One specific CV challenge you might face when crafting a waitress CV is articulating your customer service skills to appeal across different industries. Our guide provides tailored advice on showcasing your transferable skills in a manner that resonates with varied employers, ensuring your application stands out.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your waitress CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your waitress CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your waitress CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your waitress CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a waitress CV
- Work experience showcases your previous roles and relevance to serving.
- Key skills section demonstrates expertise in customer service and multitasking.
- Educational background provides insight into your level of training and qualifications.
- Awards and Certifications highlight exceptional service or industry-specific recognitions.
- Languages spoken can be a valuable asset in diverse dining environments.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your customer service skills by detailing experiences where you have successfully managed customer enquiries, handled complaints, and delivered exceptional dining experiences.
- Emphasise your multitasking abilities, as a waitress often has to manage multiple tables, remember complex orders, and deliver prompt service without errors.
- Detail any knowledge of food and beverage that you possess, such as familiarity with various cuisines, dietary restrictions, or wine pairings, to show that you can enhance the dining experience.
- Include any relevant training, such as food hygiene certificates, or mention experience with point-of-sale systems and other relevant technology to demonstrate your readiness to start with minimal training.
- Note down examples of working in high-pressure environments or busy periods like Christmas or Valentine's Day to show that you can maintain composure and efficiency during peak times.
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What information should you include in your waitress CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their waitress CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for waitress:
- Senior Waitress | Exceptional Customer Service | Wine Expertise Certification | 10+ Years in Fine Dining
- Head Waitress | Team Leadership | NVQ Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision | Health & Safety Focused
- Waitress | Customer Satisfaction Champion | Experienced in High-Volume Settings | 5 Years' Service Excellence
- Professional Waitress | Silver Service Trained | Barista Certified | Multilingual | 8 Years Hospitality Industry
- Waitress & Team Mentor | Food Safety Level 2 | Passion for Culinary Trends | 7 Years Progressive Experience
- Junior Waitress | Entry-Level | Outstanding Interpersonal Skills | Enthusiastic Learner | Commitment to Quality Service
What's the difference between a waitress CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your waitress CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a waitress job:
- Seasoned waitress with over 7 years of experience in high-volume restaurants, demonstrating advanced skills in customer service and order management. Recipient of 'Employee of the Month' award thrice for enhancing guest satisfaction and loyalty through attentive service and problem-solving abilities.
- Dynamic professional with 5 years of expertise in event coordination, now seeking to transfer strong organisational and interpersonal skills to the hospitality industry. Proven track record in managing complex logistics and creating memorable experiences for clients and guests alike.
- Former retail manager with a decade of experience in fast-paced customer-centric environments, aiming to apply a strong work ethic, exceptional leadership, and proven ability to increase sales to a new career as a waitress, with a focus on contributing positively to the dining experience.
- Dedicated individual with a passion for providing excellent service and a history of fostering a positive dining atmosphere. With over 8 years in the industry, I've honed my ability to work efficiently under pressure and have been acknowledged for increasing repeat business by ensuring customer delight.
- Enthusiastic and quick-learner eager to embark on a career in hospitality as a waitress. Keen to use my excellent communication skills and positive attitude to create an inviting atmosphere for guests. Committed to developing my abilities and contributing to team success.
- Aspiring to join the hospitality sector, I am determined to leverage my interpersonal skills and capacity for swift learning. Through my experience as a volunteer coordinator, I have cultivated a dedication to service and am excited about the opportunity to grow and excel in a dynamic restaurant environment.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your waitress CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Maintained a comprehensive knowledge of menu items and daily specials to provide accurate information to customers, ensuring dietary needs and preferences were accommodated.
- Developed strong rapport with regular patrons by remembering personal preferences and greeting them by name, enhancing their dining experience and fostering loyalty.
- Efficiently managed multiple tables in a high-volume environment, prioritising tasks and delivering prompt service to maintain customer satisfaction and swift table turnover.
- Handled payments and transactions with accuracy and integrity, ensuring all financial procedures were followed in line with company policies.
