Staff is one of the most important resources for any hospitality business. However, hiring the right team can be a serious challenge for restaurant owners and managers.
With labour shortages still a major concern in the hospitality industry, it can be difficult to pry the top candidates away from your competitors. You must go the extra mile to secure the best employees for your venue.
The hiring process starts with a job description. As the first thing a prospective candidate sees, a job description must advertise your business and the role effectively, while clearly communicating the necessary skills and expectations of the job.
In our guide, we will provide information on what makes for a good hospitality job description, and offer a range of sample descriptions for an array of roles. We have the information you need for a streamlined and effective hiring process.
What makes a good hospitality job description?
A good job description should be clear, advertise the appealing aspects of the role and be no longer than necessary. It should succinctly provide all the information the reader needs to decide whether they want to proceed with the application process.
There is an increasing trend of writing job descriptions in more colourful and conversational tones. This helps to present your business as a more fun, exciting place to work.
In addition, online job boards such as Seek, Indeed and LinkedIn place your job ad next to hundreds, if not thousands of competitors. A more engaging writing style helps your description to stand out from the pack.
Here are a few of the key features you should strongly consider including a hospitality job description:
- Summary: The summary of the job description should provide a quick breakdown of the role and the main reasons the reader should consider it. Remember that on popular job boards, readers have dozens of other roles to consider at any given time. Your summary should quickly grab their attention.
- Duties and responsibilities: Let the reader know the key duties and responsibilities their role will consist of. This section should give them a clear idea of what their day-to-day life will look like as a part of your team.
- Required experience and qualifications: Provide a brief list of all the qualifications and experience that are necessary for candidates. In modern job advertising, this section often begins with phrases like "About you" or "Our ideal candidate will have the following attributes", followed by a list.
- Working conditions: Provide some additional, pertinent information about particular aspects of the job. This might include schedules, physical requirements and customer service interactions.
- Company culture: Inform the reader as to the particular missions and values of your organisation, and what is required from them to contribute to it.
- Benefits: Mention the particular benefits that come with working for your business, such as extra paid time off or free lunches.
For more information on creating job advertisements that work, check our top tips for writing a job ad and 20 restaurant manager interview questions.
Hospitality industry sample company descriptions
Now that you know what should go into your hospitality job descriptions, it is time to look at some samples you can base your own job advertisements on. There are some sections of your job ad that can be recycled across job ads for any role.
Generally, job descriptions kick off with a quick description of the venue itself, and conclude with some highlights of the company culture and benefits of your business. It should also conclude with a call to action, incentivising hospitality professionals to begin the application process.
There is no need to change these for your different job descriptions. In fact, it is much better to keep these totally consistent across your advertisements for hospitality jobs.
Sample venue description
Harmony Café & Bar is a 60-seat café and bar located in the Sydney suburb of Narrabeen. Our mission is to be the ultimate fusion café, bringing together a range of cuisines to deliver a dining experience that is uniquely Australian.
Sample company culture and benefits
At Harmony Café & Bar, we celebrate the diversity of humanity and the way that food unites us. Our culture is one of continuous learning, mutual respect, and a strong commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.
Our core values are:
- Diversity and inclusion: We celebrate the things that make us different and the things that bring us together. We have zero tolerance for prejudice or discrimination in any form.
- Sustainability: We recognise the impact humanity and the culinary world have on our planet and aim to do our part to make a difference. We use locally sourced, organic and ethical ingredients wherever possible.
- Customer-first: Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We prioritise giving our diners an exceptional experience every time they set foot in our venue.
Some of the benefits you can enjoy when you come to work at the Harmony Café & Bar are:
- Competitive salary: We make sure our staff is fairly compensated for the work they put in. We also hold biannual salary reviews.
- Paid time off: In addition to 4 weeks of annual leave, our full and part-time staff get a day off for their birthday, as well as 5 days of mental health leave each year.
- Team events: Every 3 months, the entire Harmony Café & Bar family gets together for a team bonding event. Whether it's a cooking class or bumper cars, it's sure to be fun!
- Skill development: Each full and part-time member of staff will receive a $1,000 allowance each year for professional development in hospitality skills.
- Free meal: Enjoy a free meal each and every shift, and a generous discount if you decide to pop in for a visit on your days off.
Sample call to action
Sound like the role for you? Click "Apply now" and send through your CV as well as a one-page cover letter telling us why you're the perfect fit for this role.
