How long do you have to work as a hostess before you can be a server?
Asked by Eve l
How long do you have to work as a hostess before you can be a server in a restaurant? How long do you have to work as a hostess before you can be a server in a restaurant? And, do you always have to be a hostess before you can be promoted to waitress, or do restaurants sometimes hire you directly into waitress/server position?

Best Answer:
It's up to the manager of the restaurant. I've worked as a server for 5 years and I was never a hostess. If you want to become a server, I would just ask the manager. There is no set amount of time where you have to be a hostess

hi Eve- That is up to your manager/owner. Many hostesses can transition quickly to a server because of great attitudes and desire to grow. Learn your job quickly, observe everything about the servers and discuss your career move with your manager every opportunity that you can! They may resist if you are a GREAT hostess 'cause they don't want to lose you from THAT position! Lotsa luck to you!
Answered by loika61

As loika said, it's up to your manager. And yes, many places will hire you directly as a server. Ask your boss if you can pick up a few training shifts as a server. Hell, one restaurant I worked two shifts as a host and the rest as a line cook, and at another one I was a line cook, prep cook, busboy and barback. Point is restaurants can often be as flexible as you'd like. Speaking of flexible and working in restaurants, there was this one...eh, never mind, better not go there. Back on point...even though there is a front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house division and a pecking order within each, the jobs aren't as rigidly structured as at an office or a factory. Like I said, just ask your boss if you can train a few shifts as a server, they'll probably say yes. If they don't, apply somewhere else.
Answered by The Citizen

If you are under 18 or 21 in some states you can't serve alcohol. So, that might be why they hired you as a hostess. Most places will directly hire people as servers. If you are underage to serve liquor they will probably train you to serve as soon as you are old enough. If you are old enough to serve liquor just wait until they are short staffed with servers and ask to train. They will be more than happy to do so.
Answered by citykitty_333