Wait Staff Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
Wait Staff, also known as servers, are integral to the Hospitality Service industry as they are primarily responsible for serving food and beverages to customers, taking orders, and providing excellent customer service in restaurants, cafes, and other food-service establishments. Their tasks include handling cash transactions, cleaning tables, answering customer inquiries about the menu, and ensuring that the food service area is clean and well-stocked. They are the face of the establishment, as they directly interact with customers, making them crucial in maintaining the restaurant's reputation and overall guest experience.
Essential skills for Wait Staff include strong communication, ability to work under pressure, customer service skills, physical stamina, and multitasking. They must also have a good memory to remember orders and the layout of the tables. No specific certifications are generally needed, but having a Food Handler's Card or ServSafe certification can be beneficial, while some upscale restaurants might require formal training or a degree in hospitality or a related field. Before becoming a Wait Staffer, a person may have roles such as Host or Hostess, Busser, or Food Runner. These positions allow individuals to gain experience in the food service environment and customer service, preparing them for a server position.
- New Almaden, CA (19 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 3 days ago
- New Almaden, CA (19 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 3 days ago
The Waitstaff/Servers day-to-day work includes routinely setting up, clearing and cleaning and resetting dining room. You would be taking menu orders and serving residents and guests meals in a...
- Los Altos, CA (20 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 5 days ago
- Los Altos, CA (20 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 5 days ago
The Waitstaff/Servers day-to-day work includes routinely setting up, clearing and cleaning and resetting dining room. You would be taking menu orders and serving residents and guests meals in a...
- Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 5 hours ago
- Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 5 hours ago
At California Pizza Kitchen, R.O.C.K.S is our philosophy for a culture that rocks! For over 35 years weve built a culture of Respect, amazing Opportunities, open Communication, acts of Kindness,...
West Valley San Jose - Barista
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 8 hours ago
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 8 hours ago
At Philz, we're doing something bigger than coffee - we're building culture and community. We believe that warmth, authenticity, kindness, positivity and passion can Better People's Days - one cup...
Cashier's Assistant (Front End Service & Bagger) - Part Time Seasonal
- Capitola, CA (12 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 8 hours ago
- Capitola, CA (12 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 8 hours ago
All Whole Foods Market Retail jobs require ensuring a positive company image by providing courteous, friendly, and efficient service to customers and Team Members at all times....
Senior Software Engineer, Full Stack - Server Driven UI Platform
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 9 hours ago
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 9 hours ago
About the Team Our mission is to create a world-class server driven UI platform that serves engineers across the company. We create libraries, tools, and frameworks that enable product teams to...
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 12 hours ago
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 12 hours ago
Location Name: Manufacturing Company - 92165001 Location ID: 92165001 Barista Location: Manufacturing Company - 92165001 Workdays/shifts : Weekdays - morning and afternoon/evening shifts. More...
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 13 hours ago
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 13 hours ago
Required Years of Experience 2 years Job Details Vine Hospitality is a premier multi-unit fine dining restaurant group with $60M in annual revenue and a reputation for culinary excellence. Our...
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 20 hours ago
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 20 hours ago
Courteously handle sales, refunds, and exchanges....
Operations Specialist - Lead Food Server
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique...
Catering Attendant (Full Time)
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
- San Jose, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
Ensures guests receive friendly, courteous service at all times. Maintains in-depth knowledge of complete menu and products on hand. Maintains clean and safe work environment....
- Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
- Santa Clara, CA (22 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
Interacts with customers and other employees in a friendly, courteous manner....
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 23 hours ago
and friendly manner and in accordance with established brand/hotel guest service and sustainability standards....
Restaurant Cashiers, Bussers, Food Runners
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 1 day ago
- Sunnyvale, CA (23 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 1 day ago
Excellent guest service and interpersonal skills. 2. Excellent communication skills. 3. High energy with ability to work in a high-volume environment on a consistent basis. 4....
barista - Store# 07933, RENGSTORFF & MIDDLEFIELD
- Mountain View, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 1 day ago
- Mountain View, CA (24 miles from Santa Cruz, CA)
- 1 day ago
Join us and inspire with every cup! At Starbucks, its all about connection. People are at the heart of who we are, especially the people that are a part of our store team. We connect with each...
Demographic Data for Santa Cruz, CA
Moving to Santa Cruz, CA? Find some basic demographic data about Santa Cruz, CA below.
Wait Staff Online Courses and Training Opportunities
Salary for Wait Staff Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Wait Staff positions.
Highest Education Level
Wait Staffs in Santa Cruz, CA offer the following education backgroundQualifications / Skill Sets
The following top skills are often required or desired to land a Wait Staff position
- Military Background
- Ordering Merchandise
- MICROS Systems
- Banquet Catering
- Casual Dining
- Front of House
- Guest Service
- Dishwashing
- Back of House
- Food and Beverage Management
- Buffet
- Loyalty Marketing
- Menu Planning
- Grilling
- Fryer
- Sanitation
- Food Handling
- Catering
- Food Preparation
- Courteous
- Baking
- Food Safety
- Health and Safety
- Point-of-Sale System
- Long-Term Disability
- Wellness
- Cooking
- Cashier Skills
- Merchandising
- Energetic
- Reimbursement
- Cash Handling
- Stocking
- Scanning
- Friendliness
- High School Diploma
- Punctual
- Retail
- Driving
- Events
- Flexibility
- Interpersonal Skills
- Bachelor's Degree
- English
- Regulations
- Multitasking
- Inventory Management
- Policy Development
- Sales
- Problem Solving
- Teamwork
- Organization
- Customer Service
- Scheduling
- Leadership
- Communication Skills
Other Career Titles
Here are some other career titles that require similar skills
Wait Staff Related Career Advice Articles

Must-Read Job Search Advice for Restaurant Workers
Learn the ins and outs of how to get a job at a restaurant, including when to turn in your resume, how to present yourself, and how to land the job.
Read article »