Australia Waitstaff·Restaurant Job Guide (2025)

"I want to improve my English while earning money. Is waitstaff a good choice?"

Yes, waitstaff is an excellent choice!

Benefits of waitstaff jobs:

• ✅ Rapid English improvement (interact with 100+ customers daily)
• ✅ Hourly rate $26-32 (weekends $33-40+)
• ✅ Tipping culture (fine dining: $50-200 per week)
• ✅ Meals provided (Staff meal, save on food costs)

This guide was created based on experiences from over 1,200 waitstaff working holidaymakers. Complete coverage from RSA obtaining to trials and interviews.

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1. Types of Waitstaff Jobs

1.1. Casual Dining

Examples:

• Pancakes on the Rocks
• Grill'd (Burgers)
• Nando's (Chicken)

Characteristics:

• Hourly rate: $26-29
• Tips: Almost none (small amounts in tip jar)
• Dress code: Casual (uniform provided)
• English: Intermediate OK

Advantages:

• Beginner friendly
• Training provided

Disadvantages:

• Average hourly rate
• Low tips

1.2. Fine Dining

Examples:

• Quay (Sydney, Michelin star)
• Attica (Melbourne, Michelin star)
• Vue de Monde (Melbourne)

Characteristics:

• Hourly rate: $29-33
• Tips: $50-200/week
• Dress code: Formal (black suit)
• English: Advanced required

Advantages:

• High hourly rate + tips
• Professional experience

Disadvantages:

• Highly competitive
• High stress

1.3. Cafe (Cafe Waitstaff)

Characteristics:

• Hourly rate: $26-30
• Tips: Almost none
• Dress code: Smart casual
• English: Intermediate

Advantages:

• Relaxed atmosphere
• Mainly daytime hours

Disadvantages:

• Average hourly rate and tips

1.4. Pub

Characteristics:

• Hourly rate: $27-31
• Tips: $20-50/week
• Dress code: Black clothing
• English: Intermediate (many drink orders)

Advantages:

• Good for building RSA experience
• Higher night rates

Disadvantages:

• Dealing with intoxicated customers

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2. RSA Certification (Required!)

2.1. What is RSA?

RSA: Responsible Service of Alcohol

• Alcohol service certification
• Mandatory for all venues selling alcohol in Australia (restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs)

⚠️ Note: RSA varies by State!

State	Validity	Online Available?	Cost
NSW	5 years	✅	$50-80
VIC	3 years	✅	$40-70
QLD	Lifetime	✅	$40-80
WA	3 years	✅	$50-90
SA	Lifetime	✅	$60-100

2.2. Online RSA Obtaining (VIC Example)

Step 1: Choose Provider

• Express Online Training: $36.95
• RSA Online: $49
• Australian Online Courses: $52.95

Step 2: Online Training (3-4 hours)

Training Content:

• Alcohol legislation (Liquor Licensing Act)
• Responsible alcohol service
• Signs of intoxication
• Underage verification (ID checking)
• Refusal strategies

Step 3: Final Exam

• 30-40 questions (multiple choice)
• 80%+ correct answers required
• Can retry if failed (unlimited attempts)

Step 4: Download Certificate

• Immediate PDF after passing
• Physical card by mail (optional)

2.3. RSA Preparation Tips

Exam Difficulty:

• Easy (common sense level)
• Example questions:
  • "Penalty for selling alcohol to under 18?" → $22,000+
  • "Should you serve more alcohol to intoxicated customers?" → No

💡 Tip:

• Even beginners can manage (use Google Translate)
• Unlimited retry attempts if failed

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3. Waitstaff Resume Writing

New to writing Australian restaurant resumes? Learn the basic structure step by step in Australian Resume Writing Complete Guide.

3.1. Professional Summary (Examples)

No Experience:

Friendly and energetic individual with strong customer service
skills. Recently obtained RSA certification (VIC) and eager to
begin a career in hospitality. Quick learner with excellent
communication skills and a positive attitude.

