Restaurant Waiter / Waitress

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A Short Version of this test is available. Learn More
About the test

The Restaurant Waiter / Waitress Pre-Employment Assessment was designed to help you hire staff in this role. The test provides a whole-person evaluation by measuring job-relevant cognitive ability, personality, knowledge, skills, and relevant behavioral history. Each component provides important data for hiring decisions. Cognitive ability has been linked to overall job performance in most jobs and correlates with a candidate's ability to learn new skills and to solve complex problems. Personality characteristics determine how well the candidate will fit-in with a corporate culture. Knowledge and skills indicate how much training will be needed before a new employee becomes productive. Finally, relevant behavioral history detects counter-productive behaviors that can impact job performance.

The Restaurant Waiter / Waitress test includes an animated work simulation in which candidates meet customers, colleagues and supervisors in a job-related context. Post-test surveys indicate the majority of candidates react favorably to these simulations.

The specific attributes measured include:

Cognitive Ability
  • Analytical Thinking and Attention to Detail
  Behavioral History
  • History Survey - Performance
  • History Survey - Tenure
Personality
  • Adaptability
  • Customer Service Mindset
  • Drive
  • Integrity
  • Resilience
  • Teamwork
  Emotional Intelligence
  • Empathy and Emotional Self-Control

Following completion, the test produces a Candidate Selection Report that includes an overall score and detailed scores for each attribute. The overall score weighs each of the factors based on research and analysis from the U.S. Government's Occupational Information Network (O*Net). O*Net represents over a decade of dedicated research evaluating the relative importance of various factors that lead to success in almost 1,000 different job roles.

The Candidate Selection Report also provides expert interview questions that help you probe critical or low-scoring areas, along with a guide for noting your evaluation of the candidate's responses. Consistent use of an interview guide is an important part of gaining better candidate insights and making better hiring decisions.

Language:English (US)
Time to Complete:45 Minutes (Approximately)
O*Net SOC Code:35-3031.00
Simulation Context:Restaurant (Waiter/Waitress)
O*Net Context:Food Preparation and Serving Related
About the job

Restaurant Waiter / Waitress

Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

Top activities and tasks for this job:
  • Collect payments from customers.
  • Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
  • Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
  • Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
  • Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
  • Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
  • Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
  • Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.

More information about this Job
Annual US Wages (2024)
Bottom 10%:
$18,500 or less
Bottom 25%:
$25,690 or less
Median:
$33,760 (Average)
Top 25%:
$45,350 or more
Top 10%:
$62,510 or more

Hourly US Wages (2024)
Bottom 10%:
$8.89 or less
Bottom 25%:
$12.35 or less
Median:
$16.23 (Average)
Top 25%:
$21.80 or more
Top 10%:
$30.06 or more

US Employment Statistics
2024:
2,329,700
2034 (projected):
2,313,500
Annual U.S. Job Openings:456,700

Top Knowledge Requirements
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Food Production
  • Mathematics
  • Administration and Management
Top Skills
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Learning
Top Abilities
  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Speech Clarity
  • Speech Recognition
  • Stamina
  • Trunk Strength
  • Time Sharing
  • Problem Sensitivity
Education Requirements
No High School Diploma:
32%
High School Diploma:
58%
Post-Secondary Certificate:
8%
This graphic shows the percentage of people in this role who have their highest education in each category.
Related Work Experience Requirements
None:
56%
1 - 3 Months:
28%
3 - 6 Months:
10%
6 Months - 1 Year:
4%
This graphic shows the percentage of people in this role whose related work experience before they entered this position falls into each category.

Alternate Titles for this Role: Banquet Server, Banquet Waiter, Banquet Waitress, Bar Waiter, Bar Waitress, Buffet Waiter, Buffet Waitress, Busser, Carhop, Club Waiter, Club Waitress, Cocktail Server, Cocktail Waitress, Deck Steward, Dining Car Server, Dining Car Waiter, Dining Car Waitress, Food Runner, Food Server, Formal Waiter, Formal Waitress, Informal Waiter, Informal Waitress, Restaurant Server, Room Service Server, Server, Server Assistant, Singing Waiter, Singing Waitress, Skating Carhop, Waiter, Waitress, Wine Steward, Wine Stewardess

Related Jobs based on Skills & Abilities: Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers, Food Servers, Nonrestaurant, Bartenders, Fast Food and Counter Workers, Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop, Baristas, Food Preparation Workers, Food Service Managers, Cooks, Short Order, First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Cooks, Private Household, Chefs and Head Cooks, Cooks, Restaurant, Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks, Cooks, Fast Food, Concierges, Cashiers, Dishwashers
A Short Version of this test is available.  What's the Difference?

Candidates typically need about 45 minutes to complete our full-length job-specific assessments. Our short versions take less than half that time. Like our standard assessments, these tests are based on the U.S. Government Occupational Information Network (O*Net). They do not contain the animated simulation module, however, though they still provide valuable information about all critical performance-related dimensions. Additionally, the short versions optionally include 1-2 virtual video interview questions! Click below for more information:

Restaurant Waiter / Waitress (Short)

Version: 4, Created: 03/18/2026 6:09 PM,  (Internal Use) pid=6797, CTB Direct Test
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