Hostess job description.
A hostess greets guests, manages seating and reservations, and sets the tone for a restaurant's dining experience. They coordinate with servers and kitchen staff to balance table turnover, handle waitlists during busy periods, and resolve guest concerns at the front of house, acting as the first and last point of contact for every visitor.
The Hostess job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Hostess Reports to: Restaurant Manager or Front-of-House Manager
A hostess greets guests, manages seating and reservations, and sets the tone for a restaurant's dining experience. They coordinate with servers and kitchen staff to balance table turnover, handle waitlists during busy periods, and resolve guest concerns at the front of house, acting as the first and last point of contact for every visitor.
- Greet guests warmly upon arrival and departure
- Manage reservations, waitlists, and table assignments
- Coordinate seating flow with servers to balance section workload
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Restaurant Manager or Front-of-House Manager
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Greet guests warmly upon arrival and departure
- Manage reservations, waitlists, and table assignments
- Coordinate seating flow with servers to balance section workload
- Answer phones and take reservations or takeout inquiries
- Maintain a clean, organized host stand and entrance area
- Communicate wait times accurately and manage guest expectations
- Escalate guest complaints to a manager when needed
- Assist with menu handouts, coat check, or special seating requests
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred
- Strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to stand and walk for extended shifts
- Comfortable using reservation or POS systems
- Prior restaurant or hospitality experience
- Bilingual communication skills
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Hostess job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Hostess job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Restaurant Manager or Front-of-House Manager) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Does a hostess need prior restaurant experience?
- No, most restaurants hire hostesses as entry-level positions and provide on-the-job training on reservation systems and seating flow.
- What separates a strong hostess candidate?
- Look for composure under pressure and clear communication, since the role manages guest expectations during peak wait times.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Server
A server (waiter/waitress) provides front-of-house service in a restaurant or hospitality setting, taking orders, delivering food and drink, and ensuring guests have an excellent experience..
Waiter
A Waiter takes food and beverage orders, serves guests, and ensures a positive dining experience in a restaurant setting.
Restaurant Manager
A Restaurant Manager oversees daily operations of a restaurant, including staffing, customer service, and financial performance.
This Hostess job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.