How to Train a Server: Server Training Program (Free Manual Template)

For most customers, a server is the face of the restaurant. For better (a generous tip) or for worse (an angry tirade about something beyond the server’s control), the server is the one who will field the praise or blame. 

When it comes to customer service, there’s always more to learn, and even the most experienced server could use a refresher on their restaurant skills every once in a while. Extra training keeps workers more engaged and less likely to leave, which helps restaurant managers and owners save money and delegate more work.

In this guide, we'll take you through the ins and outs of restaurant server training. we'll discuss the best server training programs, the required job skills, how to apply for server jobs, and how to create your own server training manual.

What’s in This Guide?

• Best Server Training Programs

• Server Job Skills

• Types of Training for Servers

• How to Apply for Server Jobs

• Server Hiring Guide for Restaurants

• FAQs

Best Server Training Programs

 Through a combination of formal training, online education, and on-the-job experience, it’s very possible to hone your server skills.. In this section, we'll outline some of the best server training programs, both online and in person.

Formal Server Training Programs

A formal restaurant training program can provide a huge boost to your server skills. Provided you have the time and money, you should look for an in-person training course that suits you, such as one of the following top server programs:

1. Restaurant Hospitality Institute: One of the best-known server training courses is the hospitality server training program at the Restaurant Hospitality Institute in Las Vegas. The course includes 24 hours of in-person training over five weeks and costs $800.

2. The Culinary Institute of America: This well-respected institute has campuses in New York, California, and Texas and offers a wide range of restaurant-related degrees and qualifications. Here, you can improve your cooking skills, learn the proper etiquette for waiting tables, and practice serving food with real-life experience.

3. Boston University School of Hospitality Administration: Boston University offers a range of undergraduate and Master's degrees in hospitality and food management. While not hyper-focused on server training, you will learn vital skills that can propel your career in the restaurant industry.

Online Server Training

Online training can be a great way to boost your skills as a server, but usually most helpful when taking these courses alongside practical training like a part-time restaurant job. Here are some of the best online server courses:

1. The International Food Service Executives Association: This respected organization offers a range of certifications that provide advanced training in food safety, customer service, and restaurant management. These courses range from $119 to $229 per person, with a final exam that grants you a nationally recognized qualification.

2. Cornell University: Another reputable institution, Cornell University offers a mostly online Executive Master of Management in Hospitality for those who aspire to restaurant management roles. The training schedule takes place over 20 months and covers various advanced skills like restaurant strategy and writing a mission statement.

3. Magnifying Class: This online course provider offers an extensive 60-hour virtual training program that covers absolutely everything there is to know about being a restaurant server. For $150, you’ll learn basic skills like hygiene and equipment as well as advanced teachings like providing room service and dealing with customer complaints.

Server Job Skills Developed in Training

From soft skills like communication and active listening to advanced abilities like a thorough knowledge of food safety, servers are constantly learning and developing their skills.

In this section, we'll take you through some standard skills that restaurant servers are expected to possess. we'll cover basic skills that you can pick up easily and more advanced competencies that may require an extended training process to grasp.

Basic Skills

The most basic server skills involve taking orders, entering orders in the point-of-sale (POS) system, delivering orders, and liaising with customers. It’s the server’s job to ensure orders reach the kitchen and end up on the final bill, occasionally acting as food runners if none are present. 

They’re also responsible for payment processing and making sure that everything runs smoothly. To do this, you require certain basic server skills, such as:

• Communication: A restaurant’s dining room can get quite bustling, which is why servers need to be able to communicate with their colleagues and customers effectively. This maximizes efficiency at work and makes sure all orders are processed correctly and on time.

• Active Listening: Unfortunately, servers are often the ones who face the bulk of customer complaints. This means they have to be attentive and accommodating, making sure the customer is heard even when they aren’t happy with their order.

• Bartending: Servers sometimes pour and serve drinks to customers, whether that’s a mug of hot coffee or a signature cocktail. As a result, they must know basic mixology and how to make a wide range of beverages.

• Organization: Good servers need to be organized to ensure everything runs smoothly. This means having a good memory of customer requests and keeping things around them clean.

From topping off water glasses and coffee mugs to making sure allergens don’t find their way into customers’ food, servers must do all they can to ensure that customers feel their needs are being met.

Advanced Skills

Experienced servers are often responsible for training and supervising new servers and filling in whenever they see there’s a hole in service. Further training can also encompass health and safety standards, financials, restaurant management strategies, and revenue building. Here are some more advanced skills that make the best servers stand out from the crowd:

• Food Safety: Health and safety is crucial in a restaurant, and all servers must follow guidelines when working. However, food safety qualifications aren’t necessarily mandatory, so by taking online training in this area, you can rise above the rest.

• Management Skills: Once you’ve got your foot in the door within the restaurant business, you can work your way up by learning management skills. Servers should consider online management courses or take on more responsibilities to show they are worthy of promotion.

• Interpersonal Relations: Great servers don’t just go above and beyond for their customers; they also foster an excellent workplace culture for their colleagues. Advanced qualifications in things like sexual harassment training can show that you’re really dedicated to your job and professional development.

Taking the initiative to learn more advanced skills can help you gain more responsibilities in your current workplace or leverage that training into a better position elsewhere. Advanced training shows that you are equipped to handle more duties, so be sure to include your extra training and certifications on your resume.

