What is a Front of House Job?
A front of house job is a role in the hospitality industry that involves interacting with customers and managing the customer experience. Front of house (FOH) employees are responsible for greeting customers, seating them, taking orders, serving food and drinks, and generally ensuring that customers have a positive experience.
What Do Front of House Employees Usually Do in This Position?
FOH employees are responsible for creating a welcoming and enjoyable experience for customers. This includes greeting customers as they arrive, seating them at tables, taking orders for food and drinks, and serving them when the orders are ready. FOH employees also handle customer complaints and concerns, making sure that customers leave happy and satisfied.
Top 5 Skills for a Front of House Position
1. Customer Service: FOH employees need to be friendly, personable, and able to handle customer complaints and concerns.
2. Communication: FOH employees need to be able to communicate clearly with customers, other employees, and management.
3. Organization: FOH employees need to be able to manage multiple tasks at once, such as taking orders and serving food, while keeping track of customer preferences and needs.
4. Attention to Detail: FOH employees need to be detail-oriented, ensuring that orders are accurate and that customers are happy with their meals.
5. Problem-Solving: FOH employees need to be able to think on their feet and come up with solutions to customer complaints or issues that arise during service.
How to Become a Front of House Specialist
To become a FOH specialist, you typically need to have experience in the hospitality industry. Many FOH employees start in entry-level positions, such as bussing tables or working as a host or hostess, before moving up to serving or bartending positions. Some FOH employees also attend culinary or hospitality schools to gain additional training and experience.
Average Salary for a Front of House Employee
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a FOH employee in the United States is around $30,000 per year. However, this can vary depending on the type of establishment and the location.
Roles and Types of Front of House Jobs
There are many different types of FOH jobs, including servers, bartenders, hosts and hostesses, and food runners. Servers take orders and serve food and drinks to customers, while bartenders mix and serve drinks. Hosts and hostesses are responsible for greeting customers and seating them, while food runners bring food from the kitchen to the tables.
Locations with the Most Popular Front of House Jobs in the USA
According to ZipRecruiter, some of the cities with the most FOH jobs in the United States include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. However, FOH jobs can be found in virtually any city or town with a restaurant or hospitality industry.
What Are the Typical Tools Used by Front of House Employees?
FOH employees typically use a variety of tools to perform their jobs. These can include POS (point of sale) systems for taking orders and processing payments, table management software for managing reservations and seating charts, and communication devices such as headsets or radios for communicating with other staff members.
In Conclusion
Front of house jobs are an important part of the hospitality industry, and require a variety of skills such as customer service, communication, organization, attention to detail, and problem-solving. With experience and training, FOH employees can advance their careers and take on more challenging roles, such as management positions.