If you’re interested in becoming a Hooters Girl but would like to know more about the job requirements before you apply for a position, then you’ve come to the right place.
Hooters Girls: Much More Than a Waitress or Server
Before we get into specific job requirements, it’s important that you understand that being a Hooters Girl entails much more than the typical waitress or server position at a restaurant chain.
Hooters Girls are the Embodiment of the Hooters Brand
Hooters Girls must embody the essence of the Hooters brand. Nearly every aspect of what it means to be a Hooters Girl – her physical appearance, how she engages with customers, her ability to generate food and merchandise sales, and more – has been designed to create a distinctive Hooters experience. As the company says, “customers can go to many places for wings and beer, but it is our Hooters Girls who make our concept unique.”
Hooters Girls are Entertainers
Hooters Girls are, above all else, entertainers.
Take a look at the Overview paragraph at the beginning of the “Hooters Girl” job listings currently posted on Indeed and the company’s recruiting site. Before any mention of a Hooters Girl’s knowledge of the menu or how she serves food and drinks, you’ll notice the following two sentences:
“An exclusive position, reserved only for those who are entertaining, goal oriented, and charismatic.”
“The Hooters Girl is approachable, upbeat, and attentive to the needs of the guests as she socially engages with and entertains each individual guest at the front door and on the floor.”
In fact, her role as entertainer is so integral to being a Hooters Girl, that it served as the basis for the legal argument in defense of Hooters in a 1997 class-action sex-discrimination lawsuit against the company. The suit was initiated by a handful of men who had been turned down by Hooters for server positions.
Under the Civil Rights Act, gender based hiring is not permitted, except when gender is a “bona fide occupational qualification” reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business or enterprise.”
In its defense, Hooters had argued the following:
“While we offer world famous wings and burgers, the essence of our business is the Hooters Girl and the experience she provides to our customers. Hooters Girls are entertainers. They audition for their roles and, once hired, they must maintain a glamorous appearance, and sing, dance and engage the customers to provide a unique Hooters experience.”
The case was settled (and again in 2009) with the hiring practice for Hooters Girls essentially unchanged.
Hooters Girls: Job Requirements, Qualifications and Responsibilities
So, what does all of this mean from a practical standpoint? How does embodying the Hooters brand and being an entertainer translate into the qualifications for the position as well as the day-to-day requirements for and expectations of a Hooters Girl.
Hooters Girls: Basic Qualifications
- At least 18 years old (21 to serve alcohol)
- High school diploma or GED
- Basic math computational skills
- Responsible
- Ability to multi-task
- Ability to communicate clearly
- Ability to work well with others (is a team player)
- No prior hospitality/restaurant necessary
Hooters Girls: Basic Rules
- Be prepared, in uniform and punctual for shift
- Performs assigned tasks
- Menu mastery – continuous development of food & beverage product knowledge
- Proper sanitation and food handling
- Help ensure quality and presentation of food & beverages
- Be visible and available to guests at all times Can’t touch customers (and customers can’t touch you), except when taking photos
Hooters Girls: Personality & Attitude Requirements
- Goal oriented
- Charismatic
- Fun, upbeat personality (always have a smile on your face)
- Professional
- Engaging
- Customer-service oriented
- Team-player
- Attentive and “on-the-ball”
- Respect everyone – treat everyone with courtesy and appreciation Value feedback – listen, learn and grow
Hooters Girls: Physical Appearance Requirements
- Photo-ready appearance expected at all times
- Attractive
- Healthy and Fit (“toned physique enhances the uniform”)
- Hooters Uniform:
- tops: white tank (featuring “Hootie the Owl” logo) or sport top must be worn tucked in, black tops worn on Fridays
- bras must be worn under uniform top – skin tone with white top, black when wearing black top
- name tags must be worn at all times on the left side of the top
- shorts: bright orange “classic” (Dolphin) or “new” shorts, black shorts on Friday
- briefs or bikini underwear are not permitted
- pantyhose must be suntan or darker in color. If run or snag they must be immediately replaced.
- uniform MUST NOT be worn outside of the restaurant unless working at Hooters event
- Hair:
- may be worn down or neatly styled in braids, a single ponytail, a single bun, locs or corn rows
- NO extreme haircuts, styles or colors
- NO hair accessories (except bobbie pins, hair ties or clips if blend in with hair)
- Makeup:
- must always be worn:
- should accentuate your skin tone, eyes, lips, and cheeks
- should look soft, blended and natural – NOT harsh, extreme, or trendy
- Nails:
- must be well manicured in a natural style and clean at all times
- traditional French or American manicure, colored nail polish and glitter polish are all allowed
- NO chipped/peeling polish, NO jewelry in or glued on the nails, NO excessively long or pointed nails
- Jewelry:
- may wear stud earrings smaller than the diameter of a dime (NO hoops or dangles – safety hazard)
- multiple earrings are acceptable as long as they sit flush to the ear
- one ring (on ring finger only) per hand is acceptable
- one nose ring stud is permitted, No hoops, rings or bars
- belly button rings are allowed but only barbell studs flushed to the skin
- no bracelets, necklaces or watches
- Tattoos:
- are allowed provided that they are not offensive, profane, pornographic, or defamatory.
- can NOT appear on face or side/front of neck
- Size/Weight:
- no size or weight restrictions, per se. however, according to Hooters Girl Image (p.7), “The Hooters Girl uniform is athletic by design and fitness plays an important role in the proper fit.”; and
- a Hooters Girl must be able to fit into the Hooters shorts (which run roughly as large as sizes 9 to 12 in many Hooters locations). In addition, maintaining hiring weight is highly encouraged.; also
- see this Michigan Hooters case settled out of court.
- Breast/Bra Size:
- no breast/bra size requirements. a quick online search will reveal plenty of examples of small-cup-sized women hired by Hooters who prefer to enhance the appearance of their breast size using push-up bras and padding (e.g., Kirsten Songer though ultimately let go for “over serving” alcohol, Neesa Collins, Lila)
Hooters Brand Development & Promotion
- Community Outreach:
- make appearances at charitable events
- serve the community as a volunteer (local food bank, animal shelter), helping to demonstrate Hooters’ commitment to the people and the towns in which we live and work
- Events Participation:
- serve as a store events spokesperson
- make appearances at promotional events, golf tournaments, car shows, sporting events, and more!
- Promotes sales of Hooters merchandise
Hooters Girls Benefits
- As a Hooters Girl you will have access to a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Healthcare – Our Hooters Girls can enroll in low-cost Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA, Wellness plans and more!
- 401(k)/Retirement Plans – Save for the future and let us help! Our retirement plan comes with a 100% vested company match!
- Tuition Reimbursement – Allow us to assist you in finishing that degree. Our tuition assistance program can help make your dream a reality!
- Camaraderie with other Hooters Girls is often cited as one of the biggest benefits of the job – Hooters Girls frequently refer to each other as “sisters.”
- Travel and Modeling – compete for a chance to be one of the 200 chosen to be showcased in annual Hooters Calendar, potential to compete in annual Miss Hooters International Pageant, model for commercials, billboards, marketing events, and attend new store openings around the world.
The “I Am” a Hooters Girl Standards
Every Hooters Girl must understand these standards that go along with being the perfect Hooters Girl. These standards encapsulate and summarize much of the above information. Source: Hooters Girl Image (p.5)
Main sources for this article:
Hooters careers page, Indeed job posting, Hooters Girl Image digital magazine, TikTok of Hooters Girl @jardintaylor. Additional sources are linked to throughout article above.