Fast Food and Counter Workers
Also called Cafeteria Worker, Counter Worker, Food Service Worker, or Server
What Fast Food and Counter Workers do
Fast Food and Counter Workers perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.
Who tends to enjoy it
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Helping
People who like teaching, caring for, and working closely with people.
What you'd actually do
- Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.
- Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.
- Request and record customer orders, and compute bills, using cash registers, multi-counting machines, or pencil and paper.
- Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.
- Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.
- Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.
- Monitor and order supplies or food items, and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.
- Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Coordination
- Service Orientation
- Monitoring
- Speaking
What you'll need to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Food Production
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
Related careers
Sales and Related
Cashiers
Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.
Little to some preparation
Production
Food Batchmakers
Set up and operate equipment that mixes or blends ingredients used in the manufacturing of food products. Includes candy makers and cheese makers.
Little to some preparation
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 35-3023.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.