Embarking on your job hunt, you're eager to join a restaurant team, only to discover that a compelling server cover letter can set you apart. It's not just a rerun of your resume; think of it as a spotlight on your most shining professional moment. Steer clear of tired phrases and keep it crisp—just one page. Let's craft a narrative that's formal yet fresh, ensuring your application lands on the top of the pile.
- Making excellent use of job-winning real-life professional cover letters;
- Writing the first paragraphs of your restaurant server cover letter to get attention and connect with the recruiters - immediately;
- Single out your most noteworthy achievement (even if it's outside your career);
- Get a better understanding of what you must include in your restaurant server cover letter to land the job.
Let the power of Enhancv's AI work for you: create your restaurant server cover letter by uploading your resume.
If the restaurant server isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
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- Banquet Server cover letter example
- Head Bartender cover letter example
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- Hospitality cover letter example
- Event Bartender cover letter example
Restaurant Server cover letter example
HARPER GARCIA
Phoenix, Arizona
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Highlighting impacts on business objectives: The cover letter emphasizes a concrete and quantifiable achievement (25% increase in repeat patronage), demonstrating the candidate’s ability to contribute to business growth through their initiatives.
- Alignment with brand values: It references the candidate's appreciation for the potential employer’s focus on customer experience, suggesting that their personal and professional values are in sync with those of the company.
- Demonstration of leadership skills: By mentioning their role in leading a key initiative, the candidate showcases their leadership capabilities and willingness to take ownership of projects that enhance customer loyalty.
Five tips on formatting your restaurant server cover letter
Do you want to make a good impression on recruiters and, at the same time, follow the best industry advice on writing your restaurant server cover letter?
Make sure to include the following:
- Header and Salutation;
- Introductory paragraph;
- Body paragraph;
- Closing paragraph;
- Signature (this one is up to you).
Remember to use the same modern, simple font for your restaurant server cover letter as you did for your resume (e.g. Lato, Rubik, etc.)
Ensure your restaurant server cover letter is single-spaced and is wrapped around a one-inch margin, like in our cover letter templates.
Once completed, use our cover letter builder to export your restaurant server cover letter in the best format to keep your information intact - PDF.
At the end of the day, your restaurant server cover letter won't be assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) software, but by the recruiters. Your information should thus be legible, organized, and follow a structured logic.
The top sections on a restaurant server cover letter
- Header: This should include the server's name, contact information, date, and the employer's details, establishing a professional tone and making it easy for the recruiter to reach out for an interview.
- Greeting: A personalized greeting addressing the restaurant manager or hiring committee by name demonstrates attentiveness to detail and a genuine interest in the position.
- Introduction: The opening paragraph should hook the reader by expressing enthusiasm for the role and briefly mentioning past experience or key strengths that make the candidate ideal for a server position.
- Body: In this section, the server should articulate their specific skills such as excellent customer service, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, knowledge of food and beverage pairings, and experience with point-of-sale systems, which are crucial for the role.
- Closing: The closing paragraph should reiterate the candidate's excitement for the opportunity, invite the recruiter to review the attached resume, and include a proactive statement about looking forward to discussing how they can contribute to the restaurant's success in an interview.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills: To interact effectively with customers, understand their needs, and provide a pleasant dining experience.
- Strong memory and attention to detail: For remembering customer orders, special dietary requests, and the ability to manage multiple tables efficiently.
- Teamwork and collaboration: To work effectively with kitchen staff and other servers, ensuring timely and coordinated service to guests.
- Salesmanship and upselling abilities: To suggestively sell menu items and maximize the restaurant's profitability while also enhancing the customer's dining experience.
- Resilience and stress management: To maintain composure and a friendly demeanor during peak hours when the restaurant environment is fast-paced and demanding.
- Flexibility and willingness to adapt: To accommodate varying schedules, pick up extra shifts as needed, and adjust to the changing demands of the restaurant business.
Greeting recruiters with your restaurant server cover letter salutation
What better way to start your conversation with the hiring manager, than by greeting them?
Take the time to find out who the professional, recruiting for the role, is.
Search on LinkedIn, the company website. And for those still keen on making a fantastic first impression, you could even contact the organization, asking for the recruiter's name and more details about the job.
Address recruiters in the restaurant server greeting by either their first name or last name. (e.g. "Dear Anthony" or "Dear Ms. Smarts").
If you're unable to discover the recruiter's name - don't go for the impersonal "To whom it may concern", but instead use "Dear HR team".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Restaurant Name] Team,
- Dear [Manager's Name],
- Dear [Owner's Name],
- Dear [Restaurant Name] Hiring Committee,
- Respected [Manager's Surname] Sir/Madam,
Introducing your profile to catch recruiters' attention in no more than two sentences
The introduction of your restaurant server cover letter is a whole Catch 22 .
You have an allocated space of no more than just a paragraph (of up to two sentences). With your introduction, you have to stand out and show why you're the best candidate out there.
Set out on a journey with your restaurant server cover letter by focusing on why you're passionate about the job. Match your personal skills and interests to the role.
Another option for your restaurant server cover letter introduction is to show you're the ideal candidate. Write about how your achievements and skills are precisely what the company is looking for.
However you decide to start your restaurant server cover letter, always remember to write about the value you'd bring about. Making it both tangible (with your metrics of success) and highly sought out.
Choosing your best achievement for the middle or body of your restaurant server cover letter
Now that you have the recruiters' attention, it's time to write the chunkiest bit of your restaurant server cover letter.
The body consists of three to six paragraphs that focus on one of your achievements.
Use your past success to tell a story of how you obtained your most job-crucial skills and know-how (make sure to back these up with tangible metrics).
Another excellent idea for your restaurant server cover letter's middle paragraphs is to shine a light on your unique professional value.
Write consistently and make sure to present information that is relevant to the role.
Thinking about the closing paragraph of your restaurant server cover letter
Before your signature, you have extra space to close off your restaurant server cover letter.
Use it to either make a promise or look to the future.
Remind recruiters how invaluable of a candidate you are by showing what you plan to achieve in the role.
Also, note your availability for a potential next meeting (in person or over the telephone).
By showing recruiters that you're thinking about the future, you'd come off as both interested in the opportunity and responsible.
Which story should you tell in your restaurant server cover letter when you have zero experience
Candidates, lacking professional experience in the field - this one is for you.
Your restaurant server cover letter is an exercise of integrity, honesty, and, above all, spinning a positive narrative around your strengths.
And what better way to capture recruiters' attention than with your most job-relevant achievement (this could be from your internship or volunteering experience)?
Make sure to back up your success with transferrable skills that are relevant to the job (e.g. how your year, studying abroad, has taught you to be more motivated and handle multicultural environments).
Another safe card you can bet on is your career dream: in the body of your restaurant server cover letter, go into the details of how your ambitions would help make the company you're applying for better.
Key takeaways
Your restaurant server cover letter is your best shot at standing out by showing your motivation and the unique skills you'd bring to the job:
- Chose no more than one achievement, which you'd be talking about in the body of your restaurant server cover letter, by focusing on skills and outcomes;
- Address recruiters with their first or last name, or "Dear Hiring Manager" in your restaurant server cover letter greeting;
- Introduce in no more than two sentences what makes your profile unique (perhaps it's your motivation, enthusiasm, or appreciation of the company you're applying for);
- Select the same font you have used in your resume (avoid Times New Roman and Arial, as most candidates tend to invest in them);
- Close your restaurant server cover letter with a promise of how you see yourself growing in the company and the benefits you'd bring about.
