As a restaurant server, you might struggle with effectively highlighting your customer service skills and multitasking abilities on your resume. Our step-by-step guide will show you how to craft compelling bullet points that showcase your expertise in these areas, helping you stand out to potential employers.
- The most effective restaurant server resume samples, reflecting on experience and skills.
- +10 simple, yet impactful methods to tailor your restaurant server resume to the job advert.
- Using your professional achievements as the North Star to your unique value as a restaurant server candidate.
- 'No one cares about your education nowadays …' Let's prove this statement wrong with the best-kept industry secrets to your education and certifications.
If the restaurant server resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:
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- Fine Dining Server Resume Example
- Head Bartender Resume Example
- Prep Cook Resume Example
- Fast Food Resume Example
- Food Service Manager Resume Example
- Barista Resume Example
- Restaurant General Manager Resume Example
- Food and Beverage Manager Resume Example
- Busser Resume Example
Is there a correct way to format your restaurant server resume?
This is a tricky question. While skimming over your resume, recruiters will be looking at your experience and the message your profile conveys. That's why your resume format needs to be clear and concise, serving to supplement and organize your experience. Professional best practices point that the best restaurant server resumes:
- Follow the reverse chronological order, where the most recent experience items are presented first . This is to keep your expertise succinct and to show recruiters your career growth over the years;
- Have a clearly defined header that includes all relevant contact information and a portfolio or a LinkedIn link. In some countries, it is acceptable to include a professional photo , so that your application is more memorable;
- Feature the most important restaurant server resume sections towards the top, e.g. summary, skills, and experience. That way, recruiters can immediately find information that is relevant to the role;
- Take up no more than two pages - and two pages are the exception for more experienced professionals. Keep your expertise to the point and use your restaurant server resume real estate wisely .
- Selecting modern, yet simple fonts, e.g. Rubik, Lato, etc., would help your application stand out;
- Many candidates stick with the tried-and-tested Arial or Times New Roman, but you'd want your restaurant server resume to be a bit more unique;
- The ATS can read all serif and sans-serif fonts, so you should avoid fancy, formal script (or cursive) fonts.
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List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
Traditional sections, appreciated by recruiters, for your restaurant server resume:
- Clear and concise header with relevant links and contact details
- Summary or objective with precise snapshot of our career highlights and why you're a suitable candidate for the restaurant server role
- Experience that goes into the nuts and bolts of your professional qualifications and success
- Skills section(-s) for more in-depth talent-alignment between job keywords and your own profile
- Education and certifications sections to further show your commitment for growth in the specific niche
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Experience with point-of-sale (POS) systems and order management software.
- Knowledge of food safety and handling procedures.
- Ability to multitask and efficiently manage time during peak hours.
- Examples of excellent customer service and conflict resolution skills.
- Proven record of upselling menu items and increasing sales.
Adding your relevant experience to your restaurant server resume
If you're looking for a way to show recruiters that your expertise is credible, look no further than the resume experience section.
Your restaurant server resume experience can be best curated in a structured, bulleted list detailing the particulars of your career:
- Always integrate metrics of success - what did you actually achieve in the role?
- Scan the restaurant server advert for your dream role in search of keywords in the job requirements - feature those all through your past/current experience;
- Dedicate a bullet (or two) to spotlight your technical capabilities and how you're able to use the particular software/technology in your day-to-day roles;
- Write simple by including your responsibility, a job advert keyword or skill, and a tangible outcome of your success;
- Use the experience section to also define the unique value of working with you in the form of soft skills, relevant feedback, and the company culture you best thrive in.
Industry leaders always ensure that their resume experience section offers an enticing glimpse at their expertise, while telling a career narrative. Explore these sample restaurant server resumes on how to best create your resume experience section.
- Expertly managed a high-volume station serving up to 200 guests per shift, consistently achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate.
- Improved table turnover rate by 20% through effective communication with kitchen staff and timely service, boosting restaurant revenue.
- Pioneered a new upselling strategy for beverages and desserts, which increased average sales per table by 15%.
- Demonstrated sophisticated wine knowledge, elevating guest experience and contributing to a 30% increase in wine sales.
- Assisted in training and onboarding of new servers, resulting in a more cohesive and efficient team.
- Spearheaded a customer feedback initiative that led to a menu overhaul and the introduction of 10 new popular dishes.
- Orchestrated the organization of special events which included coordinating with the kitchen and management to handle parties of up to 100 people.
- Implemented a new point-of-sale system, which enhanced order accuracy by 40%.
- Collaborated with the kitchen team to reduce food waste, achieving a 25% decrease in monthly food costs.
- Developed a cocktail recommendation system that was well-received by customers and increased cocktail sales by 20%.
