The host or hostess gives guests their first impression of a restaurant. Your resume should show a warm welcome, smart seating and calm handling of a busy wait list, with numbers that prove it.
This page shows what a hostess does and gives 20 duties you can turn into resume bullets. Use the free builder to write your own experience section, then print it or copy it.
AdvertisementAll sample bullets use example numbers. Replace them with your own true numbers, and use only duties you really did.
What a Hostess Does
Hosts and hostesses greet guests, manage reservations and the wait list, seat guests and keep the dining room running smoothly. They answer phones, share menus and work closely with servers and managers.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that most states require workers who serve alcohol to be at least 18, and age rules depend on the employer and state.
20 Hostess Duties You Can Turn Into Resume Bullets
Quick jump: Guest welcomeSeating and reservationsDining roomTeam and guest care
Guest Welcome Duties
Greeted about 200 guests a shift with a warm welcome and a smile.
2. Answer questions about the menu and restaurant
Answered questions about the menu, hours and specials for about 40 guests a shift.
3. Offer menus and explain specials
Handed out menus and explained specials to about 60 tables a shift.
4. Welcome large parties and special occasions
Greeted and seated about 10 large parties and birthday groups a week and passed reservation details to servers.
5. Say goodbye and invite guests back
Thanked about 200 guests a shift as they left and invited them to return, which helped repeat visits.
Seating and Reservation Duties
Managed about 60 reservations a night with no double bookings.
7. Keep the wait list and quote wait times
Kept the wait list and quoted wait times that were within 5 minutes of actual time.
8. Seat guests in the right sections
Seated guests evenly across 8 server sections so no section was overloaded.
9. Handle walk-ins and peak rushes
Handled walk-ins during Friday and Saturday rushes, seating about 150 guests an hour at peak.
10. Answer phones and take reservations
Answered about 30 calls a shift and took reservations with clear, friendly service.
Dining Room Duties
Checked and tidied the entrance, lobby and waiting area about every 30 minutes, 10 times a shift.
12. Check tables and set them for guests
Checked and reset about 40 tables a shift so they were clean and ready.
13. Help clear and bus tables when needed
Helped bus and reset about 15 tables a rush to turn tables 2 minutes faster.
14. Follow health and safety rules
Followed health, safety and capacity rules on 100% of shifts in a 90-seat dining room.
15. Support to-go and delivery orders
Handed off about 15 takeout orders a shift and checked each order against the ticket.
Team and Guest Care Duties
Updated servers and managers about every 15 minutes on open tables and wait times, 20 times a shift.
17. Handle guest complaints calmly
Handled about 5 guest concerns a week calmly and passed larger issues to a manager.
18. Help guests with special needs
Helped about 10 guests a week with strollers, wheelchairs and high chairs and chose tables that fit their needs.
19. Train new hosts
Trained 4 new hosts on the seating chart, the reservation system and guest greetings.
20. Work evenings, weekends and holidays
Managed the wait list and seating chart on about 8 evening, weekend and holiday shifts a month during peak seasons.
Free Hostess Experience Builder
Step 1. What is your job level?
Step 2. Where did you work?
Step 3. Tap the duties you really did. Five bullets is plenty.
Step 4. Click any text in the box and type to make it yours.
Replace the job title, employer, city, dates and every number with your own true details. Remove any bullet you cannot explain in an interview.
Experience
Host (Part Time) | 2025 to present
Host | 2022 to present
Lead Host | 2018 to present
Alderspring Grill, Dallas, TX
Pemberlow Hotel Restaurant, Dallas, TX
Thistlewood Kitchen, Dallas, TX
- Greeted about 200 guests a shift with a warm welcome
- Answered questions about the menu, hours and specials for about 40 guests a shift
- Welcomed about 10 large parties and birthday groups a week
- Managed about 60 reservations a night with no double bookings
- Kept the wait list and quoted wait times within 5 minutes of actual time
- Seated guests evenly across 8 server sections
- Answered about 30 calls a shift and took reservations
- Tidied the entrance, lobby and waiting area about 10 times a shift
- Checked and reset about 40 tables a shift
- Handled about 5 guest concerns a week calmly and passed larger issues to a manager
- Updated servers and managers about every 15 minutes on open tables and wait times
- Trained 4 new hosts on the seating chart and reservation system
To save your experience section: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the box prints. To copy it, select the text inside the box and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
How to Use a Job Description on Your Resume
- Read the posting. Mark the duties it repeats.
- Pick your matching duties. Choose only the ones you really did.
- Match the posting’s keywords. Use its exact tool and duty words when they are true for you.
- Start with an action verb. Strong verbs make each bullet clear.
- Add a number or result. Count people, tasks, items or shifts.
- Put the best match first. Keep five or six bullets for each job.
