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Looking for cover letter ideas? See our sample Crew Member Cover Letter.

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Crew Member Duties and Responsibilities

Crew members perform a wide range of tasks in their day-to-day work. We researched crew member job descriptions to come up with the following list of core responsibilities:

Process Orders The crew member is responsible for taking customer orders according to company guidelines. This involves requesting and verifying customers’ chosen food items, then operating cash registers to process payment. Crew members may also promote other restaurant products using suggestive selling techniques.

Prepare Food Because customers expect only a short waiting time, crew members must prepare and package food quickly without compromising quality, usually by complying with restaurant recipes and procedures. They must also observe safety requirements and consider factors such as presentation, portion control, and special requests.

Assist Customers During their entire shift, crew members strive to provide a high level of service. They greet customers warmly, answer basic inquiries about the restaurant, and offer information about menu items, creating a comfortable environment through their courteous, respectful attitude.

Maintain Restaurant Cleanliness Crew members keep their workstations clean and organized to satisfy company standards and ensure hygienic food preparation. Beyond this, some employers assign more general housekeeping duties to crew members, who may also inspect and maintain other parts of the restaurant, such as the kitchen, restrooms, or parking lot.

Identify Problems Since crew members interact firsthand with customers, they’re in a prime position to look out for possible issues, such as excessively lengthy lines or inconvenient packaging, and customers often turn to them when voicing their complaints. Crew members must know how to handle such situations and promptly relay these concerns to management.

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Crew Member Skills and Qualifications

Crew members are efficient and adaptable, catering to customers in record time and accomplishing their tasks calmly even during busy periods. They excel at following procedures and keeping track of details. In addition, crew members benefit from having the following skills:

  • Customer service – crew members must be prepared for various scenarios, from routine order-taking to complaint resolution. To address inquiries properly, they should also be knowledgeable about menu items and the restaurant as a whole
  • Accuracy – crew members are attentive and thorough, double-checking orders and strictly abiding by instructions when preparing food. It’s essential to get every detail right, especially since they serve a queue of customers and mistakes may result in undesirable delays
  • Teamwork – working within a team is typical for crew members. They must communicate clearly and synchronize their workflow with others if they are to accomplish customer requests in a span of minutes
  • Multitasking – job duties for crew members are diverse. Given their fast-paced work environment, they should be excellent multitaskers who can switch fluidly between different kinds of activities and cope with high demand
  • Physical dexterity – crew members use their hands significantly, as their food preparation duties may entail cooking, cutting, and wrapping. Another physical requirement is standing for several hours
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Crew Member Education and Training

There are no formal educational requirements for becoming a crew member. Previous experience is an advantage but not required, and most employers provide on-the-job training for a few weeks, covering restaurant information, safety and sanitation standards, food preparation, and customer protocol. Because most job openings are entry level and part time, it’s possible for high school and college students to apply.

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Crew Member Salary and Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for food and beverage serving and related workers is around $20,000, with an hourly wage of $9.81. Those in the 10th percentile earn less than $8.23 per hour, while the highest paid earn more than $13.60. Growth in this field is predicted to rise 14 percent through 2026. As the population increases, there will be greater demand for both the dine-in and take-out restaurant services, especially in the fast food industry.

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Helpful Resources

We’ve collected some of the best resources to help you learn about working as a crew member:

Brand Eating – this website features daily updates on the fast food industry. Its bite-sized articles consist of reviews and announcements about menu additions, and it even has an extensive section of current deals and specials offered by several restaurants

McDonald’s: Behind the Arches – McDonald’s has become an iconic fast food chain, attaining widespread success and thriving even during tough financial periods. This book examines how McDonald’s was able to reach the top through creativity, good decision-making, and a willingness to adapt to and evolve with the marketplace

Restaurant Workers Association – crew members can bookmark the Restaurant Workers Association website, which is committed to furthering the careers of restaurant and hospitality workers. It’s a one-stop resource that contains industry news, deals and discounts, job postings, and information about financial services

The Customer Rules: The 39 Essential Rules for Delivering Sensational Service – written by Lee Cockerell, the former executive vice president of Disney World, this book lays down practical rules that apply across all industries and even all levels of a company. Crew members can use these right away to improve their customer service skills