- Received the ‘Employee of the Month’ award four times for exemplary customer service and teamwork.
- Conducted menu presentations at team meetings, which were instrumental in new menu item success and bolstered server confidence.
- Consistently acknowledged for quick and efficient service, resulting in being assigned to high-priority VIP tables.
- Volunteered to organize a weekly live-music event, leading to a 25% increase in patrons on event nights.
- Took initiative to create a 'Server's Choice' feature that highlighted servers' favorite dishes, increasing staff engagement and menu diversity awareness.
- Executed a guest-first service approach that resulted in personal positive online reviews mentioning my name, contributing to the branch's reputation.
- Led a front-of-house efficiency project, introducing new seating protocols that reduced average customer wait time by 35%.
- Organized weekly wine tastings to educate staff, fostering a knowledgeable team that improved wine pairing sales by 18%.
- Designed a training manual for incoming servers, ensuring uniformity in service standards and customer interaction.
- Took charge of the quarterly inventory management, leading to a 10% reduction in discrepancies and improved ordering efficiency.
- Oversaw the transition to a more sustainable sourcing model with local farmers, enhancing the restaurant's image and driving a 15% increase in diner traffic interested in local cuisine.
- Mastered bilingual service, ensuring the comfort and satisfaction of both English and Spanish-speaking customers, and expanding the establishment's customer base.
- Initiated a cross-training program with the kitchen staff, which improved the collaboration and reduced order errors by approximately 20%.
- Facilitated regular team-building activities, which increased staff morale and led to a 10% decrease in staff turnover.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Documented serving an average of 50 customers per shift, highlighting an ability to handle high volumes of patrons efficiently.
- Maintained a consistent customer satisfaction rate above 95%, demonstrating excellent service and attention to guest needs.
- Increased sales of featured menu items by 20% through effective upselling techniques.
- Managed cash and credit transactions of over $2,000 daily, showcasing strong trustworthiness and financial responsibility.
- Participated in a team that received a regional service award, underlining commitment to exceptional team performance and service standards.
- Implemented a new ordering system that reduced wait times by 10%, significantly improving customer experience and table turnover.
- Trained and mentored a team of 10 new servers, ensuring they adhere to restaurant protocols and maintain service quality.
- Contributed to a 15% increase in the average table check by recommending premium beverage pairings.
Action verbs for your restaurant server resume
Restaurant Server resume without experience: a walk-through guide
If you don't happen to have any relevant experience yet, you can substitute this with:
- Short-term gigs and stunts - like month-long internships, that you have done during your university days
- Contract work - be specific about the relevance and outcomes of each role you include
- Resume format that prioritizes your skills - the functional-skill-based format or hybrid format could work
- Research roles - feature those especially prominently if you've participated in a noteworthy project or your role was of utmost importance to the project's success.
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Mention specific courses or projects that are pertinent to the job you're applying for.
Restaurant Server resume skills: the essential hard skills and soft skills checklist
Ultimately, your Restaurant Server resume should hint to recruiters that you possess an array of talents that are indispensable to the role.
For example, listing the technologies and software you're apt at using (or your hard skills) and how you apply them in your day-to-day responsibilities would ensure you meet the technical requirements of the role.
But is this enough to ensure that you make a good impression on recruiters?
Go a step further by detailing the soft skills or personality traits you've attained thanks to your work and life experience.
The best way to balance hard skills and soft skills on your Restaurant Server resume is by:
- Highlighting up to three of your most noteworthy career accomplishments in a separate section.
- Listing at least one hard skill and one soft skill you've used to solve a particular challenge or problem.
- Feature niche skills and technologies that would help you stand out amongst candidates.
- Think back on the social impact your efforts have had towards improving the work environment - were you able to always maintain a professional ethic, while enhancing the team culture? Write about your contribution to the role, department, or organization itself as a metric of success.
The skills section of your resume provides you with plenty of opportunities to detail your technical and personal traits.
All you have to do is select the talents that best fit your application and expertise. Make note of some of the most prominent hard and soft skills across the industry from our list:
Top skills for your restaurant server resume:
Knowledge of Menu Items
Point of Sale (POS) System Operation
Basic Wine and Beverage Knowledge
Food Safety and Handling
Order Taking
Payment Processing
Table Setting and Clearing
Food Preparation Basics
Time Management
Carrying Trays and Plates Skillfully
Communication
Customer Service
Patience
Active Listening
Teamwork
Problem-Solving
Multitasking
Flexibility
Attention to Detail
Stress Management
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Always remember that your restaurant server certifications can be quantified across different resume sections, like your experience, summary, or objective. For example, you could include concise details within the expertise bullets of how the specific certificate has improved your on-the-job performance.