Experienced (1 year in Korea):

Experienced waitstaff with 1+ year in fine dining restaurants
in Seoul. Skilled in table management, POS systems, and wine
service. RSA certified (VIC) and committed to delivering
exceptional guest experiences.

3.2. Work Experience

Converting Korean Experience to English:

Korean:

Server | Restaurant ABC | Seoul | 2023-2024
- Served 20-30 tables daily
- Used POS system
- Handled customer complaints

English:

Waitstaff | Restaurant ABC | Seoul, South Korea | 2023-2024
- Served 20-30 tables daily in a 100-seat fine dining restaurant
- Operated POS system (Lightspeed) and processed payments
- Handled customer complaints professionally and resolved issues
- Collaborated with kitchen and bar staff to ensure smooth service

3.3. Skills

HOSPITALITY SKILLS
- Customer Service: Friendly, attentive, detail-oriented
- Table Management: 5-8 tables simultaneously
- POS Systems: Lightspeed, Square, Toast
- Food & Beverage: Menu knowledge, wine pairing basics
- Communication: Clear, professional, multilingual (English, Korean)
- Physical Stamina: Fast-paced environment, 8-hour shifts

3.4. Certifications

CERTIFICATIONS
- RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) – Victoria, Valid until 2028
- Food Safety Certificate – Level 1, Valid until 2026

💡 Tip: Don't have RSA yet? Check Australian RSA Certification Complete Guide for online obtaining methods.

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4. Job Hunting Strategies

4.1. Online Applications

Seek / Indeed:

• Search: "Waitstaff Melbourne" or "Waiter Sydney"
• Filter: Job Type (Casual)

Gumtree:

• Hospitality section

Facebook:

• "Hospitality Jobs Melbourne"
• "Sydney Restaurant Jobs"

4.2. Direct Visit (Most Effective!)

Optimal Time:

• Weekday afternoons 2-3pm (after lunch rush)
• Avoid: 12-2pm, 6-8pm (meal times)

Visit Script:

Hi, I'm looking for a waitstaff position. I have RSA and
[X months/years] of experience in [type of restaurant].
Is the manager available? Here's my resume.

Dress:

• Smart casual (shirt + jeans, or blouse + skirt)
• Clean appearance

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5. Trial Preparation

5.1. What is a Trial?

• 2-4 hours unpaid work
• Evaluation of actual serving ability

5.2. Dress Code

Required:

• Black shirt or blouse
• Black pants or skirt
• Black comfortable shoes (sneakers OK, heels NO)
• Minimal accessories

5.3. Trial Evaluation Criteria

1. Attitude:

• Smile and friendliness
• Proactiveness ("What can I help with?")
• Teamwork

2. Speed:

• Order taking speed
• Food serving speed
• Table clearing

3. Memory:

• Remember orders
• Remember table numbers

4. Communication:

• Customer interaction
• Communication with kitchen and bar

5.4. What to Do During Trial

✅ DO:

• Arrive 5-10 minutes early
• Ask questions proactively ("Where are the menus?")
• Smile at customers
• Help colleagues
• Clean and organize (when not busy)

❌ DON'T:

• Look at smartphone
• Ignore customers
• Complain or grumble
• Move too slowly

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6. Interview Questions and Answers

Q1. Why do you want to work here?

A. I've dined here before and was impressed by the quality
of food and service. I'd love to be part of your team and
contribute to creating great dining experiences.

Q2. Do you have experience?

No Experience:

A. I don't have Australian experience, but I've worked in
customer service for 2 years. I'm a quick learner and very
passionate about hospitality.

Experienced:

A. Yes, I worked as a waitstaff in Seoul for 1 year in a
fine dining restaurant. I'm experienced in table management,
POS systems, and wine service.

Q3. What's your availability?

A. I'm very flexible. I can work weekdays, weekends, mornings,
evenings – whatever suits the restaurant best.

💡 Tip: Saying you can work weekends and evenings increases hiring chances!

