Server Job Description for a Resume: Examples and How-to
- Understanding the Role of a Server
- Importance of a Server in the Hospitality Industry
- Key Components of a Server Job Description
- Essential Skills for a Server Resume
- Crafting Your Server Resume
- Examples of Server Resumes
- Tips for Enhancing Your Server Resume
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions About Server Resumes
Even though the overall job outlook for servers is bright, a well-crafted resume can make a difference in landing interviews for the most coveted hospitality roles. This guide will outline key components and tips for creating an effective server resume.
Understanding the Role of a Server
Servers are responsible for interfacing with customers at food and beverage establishments. They take orders from patrons and collect payments, check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and correct any problems. Also, they write patrons’ food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmission to kitchen staff.
Importance of a Server in the Hospitality Industry
Aside from food quality, customer-server interaction plays a crucial role in the success of restaurants. Waitstaff focused on the whole customer experience are in great demand in the hospitality industry.
Key Components of a Server Job Description
Basic responsibilities
A server’s primary responsibilities include greeting and seating customers, taking and delivering orders, handling payments and receipts, and cleaning and resetting tables.
Additional duties
Other responsibilities include managing customer reservations, assisting with event setup, and performing cleaning and maintenance tasks elsewhere in the restaurant.
Essential Skills for a Server Resume
Communication skills
Servers must make themselves easily understood when interfacing with customers, supervisors, and kitchen staff. Clear and effective communication includes correct pronunciation of words, adequate voice volume, and actively listening to others’ comments and questions. Without these abilities, misunderstandings and order mixups abound.
Customer service skills
Excellent service enhances customer experience and is frequently mentioned in online restaurant reviews. You can demonstrate these skills by referring to and quantifying positive customer feedback, your ability to memorize menu items and ingredients, and your history of ensuring all customer needs are met.
Organizational skills
Demonstrate your organizational skills by discussing your efficient management of multiple tables and orders. If you have maintained a 100% customer order accuracy rate, mention it. Are you evaluated on keeping a tidy workstation? Say that you retain one.
Technical skills
List point-of-sale (POS) systems, reservation systems, and other software you use to indicate computer literacy and knowledge of restaurant-specific uses. Outline your comprehension of food service safety regulations and common food allergens.
Crafting Your Server Resume
Writing an effective summary
Use a three to four-sentence summary section at the top of your resume to communicate the most prominent reasons you’re a match for a particular server position. Tailor the resume summary to each job you apply for, thus showing your potential employer you pay attention to customer needs. Read the job posting to see what is important in terms of qualifications, skills, and personal traits. Where you are a match, incorporate these into your summary.
Entry-level server example
Enthusiastic server with almost three years of experience in the food service industry. Performs well in a fast-paced environment while prioritizing friendly and efficient service. Known for increasing guest satisfaction scores through a keen ability to anticipate guest needs.
Mid-level server example
Calm and courteous server with over eight years of experience in fine dining. Work within busy, upscale environments to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and restaurant etiquette. Skilled at helping guests with menus and wine choices. Builds relationships with kitchen staff and fellow servers for a positive dining experience.
Senior-level server example
Experienced lead server with nearly 10 years in the New York fine-dining scene. Refined skills in a contemporary American Michelin-starred restaurant. Currently serving in a renowned French-American establishment, receiving over 95% in guest satisfaction scores. Leader who takes charge during peak hours to direct the dining team and handle guest concerns.
Detailing work experience
List your work experiences in reverse chronological order, from most recent to least recent. For each job, detail your responsibilities and accomplishments, showing how you demonstrated the skills your potential employer desires. Make your descriptions compelling by using action verbs at the beginning of each sentence or bullet point (rather than “responsible for”) and quantifying your achievements. Show how you have delivered excellent client service instead of simply saying you have the skill to do so.
Showcasing skills and certifications
Place a section dedicated to your relevant skills, knowledge bases, and certifications near the top of your resume after your summary. Using a skills section this way can make it easier for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to “find” you.
Review the job posting of interest to see where you have matching skills and knowledge. Then list them by subcategories, such as hard skills (POS software, food safety practices, Alcoholic Beverage Control compliance) specific to food service and soft skills (such as communication, customer service, and organization) that can transfer across industries.
Formatting your resume
Choose an uncluttered resume format that reads from left to right, allowing your reader to see your qualifications quickly. Research has shown that employers glance at resumes for only six to 10 seconds before moving on. Column formatting may be trendy, but it makes it hard for potential employers and ATS to read your content.
Examples of Server Resumes
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
A solid foundation in restaurant and hospitality services, having worked in esteemed establishments like TK and Hilton Worldwide. Acquired versatile experience as a waiter in varying restaurant environments, coupled with strong culinary knowledge gleaned from an associate degree in Hospitality Management. Strong communication skills, ability to work under pressure, and dedication to exceptional customer service are matched by a record in improving service times, maintaining cleanliness, and building rapport with guests.
Key Skills
- Customer service skills
- Food service regulation compliance
- Order management
- Service issue resolution
- Table management
Professional Experience
Senior Waiter, Marriott International, New York, NY | January 2018 – Present
- Demonstrated proficiency in order management by consistently taking customers’ orders accurately and ensuring dishes are prepared according to specifications, contributing to an average customer satisfaction score of 90% for the last six months
- Proficiently managed table settings and environment, resulting in increased efficiency of service provided and enhancing the overall dining experience
- Displayed exceptional customer service skills by building rapport with guests, resolving service-related issues promptly, and effectively recommending dishes based on guests’ preferences; subsequently improving repeat customer statistics
Waitstaff, Hilton Worldwide, Los Angeles, CA | June 2014 – December 2017
- Assumed responsibility for managing customer orders–from accurately taking orders to communicating them to kitchen staff and serving timely, noted for improving overall service time during 2017 by 20%
- Maintained strict standards of cleanliness and orderliness at tables and working area, leading to a 15% decrease in customer complaints year over year (2016 to 2017) related to hygiene and ambiance
- Prioritized customer service by quickly resolving complaints and providing customized menu suggestions, contributing to a stable increase in positive customer feedback over the tenure
Education
Bachelor Degree in Restaurant Management
Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI | 2024
Tips for Enhancing Your Server Resume
Customizing job descriptions
Review the job posting of interest and note the qualifications desired by the employer. Then, where you can, customize your past job descriptions to reflect when and how you demonstrated these qualifications. Use the exact keywords to enhance your prospects of being noticed in the database.
Proofreading and feedback
The quality and presentation of your resume speak volumes about your professionalism. Proofread carefully for typos, grammatical mistakes, and punctuation errors. Next, use the editor or spelling /grammar functions on your word processing software. Lastly, ask detail-oriented friends and colleagues for feedback.
Conclusion
Enhance your chances of landing a server interview by:
- Leading with a summary section tailored to the job
- Customizing your resume to indicate essential server skills, knowledge, and experience wherever possible
- Making a professional first impression with an easy-to-read, error-free document
Quickly create your standout server resume by downloading the template of your choice and inserting your information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Server Resumes
At least one page, but no more than two pages.
About 10 to 15 years.
No. It takes up valuable space and doesn’t provide information about your skills and potential value to an employer.
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