Action Verbs for Hostess Duties
| Duty | Action verbs to use |
|---|---|
| Guest welcome | Greeted, welcomed, assisted, escorted, informed |
| Seating | Seated, assigned, balanced, managed, coordinated |
| Reservations | Booked, confirmed, tracked, scheduled, updated |
| Dining room | Reset, cleaned, organized, maintained, bussed |
| Guest care | Resolved, accommodated, answered, supported, thanked |
| Teamwork | Trained, communicated, collaborated, covered, supported |
Hostess Skills for a Resume
| Type | Skills for a hostess resume |
|---|---|
| Guest skills | Warm greeting, friendly communication, patience, active listening |
| Seating skills | Reservation systems, wait list, section balancing, table turns |
| Phone skills | Clear speaking, taking reservations, answering menu questions |
| Dining room skills | Table setup, cleanliness, health and safety, teamwork with servers |
| Work habits | Reliability, calm under pressure, flexible schedule, professional appearance |
ATS-Friendly Keywords for a Hostess Resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) store resumes and let recruiters search them by words. Use the exact words from the job posting when they are true for you. The terms below come from the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET OnLine list for Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop and from words often seen in postings.
| Keyword type | Terms to use when they are true for you |
|---|---|
| Skills | Active listening, speaking, service orientation, social perceptiveness |
| Tools and systems | Reservation software (such as OpenTable), point of sale (POS) software, Microsoft Office, Resy, Tock, Yelp Reservations, SevenRooms |
| Duty phrases | Greet guests and seat them; give guests menus; assign tables by rotation; coordinate with servers, kitchen staff and managers; handle complaints; inspect dining areas; answer phone calls and take reservations |
| Knowledge areas | Customer and personal service, English language, food production |
| Common in postings | Reservations, wait list, seating chart, guest relations, table turnover, takeout orders |
- Put keywords in your bullets. Use them in your experience and Skills sections, not in hidden text.
- Spell out short forms once. Write out point of sale (POS) or front of house (FOH) the first time, then use the short form.
- Match the posting. Copy the exact tool and duty words from the job ad, but only if you really used them.
Source: O*NET OnLine, 35-9031.00 Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop.
Hostess Job Facts
| Fact (BLS, hosts and hostesses) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median hourly pay (May 2025) | $15.00 an hour |
| Job outlook, 2025 to 2035 | Growth of 3% |
| Age rules | Most states require workers who serve alcohol to be at least 18; check the employer and your state |
These are national figures, and pay varies by employer, state and local rules.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Copying a job ad. Write your own bullets from your own work.
- Listing duties only. Add a number or a result to each bullet.
- Listing too many duties. Choose the five or six that match the job.
- Using vague words. Replace helped with a clear verb and a count.
- Making up numbers. Use only numbers you can explain in an interview.
- Typos. Proofread your resume twice before you send it.
Resume Bullet Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready to use your bullets when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn a job description into resume bullets?
Pick the duties you really did. Start each bullet with an action verb, name the task and add a number or result.
Should I copy a job description onto my resume?
No. Use it as a guide for words and ideas, then write your own true bullets. Employers want to see what you did and what happened as a result.
What does a hostess do?
A hostess greets guests, manages the seating chart and waitlist, answers the phone, takes reservations and coordinates with servers and the kitchen to keep service running smoothly.
Do I need experience to be a hostess?
Usually not. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists no formal education requirement for hosts and hostesses and says training is short-term, from a few days to several weeks.
What skills does a hostess need?
Friendliness, clear communication, organization, time management and the ability to stay calm when the restaurant is busy.
How much do hostesses earn?
The BLS reports a median of $15.00 an hour for hosts and hostesses in restaurants, lounges and coffee shops (May 2025). Pay varies by state, employer and tips policy.
What schedule should I expect?
Shifts often include evenings, weekends and holidays, and part-time work is common.
How old do I need to be?
It depends on the employer and state. The BLS notes that most states require workers who serve alcohol to be at least 18.
What is the difference between a hostess and a server?
A hostess greets and seats guests and manages the waitlist. A server takes orders, serves food and drinks and handles the check.
Can a hostess job lead to other roles?
It can be a starting point for server, shift lead or management roles, depending on the employer.
Conclusion
A job description is a good guide, but your resume needs your own proof. Pick the duties you really did, add numbers and results, and put the best matches first. Then use the builder above to write yours.
Related Reading
- Hotel hostess job description
- Buffalo Wild Wings hostess job description
- Cruise ship hostess job description
- Bob Evans hostess job description
- Hostess resume objective examples
- Hostess resume example
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers (May 2025 pay; 2025 to 2035 outlook; employment shares). Sample bullets, numbers and employer names are fictional examples. Rules and pay vary by state and employer.