Are you thinking of applying for a job at Olive Garden?
This popular restaurant chain is famous for serving a range of classic Italian dishes. It was founded in 1982 and operates more than eight hundred restaurants around the world.
Olive Garden offers a range of entry-level job opportunities for teenagers. This is a great way to gain some work experience and make some money while you complete your education.
So, let’s take a look at exactly how old do you have to be to work at Olive Garden?
Contents
Facts About Working At Olive Garden
You can apply for a job at Olive Garden when you are sixteen years old. The company’s restaurants are open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm from Sunday to Thursdays, and 11:00 am to 11:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. There are plenty of opportunities for students to take on part-time shifts on evenings and weekends.
Branches of Olive Garden can be found in Canada, Italy, Mexico, Kuwait, Brazil, and the Philippines. It is often possible for employees to transfer to an international branch. This is a good way to discover a different part of the world while still earning a wage.
Read more: How Much Does Olive Garden Pay?
Reasons To Work At Olive Garden
Olive Garden is a popular place for high school and college students to work. This is a good place to gain work experience and make extra cash in the evenings and on weekends. Let’s check out some of the main reasons many students choose to work at Olive Garden.
What a great vibe!
Olive Garden is committed to providing a friendly and nurturing environment for employees. All employees are encouraged to work as part of a team and form tight bonds. They are also provided with a range of benefits and perks to help encourage loyalty.
No experience necessary
There is a range of full-time and part-time job opportunities for entry-level employees. This gives students and recent graduates the chance to gain work experience. Employees also receive bonuses and pay raises as they gain skills and experience.
Hiring assistance
Olive Garden jobs are open to veterans and students. The company’s website boasts a clear and convenient careers section. This is designed to make the hiring process as simple as possible.
Olive Garden Job Opportunities
A range of front-of-house roles are open to sixteen-year-olds. However, you need to be at least eighteen years old to work in the kitchen. The company is committed to training new employees and providing advancement opportunities. Here are some of the main roles you can apply for at Olive Garden.
Host/Hostess
This front-of-house job is open to entry-level candidates who are at least sixteen years old. The main role of this job is greeting and seating diners and making sure they have a pleasant experience. Other tasks include answering the phones, taking reservations, and helping to keep the dining area clean and tidy.
The starting salary for entry-level hosts is usually minimum wage. This can rise to around $11 per hour over time. Hosts are also included in Olive Garden’s tip-sharing policy.
Server
After diners have been seated, the server takes their order and brings them food and drinks. Servers are responsible for making sure all orders are correct, and diners are fully satisfied. They need to be able to answer questions about the Olive Garden menu and make recommendations.
Servers start at around $4 per hour, which can rise to $8 per hour over time. However, the main part of a server’s salary is composed of tips from satisfied customers. On average, servers make $15 per hour during busy periods, including tips.
Dishwasher
If you are eighteen or over and looking for a simple entry-level job, consider becoming a dishwasher. Some of the most celebrated chefs in the world started their careers with this role. The main tasks are cleaning all dishes and other equipment and taking out the trash.
They also help to keep the kitchen and dining area clean and tidy. Dishwashers at Olive Garden usually start at $9 per hour. It is possible to earn $12 per hour or more over time.
Prep Cook
If you want to work in the kitchen, this job is a good place to start. Prep cooks are mainly responsible for cleaning, washing, and preparing fruit, vegetables, meat, and other ingredients. You need to be able to work quickly and safely in a high-pressure environment.
Prep Cooks are also responsible for keeping areas of the kitchen clean and tidy. You need to have a good understanding of food hygiene and safety. The average salary for this role is $12 per hour.
Line Cook
No previous experience is needed to work as a line cook. However, you need to be able to follow sanitation and food safety policies to the letter. Line cooks are responsible for cooking dishes for diners to order. The starting salary for a line cook is usually $11 per hour. This can rise to at least $13 per hour over time.
Bartender
If you are over the age of 18, you can work as a bartender at Olive Garden. This job involves preparing cocktails and other alcoholic beverages to order. You need to know how to prepare all of the drinks on the menu and be able to work quickly.
Bartenders also need to have strong customer service skills and be able to work quickly when under pressure. During busy periods, you will need to help serve drinks and take on other tasks. This job is perfect for college students who can work evenings and weekends, and the typical salary is $15 per hour.
Manager
If you have skills in leadership and the necessary experience, you could become the manager of an Oliver Garden restaurant. The company always searches for talented employees to promote to this role. If you prove that you are responsible and able to motivate other employees, you could be offered this role.
Typical tasks include interacting with diners and resolving complaints. There are regular admin tasks like payroll and creating employee schedules. The average salary for an Olive Garden restaurant manager is $42,000 per year.
Corporate Careers
Olive Garden is always searching for talented professionals to work in the head office. A wide range of corporate careers are available to people who have the right skills and qualifications. Available departments include human resources, marketing, accounting, purchasing, law, and information technology.
Recruitment officers often set up stalls at college job fairs. These are good opportunities to find out more about the corporate career options that Olive Garden offers. It is also possible to secure a place at one of the coveted internship programs. This is a great way to gain basic skills and can lead to full-time employment after graduation.
The Benefits
Entry-level Olive Garden employees are provided with paid training and free uniforms. They also receive 50% discounts on food and drinks during their shifts. There are also monthly and yearly bonuses for employees who work hard.
Full-time employees are also given access to a special benefits package. This includes disability and healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacations, and parental leave. Other benefits include life insurance policies, parental leave, and pet medical insurance.
Finding A Job At Olive Garden
You will find a wide range of opportunities in the jobs section of the Olive Garden website. Narrow the search by selecting the job title you want to apply for and the ideal location. You can also select whether you are looking for full-time or part-time hours.
Once you have found the perfect job opportunity, click on the button to complete the online application form. Alternatively, you can download the application form and fill it out by hand. You can then submit the application form online or hand it in to the staff at an Olive Garden restaurant.
A recommendation will help…
If you have a friend or family member who works at Olive Garden, get them to recommend you. This will help to speed up the application process. However, you will still need to complete an application form and an interview.
The Interview Process
The interview process is fairly informal for entry-level candidates and will usually take place at an Olive Garden restaurant. The manager will conduct the interview and ask you about your work experience, availability, reliability, strengths, and weaknesses. Make sure you wear a business casual outfit to the interview and talk about your favorite aspects of Olive Garden.
Looking For More Info and Job Options?
Our website features a variety of informative articles on restaurants for you to choose from, such as How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Applebees, and How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Baskin Robbins, or perhaps How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Taco Bell, and How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Little Ceasars.
But that’s not all! Take a look at How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Buffalo Wild Wings, or maybe How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Arbys, as well as How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Chipotle, and finally How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At Wendys in 2023.
For alternative job ideas and info, check out our advice on Can Teens Work at Two Jobs, or How Much Can a Teenager Work in a Week, along with Good Jobs for Teens, or the Best Fast Food Jobs for Teens, as well as How to Become a Teenage Dog Walker, and lastly, How to Become a Teenage Survey Taker if you’d like to make some extra cash.
Final Thoughts
There is a wide range of entry-level jobs to choose from at Olive Garden. Sixteen-year-olds can work in the restaurant, while eighteen-year-olds can apply for a kitchen job. Olive Garden provides new employees with paid training as well as a range of benefits.
If you have a degree and specialist skills, you may prefer to apply for a corporate job. There are jobs available for people who specialize in a wide range of fields.
If you are still studying, applying for a summer internship is a good way to work out which role to apply for.
Good luck with your Olive Garden job application!