Great Restaurant Jobs for 15 Year Olds

Some great jobs for 15 year olds can be found in the restaurant industry. Business owners usually love hiring teens because they can train them in hopes of promoting them to a higher position. Although most restaurant jobs are minimum wage, it is a great starting point that can give teens a sense of work ethic and personal pride. I’ve listed some typical positions that teens can apply for in the restaurant industry.

1. Busboy – Depending on the size and type  and of the restaurant, a busboy’s position and duties could differ. This position typically requires bringing water to incoming customers, bringing chips and salsa (typically in mexican restaurants), restocking different condiments, paper products, clearing off tables, and taking out the trash. A great perk that comes from bussing is that they are usually tipped out from the servers, which when added to minimum wage, is a great way for 15 year olds to start making money.

2. Host/Hostess – This position requires having a friendly face and outgoing attitude. The Host is the employee who greets the customers when they come in the restaurant and make them feel welcome. The host will then take the customer to their table based on a rotation of servers. This is a very important position as the host makes the restaurant run and keeps an even distribution among the servers. Hosts can also be responsible for cleaning restrooms, entryways, and other parts of the restaurant.

3. Dishwasher – This position is very straightforward. The dishwasher usually has few responsibilities which are based on cleaning, and drying all dishes, cups, glasses, and silverware that the busboy brings in from the dirty tables. This position may seem boring, but it is a great way to start earning money, doesn’t require any training, and teaches hard work.

Check out these chain restaurants to apply for these positions:

Red Robin
Chili’s
Black Angus
Olive Garden
OutBack Steakhouse