Here’s what to wear to a job orientation at a restaurant. Many restaurants hold orientations for new staff. While orientation sessions can last anywhere from a few hours to an entire shift, the restaurant will utilize this time to familiarize you with the company’s culture and routines, complete hiring paperwork, and prepare you for additional training.
What to wear to a job orientation at a restaurant?
Make sure that your outfit is appropriate for the restaurant: if it’s a nicer restaurant, dress accordingly; if it’s a fast food restaurant, make sure that your uniform is clean and wrinkle-free so you make a great first impression.
It’s also important to consider what kind of impression you’ll make on the person who conducts the orientation. Before you arrive at the restaurant’s orientation, you should know the dress code. If everyone is wearing black pants with a white shirt and a green vest, then make sure you don’t show up in a red dress.
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What to wear to a job orientation at a fast food restaurant?
Black pants are appropriate for a job orientation at a fast food restaurant. A pair of slick-proof black shoes are also mandatory. Forget about looks; what you want is comfortable shoes for your orientation. And you can’t go wrong with a clean white t-shirt or polo shirt.
Make sure that your outfit is appropriate for the fast food restaurant. If you are required to wear a uniform, make sure it is clean and wrinkle-free, so you make a great first impression.
It’s also important to consider what kind of impression you’ll make on the person who conducts the fast food restaurant orientation. Before you arrive at the restaurant’s orientation, you should ask about the dress code.
What to wear to a job orientation at a nicer restaurant?
A black and white outfit is appropriate to wear to a job orientation at a nicer restaurant. Most likely, nicer restaurants will have uniforms or strict dress code guidelines.
In most fine dining restaurants, waiters will wear traditional waitstaff colors. The uniform colors blend in and do not take away from the restaurant’s overall ambiance. However, a black and white uniform helps guests identify wait staff at a nicer restaurant.
There are some exceptions to restaurant dress codes. Upscale restaurants may incorporate their brand color into their uniforms. For your orientation, you may be required to wear a solid color tie, a custom restaurant necktie that includes their logo or a purple waiter bow tie. The goal of the restaurant is to keep the server uniforms easily identifiable, classy, and upscale.
It’s easy to picture yourself wearing a black and white server uniform for the restaurant orientation, but fine dining establishments have some standards to consider.
The wrinkle-free white button-down dress shirt is a staple of nice restaurants. Unfortunately, restaurants can be messy, and these crisp white shirts can be easily slopped and stained. Thus, servers need to have a rotation of clean white shirts. And even on your orientation day, you should have a backup shirt, just in case.
But, before your orientation, the restaurant may require you to wear a black dress shirt. Black shirts are common for upscale restaurants, even though they are less traditional. But many nicer restaurants require their waiters to wear an all-black outfit because it hides food and liquid stains more easily. As a result, black server outfits may have a longer life and may be easier to keep clean.
Before you show up for the restaurant orientation, your dress shirt should be fitted and pressed. Of course, your shirt should be tucked in at all times.
In upscale restaurant job orientations, you are required to wear dress pants. Leggings and jeans are unacceptable. But, you can wear tuxedo bottoms. Tuxedo bottoms won’t work unless all wait staff wears them.
Some restaurants allow waiters to select their pants. Even so, the restaurant will have specific guidelines about color, cut and design.
Sometimes servers wear black skirts instead of pants for their orientation. Waitress skirts are usually knee-length to allow movement. Like tuxedo pants, the skirts must be identical for that consistent, easily identifiable look.
On top of those tailored pants and crisp button-down shirts, waiters may be required to wear aprons and vests in a fine dining restaurant orientation. Vests are quite common in nice restaurants.
The color of the vests is usually black and a classic style:
- Buttons down the front
- Sheen-finish material in the front
- Satin finishes in the back
The aprons in this type of restaurant are generally dark gray or black, have no bib up the chest, and are longer. This style is also known as a full bistro style. The bistro apron is a dressier look than bib or waist aprons. Bib aprons are popular nowadays in trendy restaurants.
Besides that recognizable waitstaff look, vests and aprons offer a protective layer over your outfit. Vests are a great way to keep those white shirts looking crisp and lasting longer.
Server ties are an absolute must at fine dining establishments. Traditionally, upscale restaurants required their staff to wear a black bow tie. If you are required to wear a new tie for your restaurant orientation, consider pre-tied bow ties. They are easy and low maintenance. But, the band collar bow tie is also popular because it’s easy to use and stays securely in place throughout your orientation day.
As dress codes become less formal in restaurants, black neckties are also an acceptable choice for high-end restaurant servers. However, the ties must be wider than 3 inches. Like the rest of the server outfit, the tie should be wrinkle and stain-free and clean at all times.
While most upscale restaurants select a standard tie the waiter must tie, zipper ties are also an excellent option. The pre-tied ties go around the neck and require little work. Zipper ties stay in place and provide a sharp look among waiters.
Often, various tie colors are incorporated into upscale server uniforms. When waiters wear black dress shirts, they may change the black tie for a dark blue equivalent. The tie is easy to show off a restaurant’s logo color and add to the overall ambiance. Consistency and stain-free are key here.
Don’t overlook the most important part of a high-end waiter uniform: shoes. Like on a normal work day, you will be on your feet for your orientation, so comfort and a non-slip sole are important.
In fine dining restaurants, waitstaff should wear dressier styles of shoes in black leather. Regardless of the material, your shoes should be easy to clean. For a waiter, this usually means a black oxford with laces. Waitresses can wear the women’s equivalent of the same shoe, a loafer, a low (but comfortable) pump, or a black ballerina flat.
A black dress sock must be worn with your restaurant shoes. Socks made with natural materials, like bamboo or cotton, are often more comfortable and can also control sweating and odor.
Your restaurant orientation outfit is not only about what you wear. Upscale restaurants usually have a set of grooming and appearance guidelines. It’s not enough to be freshly showered. Servers are required to show up without visible tattoos or facial piercings. And you should be clean-cut with well-manicured fingernails. Don’t overdo the cologne or perfume. And keep jewelry to a minimum.
Restaurants can set standards for facial hair for male servers. And restaurants can require a certain haircut style, such as a clean cut. Waitpersons are often instructed to wear their hair in the same style, like a low bun.
Just like the design and menu, the waiter’s uniform is another element that adds to the excellence of a nice restaurant. Traditional, clean and formal outfits are required for a restaurant job orientation.
Black pants and a white dress shirt with a black tie are common. After your orientation, you may find ways to personalize your outfit. Grooming is also a critical part of a waiter’s uniform. Consider the restaurant’s dress code and guidelines before you attend the orientation.
Combined with an exceptional menu, five-start service and just the right ambiance, with the right outfit, you can create the best impression in your new restaurant job.
What to wear to a job orientation at Chick-fil-A?
Depending on your position, Chick-fil-A will assign you uniforms for your job orientation. You are required to wear black non-slip shoes and black socks for work, including your orientation.
What to wear to a job orientation at McDonald’s?
Wear black pants and a white t-shirt or polo shirt for your orientation at McDonald’s. McDonald’s may assign you uniforms for your job orientation. You are required to wear black non-slip shoes and black socks for work, including your orientation.
What to wear to a Red Lobster job orientation?
Wear business casual clothes for your orientation at Red Lobster. Red Lobster may assign you uniforms for your job orientation. You are required to wear black non-slip shoes and black socks for work, including your orientation.
How should I dress for a job orientation?
Check with HR or your supervisors to find out what you should wear for the job orientation.
Should I dress up for a job orientation?
You should dress up for job orientation.