Q4. How do you handle difficult customers?

A. I stay calm, listen to their concerns, apologize sincerely,
and offer solutions. If needed, I involve the manager to
resolve the issue professionally.

Q5. Can you work under pressure?

A. Yes, I thrive in fast-paced environments. I stay organized,
prioritize tasks, and communicate with my team to ensure
smooth service.

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7. Essential Waitstaff English Expressions

7.1. Greeting Customers

- "Good evening! Welcome to [Restaurant Name]."
- "How many in your party?"
- "Right this way, please."
- "Can I start you off with some drinks?"

7.2. Taking Orders

- "Are you ready to order?"
- "What can I get for you?"
- "How would you like your steak cooked?"
  - Rare, Medium-rare, Medium, Medium-well, Well-done
- "Any dietary requirements?"
  - Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, Dairy-free

7.3. During Service

- "Here's your [dish name]. Enjoy!"
- "How is everything?"
- "Can I get you anything else?"

7.4. Billing

- "Are you ready for the bill?"
- "Cash or card?"
- "Here's your receipt. Thank you!"

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8. Tipping Culture

8.1. Australian Tipping Culture

Different from Korea and USA:

• Tips not mandatory (service charge included)
• Only some people tip

Average Tips:

• Casual dining: Almost none ($0-5)
• Fine dining: 10-15% ($10-50)

Tip Sharing:

• Usually shared among all staff
• Or collected in tip jar → distributed weekly

8.2. How to Receive More Tips

✅ High-earning servers:

• Friendly and smiling
• Introduce yourself ("Hi, I'm Sarah, I'll be your server")
• Recommend menu items ("Our chef's special is amazing")
• Well-timed service (water refills, clearing plates)

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9. Hourly Rate Information

Weekday vs Weekend vs Public Holiday

Casual Hourly Rates:

Day	Hourly Rate (Example: $26 base)
Weekday	$26
Saturday	$32.50 (× 1.25)
Sunday	$39 (× 1.5)
Public Holiday	$52-65 (× 2.0-2.5)

💡 Tip: Weekend and public holiday shifts pay more!

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10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is waitstaff work difficult without English proficiency?

A. Intermediate level (IELTS 5.5-6.0) recommended. English is important as customer interaction is core.

Q2. Can I work without waitstaff experience?

A. Casual dining is possible without experience. Fine dining prefers experience.

Q3. Are trials paid?

A. Usually unpaid (2-4 hours). This is legal.

Q4. Are meals provided?

A. Most restaurants provide staff meals (free or discounted).

Q5. How much in tips can I receive?

A. Fine dining: $50-200 per week. Casual dining: Almost none.

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Conclusion

Waitstaff work offers English + money + experience all in one.

Key Summary:

1. ✅ Obtain RSA (online 3-4 hours, $40-80)
2. ✅ Prepare resume (Free templates)
3. ✅ Direct visits (2-3pm afternoons)
4. ✅ Prepare for trial (black clothing, proactive attitude)
5. ✅ Prefer weekend shifts (1.5x hourly rate)

Next Steps:

1. Get RSA online
2. Create waitstaff resume
3. Visit restaurants (20-30 locations)

Related Guides:

• Australian Barista Job Complete Guide - If you want to work in cafes
• Australian Working Holiday First Week Guide - What to do after arrival
• Melbourne Working Holiday Complete Guide - Finding waitstaff jobs in Melbourne

Best of luck with your waitstaff job hunt! 🍽️🇦🇺✨

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About the Author The WHRESUME team is in their 3rd year living in Melbourne and genuinely supports Australian working holiday makers. This guide is based on feedback from the working holiday community and analysis of official Australian sources.

💬 Feedback Welcome: If you find outdated or inaccurate information, please let us know via Contact Us!

📌 Latest Information:

• Fair Work Ombudsman - Minimum wages and working conditions
• RSA Online Training - RSA certification information