Working as a waiter in Luxembourg: skills, wages and documents
Working as a waiter is one of the opportunities to start or develop a career in Luxembourg, available to almost everyone. Find out what skills, documents and requirements you need to fulfill to get a job in this part of the service industry.
The driving force behind any restaurant is the wait staff. They are the ones who greet guests with a smile, help them with their choices, look after them and make the experience of visiting a restaurant a memorable one. True professionals can count on additional remuneration in the form of tips, which in Luxembourg, by the way, it is customary to leave 5-10% of the check, although not obligatory.
What does waiter wait?
Working as a waiter in Luxembourg involves a multifaceted role, encompassing various responsibilities and conditions that differ based on the establishment's size and nature.
In smaller restaurants versatility is key, with waiters handling a myriad of tasks.
Set up
Main
More
In larger, upscale restaurants, waiter responsibilities are more defined and structured. They may specialize in tasks like table setting or order transmission to the kitchen.
Growth at the workplace
Starting as an assistant waiter, a waiter can advance to roles like head waiter or maître d'hôtel, demonstrating expertise through experience.
Waiters in Luxembourg often work independently or as part of a team, maintaining a consistent standing position. Impeccable grooming is mandatory, and proficiency in foreign languages may be required to take orders from international clientele.
Work hours and daily rhythms are tied to restaurant opening hours and customer traffic, often involving evening shifts, Sundays, and holidays. The job can be seasonal in tourist-heavy regions. Waiters find employment in diverse settings, including hotels, standalone restaurants, brasseries, on-board trains, and maritime transport companies.
Training and skills necessary to work
In Luxembourg, becoming a waiter doesn't necessitate a formal diploma, yet undergoing training significantly enhances employability, secures better wages, and aids in professional advancement.
Two primary qualifications for preparing for the waiter profession are a CCP (Certificat de Capacité Professionnelle) or a DAP (Diplôme d’Aptitude Professionnelle) in Restaurant Service.
CCP
DAP
Where can you study?
These programs are offered in Luxembourg by the Lycée Technique de Bonnevoie (LTB)
Beyond formal education, a waiter should possess a multitude of skills and competencies, many of which are developed during training and through experience.
While formal qualifications enhance a waiter's employability, the acquisition of skills, ranging from technical service expertise to exceptional memory and language proficiency, plays a pivotal role in excelling in the dynamic and diverse hospitality industry in Luxembourg.
Which jobs are available in Luxembourg?
In the realm of waiter positions, the scope varies significantly based on the size and nature of the restaurant. While smaller establishments demand versatility, larger or upscale restaurants delineate well-defined roles, offering a nuanced hierarchy of positions.
What is the demand for waiters in Luxembourg
Luxembourg, renowned for its diverse culinary landscape, boasts a multitude of restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. Consequently, the profession of a waiter is highly prevalent in the country.
Statistic shows
According to a sectoral study conducted by the Ministry of Labour (MT) and the Employment Development Agency (ADEM) in the hospitality and restaurant industry, roles within restaurant service are the second most sought-after in Luxembourg. The study reveals that kitchen staff (such cooks, chefs de partie and cooking assistants) constitute 27.7% of the demand, closely followed by restaurant service personnel (including waiters, head waiters, and restaurant clerks) at 22.7%.
- With such high demand, working as a waiter, in any of its encompassing roles, presents significant employment opportunities in Luxembourg, ensuring a robust job market for prospective waitstaff in the country.
Top occupations and job ideas for Luxembourg
Let's examine the intricacies of different roles within the dining area.
Where to look for job in Luxembourg?
If you're intrigued by opportunities in the hospitality sector in Luxembourg, and specifically seeking waiter positions, we'll address your queries. We'll explore prominent job portals and examine key companies in Luxembourg known for recruiting waitstaff, providing valuable insights into where to find waiter positions in the country.
To navigate the job market efficiently, the internet is your best ally, hosting numerous job portals with thousands of job listings. These platforms allow you to filter job offers based on your preferred sector, location, educational level, or required work experience.
- Among the international portals are eures.europa.eu (the European Union's portal), eurojobs.com, eurojobsites.com, experteer.com, indeed.com, page.com and LinkedIn.com.
- For local opportunities in Luxembourg, prominent portals include jobfinder.lu, jobs.lu, monster.lu, and moovijob.com. Each portal offers a unique set of opportunities, allowing you to tailor your job search to your preferences and career goals.
Working as a waiter offers a diverse range of opportunities in Luxembourg, spanning restaurants, hotel-restaurants, brasseries, and even catering companies on trains. Here is a curated list of some prominent establishments in Luxembourg actively seeking waitstaff, each providing a unique culinary experience:
- Novotel: Novotel, a globally recognized hotel brand, offers a comfortable and modern hospitality experience worldwide. With a presence in Luxembourg, Novotel actively seeks restaurant service personnel to join their team. This presents exciting opportunities for waiters at various levels, from beginners to head waiters.
- Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut, a renowned global pizza restaurant chain, is celebrated for its delicious pizzas and diverse menu. Operating in Luxembourg, Pizza Hut consistently looks for service staff to join their team, providing enticing opportunities for waiters in Luxembourg.
- Mercure Luxembourg Kikuoka: As part of the renowned Mercure hotel chain, the Mercure Luxembourg Kikuoka extends its presence to Luxembourg. Featuring an on-site restaurant, the hotel is continuously on the lookout for waitstaff, offering opportunities for individuals to join its dynamic team.
