newspaper in Education and then click on career pages.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2004 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2004 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 2004 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

Earning Potential National $15,980/yr. ($7.68/hr.)

Ohio $14,510/yr. ($6.97/hr.)

Cleveland-Lorain- Elyria PMSA $15,350/yr. ($7.38/hr.)

Career Profile Coming Next Tuesday (Feb. 21, 2006): Leisure & Hospitality - Supv./Mgr. of Food Prep & Service Workers

Expectations & Opportunities

Training Opportunities

Basic or Core Abilities You Will Need

Basic Skill Requirements

Workplace Success Skills

• Work Ethic

• Teamwork Skills • Customer Service

Orientation • Respects Diversity

Interpersonal Skills Thinking

Skills • Decision Making • Problem Solving

Basic Academic Skills

• Reading & Writing Skills • Communication Skills • Math Skills

Core Abilities

Waiter/Waitress: • Have knowledge in serving food to

customers in formal or informal settings, including formal rules of serving etiquette, table and counter service, dining room operations and procedures, service personnel supervision and management, food and beverage preparation and presentation, communication skills, and sanitation.

Sales and Marketing: • Knowledge of principles and methods

for showing, promoting, and selling products or services, including marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, and sales techniques.

Customer and Personal Service: • Knowledge of principles and processes

for providing customer and personal services, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

English Language: • Knowledge of the structure and content

of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Basic Academic Skills: Reading & Writing Skills: Can read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. Provide information and ideas in writing so others will understand. Math Skills: Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly. Communication Skills: Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Interpersonal Skills: Teamwork Skills: Develop cooperative and constructive working relationships with other workers. Organize and perform tasks in a way that will help accomplish team goals efficiently and effectively. Customer Service Orientation: Can effectively answer customers’ questions and quickly resolve problems. Be able to provide assistance and advice to customers when requested. Respects Diversity: Demonstrate sensitivity and respect for differences in individual perspective, personality, ethnic/cultural values, and religious beliefs.

Occupational Information Network, O*NET OnLine, http://online.onetcenter.org/

• Escorts customers to their tables. • Presents menus to patrons and

answers questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.

• Takes orders from patrons for food or beverages.

• Writes patrons’ food orders on order slips, memorizes orders, or enters orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.

• Serves food and/or beverages to patrons; prepares and serves specialty dishes at tables as required.

• Checks with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals and takes action to correct any problems.

• Prepares tables for meals, including setting up items such as linens, silverware, and glassware.

• Prepares checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.

• Collects payments from customers.

• Cleans tables and/or counters after patrons have finished dining.

● ● ● ● ●

“If you’re not

having fun at

what you’re doing

then it affects you

in every aspect

of your job.”

● ● ● ● ●

• Work that lets you be of service to others

• Work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions

• Jobs where the company stands behind its workers and where the workers are comfortable with management’s style of supervision

• Work where you can see the results of your efforts and have a feeling of accomplishment

LORAIN COUNTY JVS Culinary Academy Program Gary Kuebbeler and David Keller, Recruiters 440-774-1051 www.lcjvs.com