Server Resume Template Example

What Server Resume Template Should You Use?

When you bring out a plate of food to restaurant guests, you know that presentation matters, and your resume is no different. Choosing the right template can help you serve up an enticing document for hiring managers.

The best resume template for servers is easy to read and well-organized, with your most relevant professional accomplishments and key skills clearly outlined. Look for a template that offers a simple layout without distracting graphics or cluttered formatting. Your content should be the focus, so stick with a minimalist design and only one or two colors.

What to Include in a Server Resume

Once you’ve selected your template, it’s time to start writing. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out our list of tips below to get a better understanding of what you should include in each section of your server resume.

  • Contact Information. Hiring managers must know who they’re reading about and how to contact them. In the header at the top of the resume, include all the basics: email, phone number, and city of residence. Include your LinkedIn profile link if applicable.
  • Profile. Acting as the appetizer of your resume, this paragraph gives a small sampling of your career so far. Include your job title, years of experience, and a few key qualifications that align with the job description. Highlight what makes you different from other applicants.
  • Work Experience. Create a strong professional experience section by including your most recent and relevant work history. Describe each job using three to five bullet points that show what you’ve accomplished in the role rather than your daily duties. Use numbers to discuss sales, number of tables worked, or total number of guests served.
  • Education. High school diplomas are the standard minimum requirement. Include your highest level of education and then mention any certifications you may have that relate to the job, such as a food handler’s permit.
  • Key Skills. Use this section to show hiring managers what you’re capable of on a technical and interpersonal level. This is also a great place to include keywords that match up with the serving skills listed in the job description. Include hard and soft skills to show you’re a well-rounded candidate.

How To Write a Server Resume

Your server resume must demonstrate an ability to provide exceptional customer service while taking orders accurately, delivering meals and processing payments. Hiring managers should be confident that you can handle working their peak business hours and navigate potentially disgruntled customers. Below, we’ll explore a few strategies to help you create a resume that highlights these kinds of abilities and more.

Quantify your experience

Numbers can make a big difference in your professional experience section. They help you show the results you’ve achieved in your past positions. Instead of just stating your job duties, you can use percentages, monetary figures, and other metrics to illustrate your influence at work. Take a look at our example:

Tailor your resume for each application

Restaurant hiring managers are usually looking for a very specific set of skills and qualifications in their servers. If you want their attention, speak to their needs. You can find everything you need to know by studying the job description. What are the job requirements? How many years of experience are they looking for? What’s the dining environment like?

Make a note of the words and phrases used in the job posting. Then, include those terms and any specific requirements you match up with throughout your resume in the profile, professional experience, and skills sections.

Highlight both hard and soft skills

A list of hard and soft skills gives hiring managers a good idea of what you’re capable of as a server. These technical and interpersonal abilities demonstrate that you can handle daily tasks and maintain positive interactions with guests and fellow staff. Look at our examples below to get familiar with some of the keywords you may encounter during your job search.

Common hard and soft skills for servers

Hard Skills Soft Skills
Cash handling and POS systems Adaptability
Food safety and hygiene Communication
Menu knowledge Customer service
Order-taking and accuracy Teamwork
Table setting and service Time management

Use common action verbs

Action verbs are mainly used in the professional experience section of your resume. They help you describe your past accomplishments and job duties concisely. As you create the bullet points for each of your previous roles, use words like these:

Action Verbs
Accommodated Anticipated
Collaborated Coordinated
Delivered Maintained
Resolved Upsold

What if you don’t have experience?

Many restaurants are often willing to train the right individuals. If you have a good work ethic and solid interpersonal skills, the technical aspect of serving is just a matter of training. But, what do you put on your resume then? Prioritize the following:

  • Soft skills: Serving is a customer-centric job that requires excellent communication. If you have work experience in a different field, describe your interpersonal abilities instead of unrelated hard skills.
  • Volunteering: Unpaid work is still a valuable form of experience you can highlight on your resume. Any volunteer work you’ve participated in with handling, preparing, or serving food is especially useful.
  • Certifications: Most states require at least a food handler’s permit to serve food in a restaurant. If you can prove that you’ve already earned yours, that’s a great way to show your initiative.

Server Resume Template Text Example

Emma Robinson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code

Profile

Calm and courteous server with over 8 years of experience in fine dining. Ability to work within busy, upscale environments to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and etiquette. Skilled at helping guests with menus and wine choices. Builds relationships with kitchen staff and fellow servers for a positive dining experience.

Key Skills

  • Excellent customer service
  • Upselling and cross-selling
  • POS systems proficiency
  • Team leadership
  • Conflict resolution
  • Multitasking
  • Attention to detail

Professional Experience

Lead Server, Binkley’s Restaurant, Phoenix, AZ
May 2018 – Present

  • Lead daily pre-shift meetings to share the menu, specials, and guest preferences with team members which has resulted in a 10% increase in upsales over the last year
  • Train and mentor new servers, ensuring they integrate into the restaurant well and understand service protocols and standards
  • Coordinate large-scale private events like weddings and corporate gatherings, with groups of up to 150 guests
  • Recommend wine pairings and additional courses, resulting in an average upsell rate of 20% to increase revenue for the restaurant

Server, The Capital Grille, Phoenix, AZ
June 2016 – April 2018

  • Managed a section of 10-12 tables during peak hours, ensuring timely order delivery and exceptional guest experiences
  • Maintained a consistent customer satisfaction rating of over 95% through attentive service and personalized recommendations
  • Collaborated with the kitchen team to ensure food quality and presentation met the restaurant’s high standards

Education

High School Diploma, June 2010
Pueblo High School, Tucson, AZ

Certifications

  • Food Handler’s Certificate, 2016
  • Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2, 2018
Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

A resume should be a forward-looking value proposition that showcases your most relevant accomplishments for a target role — not a rear view summary of your previous roles and responsibilities.

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