We can't wait to hear from you and grow the Harmony Café & Bar family!
Hospitality sample job descriptions
Now that you have portrayed your business in your job advertisements, it is time to create descriptions for your specific roles. Use the following samples as templates for your own job descriptions.
Hospitality manager job description
We are looking to hire a restaurant manager to the stars to lead Harmony Café & Bar into the future. As our manager, you will oversee day-to-day operations and work with ownership to craft strategies for long-term success.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Being the ultimate leader for our exceptional team, living out the values of Harmony Café & Bar each and every day.
- Executing daily operations, overseeing the entire café from the kitchen to front of house.
- Assisting in the planning and execution of store operations, including rostering and marketing campaigns.
- Playing a role in the financial management of the venue, including sales budgets, labour spending, inventory management and more.
- Hiring new staff when necessary.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- A minimum of 5 years experience in café management.
- Experience and skills in customer service, teamwork and leadership.
- Excellent organisational and financial management skills.
- A love for food and hospitality.
This is a full-time role that will at times be customer-facing. You will be expected to get involved in a range of operations around the café, which can include lifting heavy objects and other tasks involving physical labour.
Waitperson job description
We are looking to hire a waitperson to join Harmony Café & Bar and provide brilliant service to our cherished guests. As a waitperson, you will greet customers, seat them, take their orders, deliver their food and attend to any questions that may arise during the meal. It is your job to keep customer satisfaction at consistently high levels.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Greeting and seating customers as they arrive.
- Answering questions and providing advice for customers with regard to the menu.
- Accurately taking orders and relaying them to the back of house.
- Cleaning tables and other areas in the front of house.
- Attending to any issues raised by customers throughout the meal.
- Taking payments from customers.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- A Responsible Service of Alcohol certification, or the willingness to get one for this role.
- A minimum of 1 year experience working in hospitality.
- A commitment to consistently excellent customer service.
- Excellent teamwork and multi-tasking skills.
In this role, we are willing to consider part-time or casual candidates. This role is heavily customer-facing, so successful applicants must possess excellent people skills. At times, team members may be required to help out in other areas of the café, which could involve physical labour tasks such as lifting heavy boxes.
Head chef job description
We are looking for a talented and driven head chef to elevate the kitchen operations of Harmony Café & Bar. Our head chef will play a key role in defining our menu and leading our back of house team to long-term success.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading the team across the food preparation process, from mise-en-place to service.
- Approving dishes on the pass before they are sent to customers.
- Working with the café manager to manage the finances of the kitchen, and to order and manage inventory.
- Working with the café manager to build rosters for the back of house staff and to hire new staff.
- Ensuring food and safety regulations are rigorously adhered to.
- Developing new dishes to include on Harmony Café & Bar's ever-evolving menu.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- At least 4 years of experience working as a head chef or sous chef.
- A true love for food and menu development.
- Excellent leadership and teamwork skills in high-pressure kitchen environments.
- An excellent palette and general knowledge of food.
- Understanding and capacity to follow food and cleanliness regulations.
- A keen eye for detail and a passion for perfection.
This is a full-time role. This role will involve lifting and carrying heavy objects and boxes.
Cook job description
We are looking for a talented cook to join our team of culinary masterminds at Harmony Café & Bar. Successful applicants will work with our existing team to deliver delicious, beautiful food to our patrons time and again.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Participating in the entire food preparation process, from mise-en-place to service.
- Working with the head chef to ensure inventory is appropriately managed.
- Helping to craft the Harmony Café & Bar menu with your unique flair.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- At least 3 years of experience working as a cook.
- Experience using a wide array of cooking equipment, including pressure cookers, pasta makers and more.
- Skill working across a wide array of food types, including pastry.
- An excellent palette and general knowledge of food.
- Understanding and capacity to follow food and cleanliness regulations.
- A keen eye for detail and a passion for perfection.
In this role, we are willing to consider part-time or full-time candidates. This role will involve lifting and carrying heavy objects and boxes.
Bar manager job description
We are looking for a passionate and detail-oriented bar manager to join the leadership team at Harmony Café & Bar. You will oversee the operations of the bar and assist bar staff members in the service of customers.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Managing inventory, rostering and payroll for the bar.
- Overseeing bar operations on a night-to-night basis.
- Developing a bar menu.
- Applying your RSA training to determine when it is appropriate and not appropriate to serve alcohol to customers.
