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How Old Do You Have to be to Work at Denny's?

Every Denny’s franchise has its own rules. But generally speaking, to get an entry-level job at Denny's as a host/hostess, server, or dishwasher/service assistant you must be at least 16 years old.  For cooks, you must 18 years old and have at least one year of experience in a kitchen.

Teen Jobs at Denny's and Age Requirements

Host/Hostess  (Hourly)

As a host/hostess at Denny's, your job is to greet guests in a warm and friendly manner, seat customers, handle all phone calls, maintain a proper supply of clean menus, keep the host area clean and stocked, receive payments, and make change. You will also need to know new menu items and promotions, assist the servers with beverages, and provide total guest satisfaction.

You must be at least 16 years old to work as a host/hostess at Denny's.

Server (Hourly)

A server at Denny's is responsible for greeting guests, taking orders, and delivering food. You will also need to know the menu so you can suggest new and promotional items, complete your side work, and keep your section and server station clean and organized.

You will need to know how to receive payments and make correct change just in case you need to run the register. You want to provide total guest satisfaction, so you should also be ready to assist other team members without being asked.

To work as a server at Denny's, you must be at least 16 years old.

Dishwasher/Service Assistant  (Hourly)

A dishwasher/service assistant at Denny's is responsible for making everything in the restaurant tick like a clock. You will maintain the dishroom and make sure that all dishware, utensils, pots, and pans are cleaned and sanitized, and you will also buss and clean the tables in the dining room.

Other parts of the job include delivering trays of dirty dishes to the dishroom, stocking service areas with clean dishes, removing all the garbage, maintaining and servicing the restrooms,  and cleaning and organizing the back of the house.

You must be at least 16 years old to be a dishwasher/service assistant at Denny’s.

Cook  (Hourly)

A cook at Denny's is responsible for more than just following a recipe. You want to get the orders right and get the food out fast, plus honor guest requests for special orders. A Denny’s cook must have a, “guests first,” attitude when preparing food and following restaurant standards with proper temperature and presentation.

You will also keep your work area clean, correctly call the wheel, complete your side work, and monitor food waste.

You must be at least 18 years old to be a cook at Denny’s.

Can a 15 Year Old Work at Denny's?

Because the minimum age to work at Denny's is 16, 15-year-old’s can’t work here. But we do have a page on our website specifically for 15-year-old’s that you can view instead.

Can a 16 Year Old Work at Denny's?

The minimum age to work at most Denny's locations is 16, so 16-year-olds can work there. We do have a page on our website specifically for 16-year-old’s that you can also view for more options.

How Much Does Denny's Pay Part-Time Workers?

The hourly earnings for employees at Denny's vary because of state and city minimum wage laws. However, we can give you a general idea of what the hourly pay is for each position.

Host/Hostess (Hourly)

As a host/hostess at Denny's, you will be making somewhere between $7 and $10 per hour. If you are coming in at entry-level without any prior experience, then you will most likely be starting at minimum wage.

The average hourly rate for a Denny's host/hostess  is $8.

Server (Hourly + Tips)

The base rate of pay for servers is between $2 and $5 an hour. But, you will also make tips each shift, and that is the majority of your income. Depending on the shift you work, you could make an average of about $15 an hour when you add your tips to your base hourly wage.

Dishwasher/Service Assistant (Hourly)

The pay range for a dishwasher/service assistant at Denny's is between $7 and $12 an hour. As an entry-level position, you will most likely start out at minimum wage.

The average hourly rate for a cook is $9 an hour.

Cook (Hourly)

The pay range for cooks at Denny's is between $8 and $15 an hour. They do require at least one year of experience for this job, so you will most likely start out higher than minimum wage. But, it ultimately depends on the location you are working at.

The average hourly rate for a cook is $11 an hour.

How Much Experience Do You Need to Work at Denny's?

Denny's is an entry-level friendly company, so you can apply for a position without any experience and get hired as a host/hostess or server. However, to apply for a line cook position you need at least one year of experience.

What Should You Wear to a Job Interview at Denny's?

Denny's is a casual dining restaurant, so when you show up for your interview you will want to be dressed in business casual attire.  Consider something like a buttoned-down shirt with nice slacks and dress shoes. You do not want go too casual and wear a t-shirt and jeans. You also want to avoid going too formal and show up in a suit.

Men also need to show up clean shaven, and individuals need to make sure that their clothes are clean and pressed.

Denny's Interview Questions

The possible questions in a job interview are endless, and it always depends on the interviewer. Nonetheless, at Denny’s, there are some basic questions about teamwork, attitude, and friendliness. At a Denny's interview, you will most likely talk with at least one manager.  Here are some questions that they have been known to ask during interviews.

What is your biggest weakness?

Why are they asking?  

Working in a restaurant is all about teamwork and taking care of your own job responsibilities, as well as being willing to help out others when they need it.  If they ask you this question, they are trying to find out what your skill set is and if you have any weaknesses. Nobody is perfect and we all have them. But, they need to make sure that your weakness isn’t something that would hurt your ability to do your job.

What’s the ideal answer?

The interviewer wants to hear that you know you aren’t perfect, and you do have things that you need to work on. Be honest with this question, and let them know about something that isn’t in your skill set. Your answer could be something like time management, sharing responsibility, or patience. Don’t be afraid to admit a weakness that you have and be willing to work on improving it.

What would you do if you saw someone stealing?

Why are they asking?  

The interviewer wants to know how you would handle this very uncomfortable situation. If you witness someone stealing from your workplace, it can put you in a difficult position. Will you tell someone? Or will you keep it to yourself? How you answer this question says a lot about you as an employee and as a person.

What’s the ideal answer?

The best answer to this question is to say that you would immediately tell a manager if you saw someone stealing. No matter how big or how small the theft, that can’t be something that you would let slide. This reflects on your integrity, and letting them know that you would report another employee’s theft will show the interviewer that you have a moral compass and will tell the truth.

Can you work well in a fast-paced environment?

Why are they asking?  

Denny’s can get extremely busy, especially during breakfast, lunch, and dinner rushes. So, they are asking you this question to find out if you can handle working in that kind of environment.

What’s the ideal answer?

Know your strengths. If you get asked this question, tell them that you can work well in a fast-paced environment, and it won’t overwhelm you. If you are interviewing for a server position, you definitely want your shifts to be busy and fast-paced because that means more money.

Benefits of Working at Denny's

Everyone who works at Denny's gets a discount on meals.  However, the benefits they offer are for full-time workers only.

Benefits include:

  • Paid time off 
  • Performance Bonuses
  • Vacation
  • 401K
  • Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance

What it’s Like to Work at Denny's

How to Apply at Denny's

If you are interested in working at Denny's, you can apply directly on the company website, which is the most accurate source for up-to-date job listings. You can fill out your application online, and it will be sent to the specific restaurant you are applying to.  You can also apply in-person at the location you are interested in.

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