- Sofitel: Sofitel, a luxurious hotel brand epitomizing elegance and sophistication, is known for exceptional dining experiences. With a presence in Luxembourg, Sofitel frequently seeks waitstaff for its restaurants, providing opportunities for individuals to contribute to unforgettable culinary journeys.
- Mama Shelter: Mama Shelter, a relatively recent French hotel chain, has a presence in Luxembourg and consistently looks for servers for its restaurants. With over 2370 rooms, 30 restaurants, and a global presence, Mama Shelter offers a unique opportunity for individuals to join its vibrant teams.
- Equilibrium: A new restaurant in the heart of Clausen, Equilibrium offers modern and inventive cuisine. Led by the acclaimed Belgian chef Baptiste Heugens, the restaurant occasionally seeks service staff to contribute to its focus on local and seasonal ingredients.
- Tempo: Located in Kirchberg behind the Philharmonie, Tempo is a restaurant managed by Chef Jan Schneidewind. The establishment occasionally looks for waiters or head waiters to join their team and contribute to the restaurant's unique culinary offerings.
- Hesper Park: Situated in Hesperange, near the Hesper Park, this restaurant periodically searches for waiters and head waiters to complement its team.
- Restaurant Raïskär: Located in Strassen, Restaurant Raïskär specializes in Chinese and Thai cuisine. The restaurant occasionally recruits waiters and head waiters to enhance its culinary offerings.
- Steffen Traiteur: As part of the Group Steffen, Steffen Traiteur is a prominent culinary destination in Luxembourg. Known for its delectable offerings, the establishment is consistently in search of waitstaff, providing exciting opportunities for waiters to contribute to its renowned culinary experiences.
Temporary or interim work in the restaurant sector, especially for service personnel like waiters, is quite common in Luxembourg. This flexible employment arrangement offers advantages such as quick entry into the workforce, exposure to various work environments, and the ability to adapt to different styles of service. It can be an ideal option for those seeking temporary positions or exploring diverse establishments.
Keep in mind
However, drawbacks include potential income instability, varying work schedules, and limited access to benefits compared to permanent positions.
Despite the uncertainties, many individuals appreciate the opportunities for skill development and networking that interim work in the restaurant industry provides.
Waiters' salaries in Luxembourg in 2024
Salary of a beginner in industry
1,933 to 2,663 euros
Salary of an experienced waiter
2,047 to 2,954 euros
Industry average as per usual
1,933 to 3,931 euros
Beginners in the field typically earn between 1,933 euros and 2,663 euros per month, while waiters with five years of experience can expect their monthly income to fall within the range of 2,047 euros to 2,954 euros.
Depends on a day
As of 2024, based on data from lohnspiegel.lu, the Luxembourg average waiter salary can be as high as 4,000 euros. Not including the tips.
What papers do you need as a foreigner?
For European nationals, the process of working in Luxembourg is relatively straightforward, given the freedom to live and work in any European country. However, if you are not a European national, navigating the paperwork becomes essential.
The requirements vary based on your circumstances, distinguishing between employed and self-employed roles. Additionally, familial situations, such as having a Luxembourgish or European partner, can impact the process. Other, than that, the process of obtaining a work visa for Luxembourg is pretty straightforward for third-country nationals. You will need to first land the job, then to obtain Visa D, enter the country and proceed with relocation steps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does a waiter's job consist of in Luxembourg?
In Luxembourg, a waiter's role encompasses a range of responsibilities. From preparing and setting up tables before service to welcoming guests, presenting menus, and taking orders, waiters play a pivotal role in ensuring a positive dining experience. During service, they serve dishes, offer wine recommendations, and attend to customer needs. Post-service tasks include clearing tables, handling payments, and maintaining overall cleanliness.
What training and skills are necessary to work as a waiter in Luxembourg?
While formal education is not mandatory, obtaining qualifications like a CCP (Certificat de Capacité Professionnelle) or DAP (Diplôme d’Aptitude Professionnelle) in Restaurant Service can enhance job prospects. Essential skills include proficiency in service techniques, exceptional memory for customer preferences, strong customer relations abilities, adherence to hygiene and food safety regulations, teamwork, physical endurance, curiosity about culinary arts, and multilingualism (French, German, English, and Luxembourgish).
What types of positions can be found in the waiter's work area in Luxembourg?
The waiter's work area in Luxembourg offers various positions, including Waiter Assistant (entry-level tasks), Waiter (general service duties), Head waiter (table responsibility), Maître d'hôtel (guest interaction and service coordination), and more senior roles like Premier Maître d'hôtel and Room Manager (management and coordination positions).
What is the demand for waiters in Luxembourg?
Source: www.cidj.com, www.supercamarero.com, www.adeccorientaempleo.com, www.alloextra.com, maison-orientation.public.lu, www.orientation.lu, www.orientation.lu, fr.indeed.com, www.ltb.lu, www.lhotellerie-restauration.fr, adem.public.lu, fr.wikipedia.org, www.moovijob.com, www.moovijob.com, www.moovijob.com, www.moovijob.com, www.moovijob.com, www.moovijob.com, www.moovijob.com, www.moovijob.com, en.jobs.lu, lohnspiegel.lu
We took photos from these sources: Unsplash, ADEM