Hotel and restaurant jobs in Romania: what each job really involves
For workers from Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries who are going to work in a Romanian hotel or restaurant: what the main jobs are, what a normal day looks like, and how to show your skills before you start.
By Viorel Păun, The Butler Hospitality Collection
In short: Romanian hotels and restaurants are short of staff, and many workers now come from Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries in Asia. The jobs are the same as in hotels everywhere, but the employer will want to see that you know the basics from day one: service rules, hygiene, and how to talk to guests.
The main jobs
| Job | What you do every day | Free test |
|---|---|---|
| Waiter | Set the tables, take orders, serve food and drinks, clear the table, look after guests. | Waiter test |
| Cook | Prepare and cook dishes by the recipe, keep your station clean, follow food safety rules. | Cook test |
| Kitchen helper | Wash and cut vegetables, help the cooks, wash dishes, keep the kitchen clean. | Cook test |
| Room attendant | Clean rooms and bathrooms, change bed linen, refill supplies, report problems. | Room attendant test |
| Receptionist | Check guests in and out, take bookings, answer the phone, solve problems. | Receptionist test |
What a normal day looks like
Most hotel and restaurant work is done in shifts. A morning shift in a hotel often starts before breakfast; an evening shift in a restaurant ends after the last guests leave. In the season (summer at the seaside, winter in the mountains) the work is busier.
Every shift has the same rhythm: you prepare before guests arrive, you work during service, and you clean and hand over at the end. Employers notice quickly who prepares well and who does not.
What Romanian employers check
- Basic rules of the job. For example: from which side you serve, how you make a bed, how you check in a guest.
- Hygiene. Clean hands, clean uniform, raw food kept apart from cooked food. People who work with food usually need a hygiene course.
- How you talk to guests. A greeting, a smile, and calm when there is a problem.
- Teamwork. In a Romanian hotel you work with Romanian colleagues and often with workers from other countries.
- Some Romanian words. You do not need to speak Romanian, but a few words help a lot with colleagues and guests.
Check what you know before you start: free practice tests in simple English for waiters, cooks, room attendants and receptionists. 10 questions, with an explanation after each answer.
How to show your skills before you arrive
A CV says where you worked. It does not show what you know. Many employers and agencies now ask for a short test. On certificarehoreca.ro you can take a full assessment in English for your job. If you pass, The Butler issues your certificate, with a QR code that the employer can check on their phone in seconds. You can also save it in Google Wallet.
See the full assessments in English: waiter, cook, room attendant, receptionist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Romanian to work in a Romanian hotel?
Not always. Many hotels work in English, especially with guests. Knowing some Romanian words makes work with colleagues much easier.
Is the practice test free?
Yes. The practice tests are free and work on your phone. The full assessment with The Butler certificate costs 119 lei.
What certificate do I get?
It is The Butler certificate, issued by The Butler Collection SRL when you pass the assessment. Employers check it with the QR code. It is not an ANC state qualification.
The Butler certificate is issued by The Butler Collection SRL to everyone who passes the assessment. It is not a Romanian state qualification (ANC) certificate. This page does not give advice about visas or work permits; ask your licensed recruitment agency or the Romanian authorities.
