Find restaurants near you that are looking for help and apply in person. You'll probably be bussing tables or cleaning at first, but you'll get a look into what working in this industry is like. 

Apply for a restaurant job.

Look for a simple recipe that you can make on your own or with friends. Make a shopping list of ingredients and make sure you read the recipe a few times so you know what to expect before you start!

Try a new recipe!

Learn about food safety, sanitation, and more through a food handler certification course. Make sure to verify the certification requirements for your specific state!

Find out what it takes to get a food handler certification.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

Food and Beverage Serving Workers

Place food servings on plates or trays according to orders or instructions.

Clean or sterilize dishes, kitchen utensils, equipment, or facilities.

Monitor food distribution, ensuring that meals are delivered to the correct recipients and that guidelines, such as those for special diets, are followed.

Examine trays to ensure that they contain required items.

Load trays with accessories, such as eating utensils, napkins, or condiments.

Take food orders and relay orders to kitchens or serving counters so they can be filled.

Monitor food preparation or serving techniques to ensure that proper procedures are followed.

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Overview

Career

What Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Do

Other Job Titles Food Servers, Nonrestaurant May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Overview

Career

What Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Do

Other Job Titles Food Servers, Nonrestaurant May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

Related Careers

Related Leaders