Server Resume Example

When applying for a server position, you’ll want your resume to reflect your hard skills such as your ability to operate a POS system and memorize specials. However, you’ll also want to highlight your soft skills like friendliness, efficiency, and the ability to multitask.

This article will cover which resume sections to include in order to effectively communicate these details, as well as an example resume for each section and some general tips for writing a compelling waiter or waitress resume.

Resume Sections To Include

Hiring managers will be looking for specific information, like your work experience, education, skills, and certifications. Make it easy for them to scan your server resume and find this information by including the following sections:

Name and Contact Information

Start off by writing your name at the top of your resume in large font. Follow your name with your contact information, which should include a professional email address, your phone number, and your LinkedIn URL. You can also include your city and state or your full mailing address if you’d like to.

Resume Summary or Objective

Next, write a resume summary or objective for the introduction of your server resume. If you already have experience as a server, use a resume summary to highlight your experience and skills. If you have never worked as a server before, write a resume objective that outlines your career goals and how your transferable skills will benefit the restaurant that you are applying to.

Here’s an example of a strong resume summary:

Summary

Diligent and courteous server with 2+ years of experience serving 250+ guests per shift and bussing in fast-paced, high-traffic restaurants. Seeking to leverage exceptional customer service skills and experience to join the Star Bistro team as a server.

Work Experience

List your work experience next. For each of your past roles, list your job title, the name and location of the company, and the dates that you worked there. Underneath each entry, add 3-7 bullet points that outline your specific job duties and your biggest accomplishments in the position. For example:

Work Experience

Server, July 2020 - Present Bahama Breeze, Bakersfield, CA

• Managed a 10-table section, serving ~250 guests per shift
• Memorized daily specials and allergen information
• Actively anticipated guests' needs to make the dining experience seamless and enjoyable
• Consistently earned 90%+ on customer satisfaction surveys
• Efficiently turned over tables to reduce downtime by 15%

Busser, June 2019 - July 2020 Vince’s Italian Restaurant, Bakersfield, CA

• Cleared and cleaned 500+ tables per shift quickly and thoroughly to allow for speedy turnover Took drink orders and brought water to all guests
• Removed plates politely and unobtrusively as guests finished their meals
• Maintained a clean environment by sweeping, mopping, and wiping down surfaces as needed
• Assisted with dishwashing and serving duties as necessary

Education

Then add your education details. If you are currently in high school or if high school is your highest level of education, include your high school information. However, if you are in college or have already graduated from college, you can leave your high school information off.

Include the title of your diploma or degree, the name and location of the school that you attended, and your graduation year or dates of attendance. If you have multiple degrees (such as an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree), you can list them all on your resume.

Here’s an example of a basic education section:

Education

2017 - 2019 Associate’s Degree in General Business, Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA

Hard Skills

Hard skills are technical, easy measurable, and often job-specific. They are relatively easy to teach and learn, so even though you may not already know how to operate a restaurant’s specific point of sale (POS) system, employers know that you will be able to learn it. Your hard skills section might look like this:

Hard Skills

• Point of sale system operation
• Taking orders
• Memorization
• Food and drink knowledge
• Allergen awareness

Soft Skills

Soft skills, on the other hand, are intangible and generally aren’t industry-specific. They are much harder to define, assess, and learn. For that reason, many employers place more importance on soft skills than hard skills, because they know it’s easier to teach someone how to use the POS system than it is to teach someone to be friendly.

Here’s an example of a soft skills section:

Soft Skills

• Customer service
• Efficiency
• Positive attitude
• Friendliness
• Team player

Certifications

If you have any certifications that are relevant to serving or food service, be sure to include them on your resume. These might include food handling and safety certifications, ABLE certifications, CPR/AED certifications, and so forth. For each certification, list the date that you obtained it and/or the date of your most recent recertification if applicable. For example:

Certifications

• Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS) - 2019
• CPR/AED Certified - 2019

Optional Resume Sections

Finally, you can add optional resume sections if you have space left over. These can include things like languages (which can be very helpful in a server role), hobbies and interests, volunteer experience, and so forth.

Here’s an example of how to list languages on your resume:

Languages

Spanish - Proficient

Tips for Writing a Server Resume

Here are a few final tips to help you write a compelling server resume:

Use Reverse Chronological Order

The reverse chronological resume format is the most popular and the most effective for the majority of job seekers. To use this resume format, list the entries in all of your resume sections starting with the current or most recent item and working backwards in time from there. This includes your work experience, education, certifications, and so forth.

Quantify Your Achievements

Whenever possible, use numbers and data to quantify your accomplishments. For example, mention how many tables were in your section, how many guests you served per shift, or your customer satisfaction rating percentage.

Adding numbers to your achievements makes them more concrete and more impressive to potential employers.

Tailor Your Server Resume to Each Position

It can be tempting to use a general resume for all of your job applications, but taking the time to tailor your resume to each one can dramatically increase your chances of getting hired. To tailor your resume, mention the restaurant that you are applying to and the exact job title that the employer uses (i.e. waiter/waitress, waitstaff, server, etc.) in your resume summary or objective.

Read the job description carefully to find keywords and phrases that the employer uses to describe what traits and qualifications they are looking for in a server, and mirror that language in your resume. Address as many of the points as possible to demonstrate that you are qualified for the position and would make a good addition to the team.

Keep Your Resume to One Page

Finally, keep your resume to a single page, unless you have more than 10 years of experience as a server - in that case it can be up to two pages. Only add optional resume sections if you have space left over after adding all of your other information.

Key Takeaways

When writing your server resume, be sure to use a reverse chronological format and include a resume header, a summary or objective, your work experience, your education details, your hard and soft skills, your relevant certifications, and any optional resume sections that are pertinent and will fit on the page. Always tailor your resume to each server position that you apply for, quantify your accomplishments, and keep your resume to a single page.

Create your server resume today!