Millions have survived through the rite of passage that is waitressing—or any job in the service industry. It’s usually our first work experience, it’s minimum wage, and it's rarely exactly what we dreamed of—let alone fun and easy.
Take it from someone whose first job was scooping ice cream—I still vividly recall the challenges. Dealing with irate customers while their desserts melted, all because I didn't have the right change and they insisted on paying in cash. It all felt like a scene straight out of the video game Overcooked. I often underestimated the complexity of seemingly simple tasks, like washing ice cream trays or skillfully transferring the perfect scoop to a fragile waffle cone without breaking it.
Right! You know how challenging it is, I know how challenging it is, so the only thing left to do is show recruiters what these challenges have taught us. If celebrities like Chris Pratt, Nicki Minaj, and Jennifer Anniston were once waiters, we can safely establish that service industry isn’t something to be looked down upon. On the contrary, it can serve as a stepping stone to your ideal career.
Formatting your waitressing experience
You’ve probably wondered how to best structure your experience so it’s saying something more than “serving coffee” or “cleaning tables.”
But how to do it? Well, first off, don’t be like Rachel Greene from Friends, who only had “Waitress at a Coffee House” and “Cheer Squad Co-Captain” typed in a large font on her resume.
When formatting your document, you can use:
- A functional resume format that focuses on your skills, thus working around typical responsibilities that might not mean much to recruiters.
- A hybrid format that balances between your skills and your experience.
As for font size, use the Enhancv resume builder to be sure you haven’t gone over the top.
And now, let’s get to our main point.
How to make waitressing sound good on a resume (with examples)
Waitressing experience can be presented positively on a resume by emphasizing key responsibilities that are transferable to other job positions.
Some of the best waitressing skills for your resume may include:
Customer service
Mention how you have experience dealing with customers and resolving any issues they may have had.
During a busy dinner shift, a customer complained about their steak being overcooked. I calmly listened to their concern, apologized for the inconvenience, and promptly informed the kitchen. I arranged for a new steak to be cooked to their liking and checked back to ensure they were satisfied with their meal, which they appreciated.
Cash handling
Highlight any experience you have handling cash, making change, and balancing a cash drawer.
In my previous role, I was responsible for handling payments at the end of each meal. This involved processing cash and credit card transactions, making change accurately, and closing out the cash drawer at the end of my shifts, ensuring it balanced correctly every time.
Multi-tasking
Waitressing often requires juggling multiple tasks at once, such as taking orders, delivering food, and cleaning tables.
On a particularly busy night, I was managing orders for five tables simultaneously. I had to prioritize efficiently, keeping track of each table's order status, delivering food while it was hot, refilling beverages, and clearing dishes, all while maintaining a friendly demeanor.
Teamwork
Emphasize any experience you have working as part of a team, especially in a fast-paced environment.
During a large event at the restaurant, I collaborated closely with other waitstaff and the kitchen team to ensure smooth service. We coordinated who would handle which tables and shared responsibilities for setting up, serving, and cleaning up, which helped manage the high volume of guests effectively.
Flexibility
Waitressing often requires being able to work varying shifts, weekends, and holidays. Highlight your ability to be flexible and adaptable.
I often worked shifts that varied weekly in timing and duration, including weekends and holidays. I was always ready to step in for colleagues who needed to swap shifts unexpectedly. This adaptability helped maintain high service standards during peak times like Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Sales and upselling
Underscore any experience you have with suggestive selling and upselling menu items to customers.
I frequently recommended specialty dishes and seasonal drinks as part of our upselling strategy. For instance, when serving customers who were undecided on dessert, I would suggest our popular house-made tiramisu and pair it with a dessert wine, enhancing their dining experience and increasing sales.
Work ethic
Stress the importance of reliability, responsibility, and commitment to excellence in your role.
Recognized by management for consistently arriving early for shifts and staying late when necessary to assist with restaurant close-down procedures. I maintained a high standard of personal responsibility, ensuring that my tasks were completed efficiently and to the best of my ability, which contributed to a 10% increase in customer satisfaction scores during my tenure.
Problem-solving
Illustrate your ability to identify and resolve problems swiftly to ensure customer satisfaction.
When we were short-staffed during a brunch rush, I noticed a backlog of orders accumulating. I quickly devised a plan with the kitchen to prioritize order processing based on wait times, effectively reducing the wait for diners and smoothing out the service flow.
Attention to detail
Emphasize your precision in order taking, dietary requirements, and table settings.
I ensured that all orders were taken accurately, paying special attention to customers’ dietary restrictions. On one occasion, a guest with a severe nut allergy appreciated my thoroughness in confirming that none of their chosen dishes were at risk of cross-contamination.
Stress management
Showcase your ability to remain calm and efficient under pressure.
On a night when the restaurant received an unexpectedly high volume of customers, I maintained composure and efficiency, ensuring that all my tables were cared for without significant delays, which many guests noted positively in their reviews.
PRO TIP
When listing soft skills on your resume, illustrate them with concrete examples. This gives employers a much better understanding of your abilities than reading a plain list.
Waitressing resume example
This is how you can structure your experience:
02/2018 - 11/2020 
- •Handled cash and credit card transactions and balanced cash drawer at the end of each shift.
- •Worked as part of a team to keep the dining room clean and organized during busy hours.
- •Implemented a new upselling strategy that resulted in a 20% increase in sales.
- •Worked flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
06/2016 - 01/2018 - •Trained new servers on customer service, cash handling, and menu knowledge.
- •Contributed to the team effort by completing side work and other tasks as needed.
- •Assisted in maintaining inventory and placing supply orders.
- •Worked flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Practical tips for framing your waitressing experience
When describing your waitressing experience on a resume, it's crucial to present your skills and achievements in a way that is engaging and grabs recruiters’ attention quickly. Let’s explore how to effectively display your hospitality expertise.
- Use action verbs: Use dynamic verbs like coordinated, managed, resolved, and enhanced to make your resume sound more powerful.
- Quantify achievements: Include specific numbers (e.g., “Provided excellent customer service to over 100 customers per shift” or “Implemented a new upselling strategy that resulted in a 20% increase in sales”) to provide concrete evidence of your capabilities.
- Tailor the resume: Adjust the resume to underline the most relevant skills for the job you’re applying for. Make sure your resume matches the keywords from the job description.
- Include relevant certifications or training: If you've undergone any training or earned certifications relevant to the hospitality industry (like a food safety certification), make sure to list these. This can add a layer of professionalism to your experience and show your commitment to the industry. For example, “Certified in Food Safety—Knowledge of proper food handling techniques and safety protocols.”
Conclusion
Humble beginnings can lead to great achievements. Just look at how Jen Anniston’s (and her loved-by-all character's) career skyrocketed! But even if you don’t want to be a movie star, the experience you gained waiting tables can prove invaluable. Skills honed while waiting tables, such as effective communication, rapid problem-solving, and the ability to work under pressure, are invaluable in any professional setting.
Make one that's truly you.
