More Information
From restaurant managers to front of house staff, restaurant recruitment agencies will commonly be approached by UK-wide or local clients to fill a range of vacancies within the catering industry. Job roles within the sector can vary but the majority of staff will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the restaurant / establishment whilst delivering an excellent dining experience to customers.
Front of house staff will be required to interact directly with customers and may carry out duties such as serving food & drink, taking payments and dealing with dining queries. Kitchen staff on the other hand, will be expected to respond to customer orders and support more senior members of the team. Other positions include sommelier, bar staff and restaurant manager, with the latter being responsible for the management of all areas. Due to the nature of the job, many candidates are employed on a part time basis with weekend and evening work being the industry norm.
Restaurant staff salaries
Restaurant staff will receive differing salaries depending on the role and organisation, however the average salary for the industry is around £23,000 per annum. Front of house staff such as waiters / waitresses will usually see starting earnings of £12,000, whilst senior professionals including head chefs and restaurant managers can potentially command £50,000+.
Entry requirements and experience
Restaurant jobs don't typically require academic qualifications, but some disciplines will need role specific training. Chefs and other kitchen staff will most likely complete catering education via a BTEC or HND accredited course. The majority of candidates will find that their personality is the biggest barrier to entry and charismatic, friendly and helpful staff are usually the most common to be sourced by hospitality recruitment agencies. Managers will often have entered the industry through an entry-level role and will have progressed to a senior title though experience and an accumulation of skills.
Key industries and employers
Accomplished industry recruiters will work alongside independent eateries, high-street chains or international hotel groups to place high quality candidates into permanent, temporary or seasonal restaurant jobs. This may be locally or nationwide depending on the size of the agency.