Listing your education and certifications on your restaurant server resume
Don't underestimate the importance of your resume education section . As it may hint at various skills (and experience) that are relevant to the job. When writing your education section:
- Include only higher education degrees with information about the institution and start/end dates
- If you're in the process of obtaining your degree, include your expected graduation date
- Consider leaving off degrees that aren't relevant to the job or industry
- Write a description of your education if it presents you with an opportunity to further showcase your achievements in a more research-focused environment
When describing your certifications on your resume, always consider their relevancy to the role. Use the same format to describe them as you would for your education. If you're wondering what the best certificates out there are for restaurant server roles, check out the list below.
The top 5 certifications for your restaurant server resume:
- Food Handler Certificate (FHC) - Local Department of Public Health
- Food Safety Manager Certification (FSMC) - National Restaurant Association
- Alcohol Server Certification (ASC) - National Hospitality Training Institute
- Certified Restaurant Server (CRS) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
- First Aid & CPR Certification (FA/CPR) - American Red Cross or American Heart Association
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Listing your relevant degrees or certificates on your restaurant server resume is a win-win situation. Not only does it hint at your technical capabilities in the industry, but an array of soft skills, like perseverance, adaptability, and motivation.
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Best practices to your restaurant server resume summary or objective
To start, how do you know if you should include a resume summary or a resume objective ?
- Resume summaries are ideal for restaurant server professionals with more experience, who'd like to give a quick glimpse of their biggest career achievements in the top one-third of their resumes.
- On the other hand, resume objectives serve as a road map for recruiters. Candidates use the objective to show how their experience aligns with the restaurant server role they're applying for while showcasing the North Star of their career (or where they want to be as a professional in the next couple of years).
The resume summary or resume objective could be the perfect fit for your restaurant server resume. The function of both is to highlight your professionalism succinctly. So, keep your writing specific: include no more than four sentences and target your application to the role. Here's how these specific resume sections help the restaurant server candidates stand out.
Resume summaries for a restaurant server job
- Dedicated restaurant server with over 6 years of experience in high-paced upmarket dining at Michelin-star establishments, skilled in wine pairing and personalized guest service. Recognized for increasing customer retention by 15% through exceptional service and relationship building. Pursuing an opportunity to bring expertise in fine dining and a proven track record of enhancing guest satisfaction to a reputable dining venue.
- Dynamic server with a solid 4 years at a busy New York steakhouse, adept in order management systems and upselling techniques that have demonstrably boosted average table spends by 20%. Lauded for creating memorable dining experiences, seeks to contribute exceptional interpersonal skills and attention to detail to a team that prides itself on creating an unparalleled dining atmosphere.
- Enthusiastic career changer with 10 years of client management in the luxury hospitality industry, eager to leverage extensive background in guest relations towards creating unforgettable dining experiences as a full-time server. Significant strength in maintaining customer satisfaction and loyalty, ready to apply meticulous attention to detail and commitment to excellence in a fine dining restaurant setting.
- Motivated transition from a successful 8-year tenure in retail management, bringing a strong customer-first approach and a knack for sales into the restaurant service industry. Excelled at team leadership and customer engagement, with a keen interest in culinary arts and restaurant dynamics, looking to passionately serve and create value at a progressive dining establishment.
- Aiming to embark on a career in restaurant service, bringing fresh enthusiasm, a strong work ethic, and a voracious appetite for learning. Eager to develop skills in tableside service and food presentation by joining a team that prides itself in mentorship and fostering growth, whilst delivering exceptional customer experiences.
- Aspiring to transform a profound interest in gastronomy and people into a professional journey, with no prior experience but armed with superb communication skills and a vibrant personality. Goal-oriented and ready to immerse in the art of serving, aiming to contribute hard work and a quick learning curve to a restaurant known for its exceptional service standards.
More sections to ensure your restaurant server resume stands out
If you're looking for additional ways to ensure your restaurant server application gets noticed, then invest in supplementing your resume with extra sections, like:
These supplementary resume sections show your technical aptitude (with particular technologies and software) and your people skills (gained even outside of work).
Key takeaways
- The layout of your resume should take into consideration your professional background while integrating vital sections and design elements;
- Highlight your most pertinent achievements for the role all through different sections;
- Be very specific when selecting your certifications, hard skills, and soft skills to showcase the best of your talents;
- Include within the top one-third of your restaurant server resume a header and summary to help recruiters understand your experience and allocate your contact details. A skills box is optional, but it will help you align your expertise with the role;
- Detail the full extent of your professional experience with specific bullets that focus on tasks, actions, and outcomes.
