Busser Resume Example
Working as a busser can provide a rewarding career, involving clearing used dishes and wiping down tables. A strong resume for busser applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll highlight tips and examples for creating a busser resume that makes a winning impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
This complete guide to a busser resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your applications. You'll find useful insights on constructing a resume that makes the most of your unique skills, experience and strengths. You'll also learn how to tailor your resume according to the job description, and depending on your experience levels. Read on to learn how to write a perfect busser resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a busser resume
A successful busser resume will typically include each of the sections listed below, with some optional sections. If you're lacking relevant work experience, you might choose to add sections that showcase your skill set earlier than in a traditional resume layout. These sections might include projects, education, hobbies and interests, skills and other optional sections.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Header and Personal Information
Your busser resume header should contain your name and contact details. These include your email address and phone number. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can also add that, to give employers the chance to learn more about your skills and experience. It's not necessary to include a photo or any other personal information. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Only include professional, name-based email addresses in your resume header. If you have an old email address that uses nicknames, puns, references to your personal interests or anything else that could appear unprofessional, set up a new email just for your job applications. Finally, always double-check your contact details are correct and up-to-date before sending your resume.
Audrey Foster
audrey.foster@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
linkedin․com/in/audrey–foster123
Resume Profile
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in busser roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. See below for some great examples of what to include in your busser resume summary.
Efficient and detail-oriented Dining Room Attendant with experience in maintaining cleanliness, setting up dining areas, assisting servers, and ensuring a pleasant dining experience for guests. Proficient in handling high-pressure environments, working collaboratively with team members, and maintaining a high standard of service and hygiene
Dining room attendant with some experience in keeping areas tidy and helping out with dining setups. Worked in places where I supported servers and tried to make guests happy. Used to busy environments and working with others to keep things running smoothly and clean
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your busser resume summary.
Hard and Soft Skills
Listing your key skills can help to prove your suitability for busser jobs. These could be basic food preparation, physical stamina endurance or various other relevant skills. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for busser jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a busser.
Showcasing hard skills on your busser resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as a busser. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in busser roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. It's best to aim for four or five key hard skills that match the job description. These can really showcase your suitability for the job.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a busser resume, see below.
- Table setting proficiency
- POS system knowledge
- Dishwashing and sanitation
Adding soft skills to your busser resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a busser job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. You should generally look to include up to five soft or transferable skills that match the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a busser resume.
- Attention to detail
- Team player attitude
- Effective communication skills
Education
The education section provides space to list your highest and most recent academic achievements that are relevant to working as a busser.
You don't tend to need a degree for busser roles, but you'll still need to list any relevant qualifications, or your relevant educational achievements. If you have Food Handler Certification, add this here, along with any other education that shows your basic food preparation or efficient table clearing.
For each entry in this section, add the name and level of your qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management, 2017 - 2020
Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Certifications and Training
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a busser. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a busser. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Take a look at some example certifications for a busser resume below:
- Food Handler Certification, 2022
- Alcohol Server Permit, 2022
- CPR AED Certification, 2022
Work Experience
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of a busser. For each entry, list the job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Add each job in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in a busser resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Dining Room Attendant, January 2022 - Present
SwiftClean Services, San Francisco
- Improved customer satisfaction scores by 25% through attentive service and proactive problem-solving
- Trained and mentored 10+ new hires, leading to a 15% reduction in onboarding time
- Managed inventory and supply orders, reducing waste by 20% and ensuring consistent stock levels
Dining Room Attendant, January 2022 - Present
SwiftClean Services, San Francisco
- Provided excellent customer service to enhance the dining experience
- Assisted in training new team members for efficient operations
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of dining and service areas
The example above can give you some idea of what not to include in your resume work experience section. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Jobseeker Tip:
Tailor your resume to the job by including keywords from the job description and focusing on skills that align directly with the role’s requirements. (1) Use a professional layout with consistent headings and formatting to ensure your resume stands out visually. (2)
Optional Sections
There are several additional sections you could add to a busser resume, to improve your chances of success. Take a look at the sections below and add any that help you show how and why you're right for the job.