- Demonstrated up-selling techniques by recommending premium dishes and beverages, contributing to an increase in average sales per table.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to communicate special requests or dietary restrictions, ensuring food was prepared to customer specifications and satisfaction.
- Resolved customer complaints with discretion and professionalism, taking swift action to correct any issues and preserve the establishment's reputation.
- Assisted in maintaining cleanliness and organisation throughout the dining area, adhering to health and safety regulations to provide a pleasant environment for patrons.
- Participated in team meetings and training sessions to continuously improve service standards and stay updated on restaurant promotions or menu changes.
- Provided exceptional table service to an average of 50+ customers per shift in a high-volume, fine dining environment, elevating guest satisfaction through personalised attention and swift issue resolution.
- Successfully upsold food and beverage pairings, contributing to a 15% increase in monthly sales for premium wine selections.
- Assisted in organising and executing themed dining events, which saw a customer turnout increase of 30%, fostering repeat business and heightened brand loyalty.
- Led a team of wait staff during busy shifts, efficiently coordinating dining room activities and contributing to a 10% increase in service efficiency.
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to streamline order processing, reducing average customer wait times by 5 minutes.
- Designed a staff training manual, enhancing new waitresses' onboarding process resulting in faster deployment to the dining floor.
- Implemented a customer feedback system using digital platforms which increased positive online reviews by 40% within the first six months.
- Expertly maneuvered between diverse dining sections, managing workload for 20+ tables while maintaining high service standards.
- Orchestrated a 'Local Produce Week' to showcase regional dishes, driving a 25% surge in reservations and strengthening community relations.
- Introduced a cocktail tasting event to the drink menu that became a monthly highlight, doubling beverage revenue on event nights.
- Trained over 30 new staff members in providing elite customer service which subsequently increased the overall customer satisfaction rate by 20%.
- Managed inventory and performed weekly stock assessments to prevent shortages, maintaining optimal levels and reducing waste by 12%.
- Leveraged strong organisational skills to manage simultaneous customer orders without errors, maintaining a 98% accuracy rate throughout tenure.
- Pioneered a new service protocol that enhanced service delivery, cutting table turnover times by 15% and increasing evening dinner service capacity.
- Championed a customer loyalty program that increased repeat customer visits by 18% over a one-year period.
- Mastered a complex, ever-changing craft beer menu, becoming the go-to waitress for beer recommendations and pairing advice, spiking craft beer sales by 20%.
- Participated in the launch of a new seasonal menu, working closely with the chefs for tastings and feedback, which resulted in a 30% increase in menu item sales.
- Organised after-hours team-building events that boosted staff morale, markedly enhancing team cooperation during peak service hours.
- Sourced and introduced eco-friendly disposable serveware, aligning with company sustainability goals and cutting down costs by 5% due to bulk purchasing.
- Adeptly handled the introduction of a new point-of-sale system, training colleagues to use the technology, which reduced order times by an average of 2 minutes.
- Developed daily sales reports that highlighted best-selling items, aiding the management team in strategic menu planning and inventory control.
- Boosted weekend brunch sales by 25% through social media promotion and local food blogger engagements.
- Implemented table management strategies that handled customer flow during peak periods, markedly reducing customer wait times by 20%.
- Curated a special event menu for private parties, which became a profitable avenue accounting for 15% of quarterly revenue.
Writing your CV without professional experience for your first job or when switching industries
There comes a day, when applying for a job, you happen to have no relevant experience, whatsoever. Yet, you're keen on putting your name in the hat. What should you do? Candidates who part-time experience , internships, and volunteer work.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your waitress CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your waitress CV:
Food service management
POS operation
Cash handling
Order taking
Table setting
Food preparation knowledge
Health and safety compliance
Beverage serving
Menu memorisation
Inventory management
Communication
Customer service
Multitasking
Time management
Active listening
Patience
Adaptability
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
PRO TIP
Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Further professional qualifications for your waitress CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your waitress CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional waitress CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
