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Food and beverage servers

OaSIS code 65200.00

Food and beverage servers take patrons' food and beverage orders and serve orders to patrons.

Overview

Also known as

  • Banquet server
  • Captain waiter/waitress
  • Chief wine steward
  • Cocktail waiter/waitress
  • Food and beverage server
  • Formal service waiter/waitress
  • Sommelier
  • Waiter/waitress
  • Wine steward

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Greet patrons, present menus, make recommendations and answer questions regarding food and beverages
  • Take orders and relay to kitchen and bar staff
  • Recommend wines that complement patrons' meals
  • Serve food and beverages
  • Prepare and serve specialty foods at patrons' tables
  • Present bill to patrons and accept payment
  • May order and maintain inventory of wines and wine glassware
  • May perform sensory evaluation of wines.

Additional information

No data has been provided for this section.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Restaurant and food service managers (60030)
  • Food service supervisors (62020)
  • Maîtres d'hôtel and hosts/hostesses (64300)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

6 – Sales and service occupations

TEER

5 – Occupations usually require short-term work demonstration and no formal education

Major group

65 – Sales and service support occupations

Sub-major group

652 – Support occupations in food, accommodation and tourism

Minor group

6520 – Food support occupations

Unit group

65200 – Food and beverage servers

Occupational profile

65200.00 – Food and beverage servers

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Assisting and Caring for Others
3 - Moderate Level
Handling and Moving Objects
3 - Moderate Level
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
3 - Moderate Level
Performing General Physical Activities
3 - Moderate Level
Communicating with Coworkers
2 - Low Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
2 - Low amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
1 - Less than 35 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
4 - Close (at arm’s length)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
1 - Very little time
Standing
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
3 - About half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
5 - Every day, almost continuously

Workplaces/employers

  • Banquet halls
  • Bars
  • Hotels
  • Private clubs
  • Restaurants
  • Taverns

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Gross Body Coordination
4 - High Level
Stamina
4 - High Level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
3 - Moderate Level
Auditory Attention
3 - Moderate Level
Dynamic Strength
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Coordinating
2 - Low Level
Monitoring
2 - Low Level
Negotiating
2 - Low Level
Numeracy
2 - Low Level
Oral Communication: Active Listening
2 - Low Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Concern for Others
4 - Highly important
Social Orientation
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: SEC

Social (S)

Social occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the interaction with others to inform, train, aid, develop, cure, or enlighten. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others, teaching, working or communicating with people.

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • An apprenticeship program for food and beverage servers is available, but voluntary, in Quebec and Saskatchewan.
  • Sommeliers may require courses in wine selection and service or experience as a formal waiter/waitress.
  • Formal waiters/waitresses may require completion of a one- or two-year apprenticeship program or college or vocational school courses.
  • On-the-job training is usually provided.
  • Completion of secondary school may be required.
  • Responsible beverage service certification is usually required for employees serving alcoholic beverages.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Client Service
2 - Intermediate Level
Hospitality
2 - Intermediate Level
Languages
1 - Basic Level
Mathematics
1 - Basic Level
Sale and Marketing
1 - Basic Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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