Dishwashers

Career Description: Clean dishes, kitchen, food preparation equipment, or utensils.

Industry: Food Preparation and Serving Related

Other Job Titles for Dishwashers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Wash dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and/or pans using dishwashers or by hand.
• Place clean dishes, utensils, and cooking equipment in storage areas.
• Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment, and utensils in clean and orderly condition.
• Stock supplies such as food and utensils in serving stations, cupboards, refrigerators, and salad bars.
• Sweep and scrub floors.
• Clean garbage cans with water or steam.
• Sort and remove trash, placing it in designated pickup areas.
• Clean and prepare various foods for cooking or serving.
• Set up banquet tables.
• Transfer supplies and equipment between storage and work areas, by hand or using hand trucks.
• Receive and store supplies.
• Prepare and package individual place settings.
• Load or unload trucks that deliver or pick up food and supplies.
• Carry trays from food counters to tables for cafeteria patrons.
• Replenish supplies of food and equipment at steam tables and service bars.
• Run cash registers.
• Wash glasses and other serving equipment at bars.
• Garnish foods, and position them on tables to make them visible and accessible.
• Carry linens to and from laundry areas.
• Stock refrigerating units with wines and bottled beer, and replace empty beer kegs.
• Mix and prepare flavors for mixed drinks.
• Slice and pit fruit used to garnish drinks.
• Stock vending machines with food.

Emerging Tasks

• Cook food or prepare food items (e.g., sandwiches, salads, ice cream dishes), using standard formulas or following directions.
• Perform cleaning duties (e.g., sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes) to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.
• Restock kitchen supplies and rotate and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
• Perform personnel activities, such as supervising and training employees.
• Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.
• Prepare daily food items for line cook or buffet and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, and coffee using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• arrange decorations or furniture for banquets or social functions
• clean equipment or machinery
• clean rooms or work areas
• load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
• operate food preparation equipment
• perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking
• prepare appetizers, salads, or cold dishes
• replenish supplies of food, tableware or linen
• retrieve or place goods from/into storage
• stock or organize goods
• understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
• use knives
• use knowledge of food handling rules
• wash dishes, glassware, or related utensils
• schedule restaurant reservations
• serve food or beverages
• set or clear tables in dining areas
• understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
• use cash registers
• use knowledge of food handling rules
• use oral or written communication techniques
• wash dishes, glassware, or related utensils
• receive verbal instructions as to food order
• serve food or beverages
• stock or organize goods
• understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
• use knives
• use knowledge of food handling rules
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking
• plan meal presentations
• plan menus
• prepare appetizers, salads, or cold dishes
• prepare beverages
• prepare specialty foods
• price items on menu
• provide customer service
• purchase food or beverages
• read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• serve food or beverages
• test food to determine that it is cooked
• understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
• use knives
• use knowledge of food handling rules
• use specialized bakery equipment

Overall Experience
No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a cashier even if he/she has never worked before.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Education
These occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some may require a formal training course to obtain a license.

Examples
These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include taxi drivers, amusement and recreation attendants, counter and rental clerks, cashiers, and waiters/waitresses.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$7.89
• Average annual wage (2007) - $16,410.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 10.41%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 53,865
• Employment (2006): 517,358

• Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
• Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
• Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
• Packers and Packagers, Hand
• Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
• Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
• Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks
• Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
• Residential Advisors