Counter service assistant
Counter service assistants greet and serve customers and take payments for food and drink.
Also known as: Crew member, fast-food service assistant, food and beverage server
- Starter salary£13,000 a year
- Experienced£23,000 a year
- Typical hours40 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As a counter service assistant, you'll:
- welcome customers and take their food and drink orders
- handle raw and cooked food, following food hygiene rules
- set up and keep all eating and serving areas clean and tidy
- bring food and drink to the table or take-away point
- give advice about food content and menu choices and make sure customers have everything they need
- use a till and vending machines
- handle customer enquiries and complaints
Working environment
You could work at a store or at a restaurant.
Your working environment may be hot and noisy.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be flexible and open to change
- knowledge of food production methods
- knowledge of public safety and security
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a counter service assistant
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
You could take a course in food and beverage service or hospitality and catering.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Catering and Hospitality Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship, or Food and Beverage Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
Direct application
You could apply directly for jobs. Some employers may expect you to have experience in customer service, catering or hospitality work.
You could start with a weekend or temporary job to build up your skills.
Foundation apprenticeship
You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.
If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- are in care or have been in care
- are in prison or have been in prison
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a supervisor or manager.
Guides for this industry
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