Personal Interests
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Volunteer Work
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your busser resume. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
Although it's rare to include references on a busser resume, some employers may ask for it. Don't add references unless they're specifically mentioned by the employer in the job advert. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
References are avaiable upon request.
Best action words for your busser resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. Choose from the list of words below to increase the impact of your work experience section.
- Cleaned
- Organized
- Replenished
- Assisted
- Communicated
- Maintained
- Sanitized
- Arranged
- Monitored
- Supported
If you want to create a resume that stands out from the crowd, use Jobseeker's expert-designed resume templates. You can also find cover letter templates that work to get you noticed by employers.
Sample busser resume
The busser resume example below includes all the sections above, so you can see how a completed resume looks:
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
•
audrey.foster@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/audrey–foster123
Experienced Dining Room Attendant with a strong background in maintaining cleanliness and organization in dining areas, promptly clearing tables, and assisting waitstaff to ensure efficient service. Proven ability to handle high-volume environments, uphold health and safety standards, and deliver exceptional customer service.
Dining Room Attendant
2020
-2022
Elegant Eateries Inc (Miami)
- Efficiently managed and serviced 30+ tables per shift, enhancing guest satisfaction and table turnover rate
- Trained and supervised new staff, improving team performance and service consistency by 20%
- Implemented a new reservation system, reducing wait times by 15% and increasing customer loyalty
Table setting proficiency
POS system knowledge
Dishwashing and sanitation
Attention to detail
Team player attitude
Effective communication skills
Food Handler Certification
Alcohol Server Permit
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for busser resumes
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each busser role (e.g. 'assisted', 'communicated', 'maintained').
- List key skills throughout your resume that show you're a good fit for the role, and include a separate 'skills' section.
- Read your resume carefully before sending it, to avoid errors that could prove costly to your chances.
- Quantify your achievements and show evidence of how you've used your skills to bring positive outcomes in your career to date.
- Keep your busser resume concise, with a target length of one page for less experienced candidates, and two pages for senior positions.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't add any hobbies or interests unless they directly showcase a skill or experience that's relevant to the job.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms that can make your busser resume more difficult to read.
- Don't lie or exaggerate any information on your busser resume, as this can cause you problems further down the line.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are one of the key ways recruiters and employers manage the hiring process. The systems can screen candidates by scanning and ranking resumes based on each candidate's likely suitability for the vacancy. When you're writing your busser resume, there are several things you can do to make sure your resume stands the best chance of passing the ATS stage.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume layout, such as a reverse-chronological or functional format. This will mean your resume includes all the necessary sections, in the expected order.
- Use keywords throughout your resume that reflect the job description, so ATS resume scanners can recognize a strong connection between your skills, and those in the job description.
- Using clear, simple headings makes it easier for an ATS application to scan your resume, as it can easily identify what's in each section of your document.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
Frequently Asked Questions about a busser resume
Alongside your busser resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the busser role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
As an experienced busser, you'll want your resume to showcase all of your relevant experience and achievements. You may wish to include a longer-than-average work experience section in your busser resume, to emphasize your career experience to date and showcase relevant achievements in work. Consider adding any optional sections that show employers the impact you've made in your career to date. These include awards, successful projects or a dedicated achievements section.
A resume headline can catch the attention of the reader and give them a strong first impression about your suitability for busser jobs. Resume headlines are also helpful for the ATS stage of the recruitment process, as they can help you reference the job title and one or two keywords for the role. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
You can use this example resume headline as a template for creating your own:
- Aspiring Hospitality Support Specialist
- Efficient and Reliable Busser Professional
- Experienced Senior Busser Seeking Opportunities
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For roles where you're lacking experience, such as graduate jobs or career changes, you could use a functional or skills-based resume format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Takeaways for your busser resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Select a resume format that suits your experience levels and the job you're applying for, and make sure you tailor your resume for each application.
Remember, Jobseeker resume templates and other tools make it easy to create a resume and cover letter that leaves a positive impression on hiring managers. Sign up now to start building your perfect resume. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
