Education · 1 of 4

The path

There is no school for this. There is a certificate, a first shift, and then practice.

1. 1

   Get your alcohol service certificate

   1 day

   Legally required before you serve liquor. Smart Serve in Ontario, Serving It Right in British Columbia, ProServe in Alberta. Online, a few hours.

2. 2

   Start as a host or busser

   1 to 6 months

   Most restaurants will not hand a section to someone with no floor experience. Hosting is the way in.

3. 3

   Take a small section

   Months

   Lunch shifts or a quiet patio first. You learn the menu, the point of sale system and how to carry three plates.

4. 4

   Move to the money shifts

   1 to 2 years

   Friday and Saturday dinner in a busy room is where the income is, and it goes to whoever is fastest and most reliable.

5. 5

   Specialise or move up

   2 years and up

   Fine dining, banquets, bartending, sommelier work, or assistant manager.