Types of Server Training

There are several different ways you can receive your server training. For example, you could pay for an intensive restaurant training program that rewards you with a degree at the end, or you could simply learn on the job or through online training.

Or, you could use a combination of online courses and on-the-job training to hone your server skills, supplementing what you learned in person with extra knowledge on food safety and guest experience in between shifts. Whichever path or paths you choose, server training is more than worthwhile.

On-The-Job Server Training

Most server training takes place on the job so servers can learn the particular procedures of their restaurant. There is usually a restaurant training manual that outlines the restaurant’s core values, how to perform regular tasks (like polishing glasses and setting the table), and technical instructions on how to use the POS system. 

New employees will also likely shadow a more senior server until they learn the ropes. There will also be regular updates, including daily training on specials, food service, restaurant staffing schedules, and other items that management wants to push. 

The advantage of this sort of training is that it will be tailored to your specific restaurant and position, and you’ll get paid as you do it. You’ll gain practical skills through hands-on experience, which is the best way to learn in the restaurant industry. The disadvantage is that some of the skills you acquire may not be transferable to other jobs.

Formal Server Training Programs

Although most server training is on the job, servers can get formal training and certification in specific aspects of restaurant work, such as health and safety and fine dining etiquette. 

A formal server training program typically grants a degree in culinary arts or a similar field. Students gain in-depth knowledge in hospitality, food and wine, health codes, etiquette, table setting, upselling techniques, ways to generate revenue, and practical skills like uncorking wine bottles and customer service. 

Some of these programs can also help prepare you for management roles. If you have the time and money, formal education can be helpful because it allows you to hone your skills and learn from industry experts. The disadvantage, however, is that it can be time-consuming and expensive, and not every restaurant recognizes formal certifications.

Online Server Training 

Prospective servers can also pursue their training online. This option is more flexible and allows you to complete modules and tests at your own pace and on your own schedule. You can supplement your practical experience with short courses that help you test your skills in a comfortable setting, often gaining certifications once you complete an exam.

The downside of these programs is that they don’t offer much practical training, and you won’t have much of a chance to ask questions. This means that if you base your server training solely on virtual classes, you may not be ready to face a busy restaurant when the time comes.

How to Apply for a Server Job After Training

Applying for server jobs is easy once you’ve completed your training. Seeking out advanced training and certifications shows potential employers that you are committed to a future in food service and restaurant work and won’t be quitting anytime soon for another career. 

There are always restaurants looking for new employees, so it’s often simply a case of heading to your local establishment and asking the staff inside. Alternatively, you can use your newfound connections and contacts from your training to find a job through them.

Job boards are another great place to look. You can apply directly online or bring your resume to the restaurant, where you might be interviewed there and then. Make sure you update your server resume with the skills and qualifications you gained in your training, regardless of whether it was with a free online course or a prestigious institution.

Server Hiring Guide for Restaurants

If you’re a restaurant owner looking to hire new servers, there are several ways you can go about this. You could simply hang a notice in your restaurant window, but this isn’t normally a good recruitment strategy for attracting top talent. Instead, you’ll want to start doing the following things:

1. Post on Job Boards: By writing a server job description and posting it on a jobseeker’s site online, you can reach a wider audience and uncover better talent from further afield.

2. Use Your Network: Ask your contacts in the restaurant business to see if any of them know skilled servers looking for a job. You can also ask any servers you know whether they’re looking for a change of scenery and want to come and work for you.

3. Sign up for an Apprenticeship: Apprenticeships, like the government-funded National Restaurant Association RHLC Scheme, allow you to offer professional training to your staff while they work for you. These programs give you the tools and guidance to train servers and award them with recognized qualifications, while utilizing their services for your restaurant.

It’s also a great idea to compile an employee handbook and a server training manual to clearly define the rules and expectations of your establishment so you can train your new servers more efficiently.

Final Thoughts on Server Training

Job training is important for everyone in the restaurant industry, but especially for servers, whose work strongly influences customers’ perceptions of the overall restaurant experience. The better the service, the bigger the tips, too!

Pursuing extra training demonstrates that you take restaurant service seriously as a career rather than as a temporary fix while you look for other work. Advanced knowledge of restaurant technology is always a plus, and Toast has a wide variety of products that are becoming increasingly common in modern-day restaurants.

Check out our kitchen display system, for instance, or our catering and events software, which can help servers manage events easily. Toast is there to support restaurant staff as well as make customers' lives easier, and a knowledge of our products should definitely play a part in your server training. 

FAQs

 What can I expect from server training?

Server training varies between restaurants and organizations. Whether you take an online course or learn on the job, server training typically involves learning how to handle food, deal with customers, and provide the best guest experience possible. You’ll develop skills such as communication, time management, people management, food safety, food service, and bartending.

Which training method is best for a restaurant server?

The best type of training for any restaurant server is practical, hands-on experience in a real-life restaurant. Online courses are great for learning the theory, but without physical practice, it can be hard to progress and develop into a skilled server.

How do I train my server?

Server training is usually done on the job, so it’s important to give your staff hands-on experience when training them to be servers. If they’re starting from scratch, teach them the basic expectations and procedures of your restaurant and get them to shadow an experienced employee. It might also help if you point them to online classes so they can supplement their practical learning.

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