Our ideal candidate will have:
- A Responsible Service of Alcohol certification.
- At least 3 years of experience in hospitality management.
- A passion for hospitality.
- A deep knowledge of alcoholic beverages, including wine.
- Excellent leadership and teamwork skills.
This is a full-time role. This role will involve lifting and carrying heavy objects and boxes. This is a customer-facing role, so strong people skills are absolutely essential.
Bartender job description
We are looking for a skilled bartender and mixologist to join Harmony Café & Bar. You will be responsible for producing cocktails and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for customers.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Preparing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for customers.
- Working with the bar manager to oversee the operations of the bar.
- Working on the development of the bar menu.
- Providing advice to customers on the perfect drink to accompany their meal.
- Cleaning and generally maintaining the bar.
- Applying your RSA training to determine when it is appropriate and not appropriate to serve alcohol to customers.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- A Responsible Service of Alcohol certification
- At least 2 years of experience working as a bartender.
- A passion for hospitality.
- A deep knowledge of alcoholic beverages, including wine.
- Strong organisational and cleanliness skills.
- Experience and skills in working with a team.
- A commitment to consistently excellent customer service.
In this role, we are willing to consider part-time, full-time or casual candidates. This role will involve lifting and carrying heavy objects and boxes. This is a customer-facing role, so strong people skills are absolutely essential.
Sommelier job description
We are looking for a knowledgeable and passionate sommelier to join Harmony Café & Bar. You will be responsible for engaging with customers and advising them on the perfect wine to accompany their meal.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Curating an exceptional wine list for Harmony Café & Bar.
- Using your extensive knowledge to help advise customers on the perfect wines to accompany their meal.
- Work with other team members to build perfect food and wine pairings.
- Ensuring proper storage of wines.
- Sharing your expertise with other members of staff so they can provide superior service to customers.
- Assisting waitstaff with other front of house tasks as required.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- Appropriate sommelier qualifications.
- At least 1 year of experience working as a sommelier.
- A passion for hospitality and ensuring every guest has the best possible experience.
- A deep knowledge and understanding of wines.
In this role, we are willing to consider part-time or full-time candidates. This role will involve lifting and carrying heavy objects and boxes. This is a customer-facing role, so strong people skills are absolutely essential.
Barista job description
We are looking for a dedicated and hard-working barista to join Harmony Café & Bar. You will be responsible for ensuring that every cup of coffee served to our customers is utterly delicious and made with a smile.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Greet customers as they enter Harmony Bar & Café.
- Making coffee using a range of equipment.
- Ensuring the coffee counter is always clean and presentable.
- Advising the restaurant manager as to inventory and stock needs for the coffee counter.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- At least 1 years of experience as a barista.
- Excellent coffee-making skills.
- Ability to use the latest coffee machines and equipment.
- A passion for hospitality.
- A commitment to consistently excellent customer service.
In this role, we are willing to consider casual, part-time or full-time candidates. This is a customer-facing role, so strong people skills are absolutely essential. This role will also require frequent early starts.
Dishwasher job description
We are looking for a dedicated dishwasher to join the team at Harmony Bar & Café. In this role, you will be responsible for washing used plates, bowls, cutlery and cookware, and ensuring a high level of hygiene and cleanliness.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Cleaning and sterilising countertops, cooking equipment and coffee-making equipment.
- Cleaning dishes and cutlery using commercial washing machines.
- Ensuring high standards of hygiene and cleanliness are maintained at all times.
- Assisting front of house and back of house staff with a range of other tasks as required.
Our ideal candidate for this role will have:
- At least 6 months of hospitality experience.
- Some experience with commercial washing machines is preferred.
- A positive, can-do attitude and willingness to learn.
- An understanding of the importance cleanliness and hygiene play in the experience of our guests.
In this role, we are willing to consider part-time or casual candidates. This role will involve lifting and carrying heavy objects.
Elevate your venue with ResDiary
If you want to attract the very best staff to work with you, you must make your venue as exceptional as possible. Then, your outstanding staff will continue to make your business even better. This is the powerful, cyclical benefit of excellent hiring.
Providing excellent service quality is easy with the help of ResDiary's restaurant management system, which includes simplified yield management and ResPhone, an automated phone reservation service.
It also includes over 60 integrations including EPOS and property management systems. Book a ResDiary demo today to find out how it can help make your venue the place to be for customers and employees.