Your waiter/waitress resume should demonstrate your ability to multitask, deliver efficient service in a fast-paced environment, elevate guest satisfaction ratings, and collaborate with a team of servers. This guide provides expert tips to help you create a success-driven resume highlighting the most compelling aspects of your server experience in the hospitality industry.
A resume template can help you write an effective waiter/waitress resume to win interviews.
Your waiter/waitress resume should include these key sections:
Provide your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a link to your online professional profile. Ensure your contact information is current so potential employers can contact you for an interview.
In about two to three sentences, summarize your professional background, relevant skills, and experience as a waiter/waitress. A strong, compelling introduction will gain the attention of hospitality managers and recruiters. Highlight your strengths and integrate keywords from the job description to show you’re a good match for the position.
Well-rounded waiter with more than six years of experience in the hospitality industry, including roles at Hilton Garden Restaurant and Hard Rock Cafe. Track record for elevating customer service and satisfaction ratings by 25% within six months, multi-tasking capabilities, physical stamina, and strong communication and leadership skills.
Highlight at least 10 key skills for your waiter/waitress career — five hard skills and five soft ones. Choose hard skills, such as payment processing and product sales and promotion, and soft skills, including conflict resolution and task prioritization. Strategically select which skills to include by aligning your capabilities with the job description to increase your chances of winning an interview. Some examples are highlighted in this table.
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
---|---|
Menu and order memorization | Conflict resolution |
New hire training | Cross-collaboration |
Payment processing | Customer satisfaction |
Point-of-Sale (POS) systems | Multitasking |
Product sales and promotions | Task prioritization |
Take a strategic approach with your words on your waiter/waitress. In the professional experience section of your resume, use action verbs to communicate your job duties and accomplishments. Instead of listing off responsibilities, start each sentence with a dynamic action verb, and avoid repetitive or first-person language such as, “I was responsible for…” Here are some action verb ideas to energize your resume.
This section should list your previous positions as a waiter/waitress, including job duties, employer names, and dates of employment. Highlight specific achievements and accomplishments, quantifying your results whenever possible.
Head Server, Hilton Garden Restaurant, New York, NY
October 2020 – present
Server, Hard Rock Cafe, New York, NY
June 2018 – October 2020
Use numbers and metrics to show the results you achieved in previous roles. Provide context to your work history and give hospitality managers a better understanding of your scope and impact. You can demonstrate your value and potential as a waiter/waitress by detailing how you improve efficiency, elevate guest satisfaction ratings, and improve restaurant sales.
Align your waiter/waitress resume with the job description to improve your chances of securing an interview. Incorporate keywords and highlight accomplishments that prove you can exceed the company’s expectations. This will require tailoring every resume you send to a recruiter for the specific job application. Even minor tweaks can make a big impact.
Creating a waiter/waitress resume can be challenging if you don’t have real-world experience yet. However, you still have valuable skills and knowledge from your education and training. Also, consider volunteer experiences and highlight certifications you’ve earned. For example, if you were asked to wait tables at a charity golf outing because of your courteous nature, note this in your experience section. Or, if you earned a ServSafe Food Handler certification, include this to show your commitment to advancing your career.
List any relevant education and certifications you’ve received to display you’re a well-qualified waiter/waitress. Include the title of the degree or certificate earned, the institution’s name, and the completion date. Also, list continuing education courses or professional development programs.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Culinary Arts, September 2017 – May 2018
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn
Well-rounded waiter with more than six years of experience in the hospitality industry, including roles at Hilton Garden Restaurant and Hard Rock Cafe. Track record for elevating customer service and satisfaction ratings by 25% within six months, multi-tasking capabilities, physical stamina, and strong communication and leadership skills.
Head Server, Hilton Garden Restaurant, New York, NY
October 2020 – present
Server, Hard Rock Cafe, New York, NY
June 2018 – October 2020
Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Culinary Arts, September 2017 – May 2018
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY
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