How To Write a Busser Resume
To land a job as a busser, you need a resume that shows you can work in a fast-paced environment, understand how to clear and clean a table, and have excellent customer service skills. If you need help making the most of your restaurant experience, use the tips and examples below to guide you in creating a busser resume.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Create a profile by summarizing your busser qualifications
At the top of your resume, provide a short three to four-sentence summary of your experience and skills. This profile section should be rich with keywords from the job description and immediately show that you meet the requirements.
List your years of experience in the restaurant or service industry and where you worked, such as in a cafeteria or a high-end country club dining room. Include any special skills that could put you above other candidates, such as being bilingual or having a ServSafe certification.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Observant Busser with 4+ years of experience including three years in a high-volume cafeteria setting. Committed to helping provide a clean, prompt, and pleasant dining experience for customers. Recent demonstrated success in a training role for new hires. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Mandarin.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Dependable Busser with four years of experience including three years in an upscale country club setting. Committed to helping provide a clean, prompt, and pleasant dining experience for customers. Skilled at balancing and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced work environment.
2. Create a powerful list of your busser experience
Bussing positions have the same general duties: clear and clean tables between guests. However, your professional experience section should provide a larger narrative about how you do your job and why the hiring manager should consider you.
Quantify your job duties by providing metrics, such as how many tables you cleared per shift, or your efficiency ranking. Include any other responsibilities, such as side work or training new hires, and special recognitions, such as employee of the month.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Cafeteria Attendant, FCD Dim Sum, New York, NY | August 2019 to Present
- Prepare booths, tables, and other dining areas for newly arrived customers
- Help train new hires on facility operations
- Won “Employee of the Month” twice for providing above-and-beyond support to servers during peak times and holidays
- Ranked #3 on a 38-person team for overall efficiency
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Dining Room Attendant, AUW Country Club, Detroit, MI | August 2019 to Present
- Help ensure utmost customer satisfaction at this upscale dining facility
- Clear remaining place settings, and clean booths, tables, and floors after each group’s departure
- Uphold strict standards of food safety and sanitization
- Earned “Employee of the Month” award three times for outstanding efficiency and service
3. List any education and certifications relevant to bussers
Most busser jobs are entry-level, so there aren’t likely to be any specific education or certification requirements. However, any extra training or credentials you have can increase your chances of being hired and potentially help you move up into higher positions.
Include your highest level of education completed on your resume, whether a high school diploma or a post-secondary degree. Certifications from ServSafe, such as Food Handler or Food Manager, can also help.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example
- Associate Degree in General Studies
- Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis, MN – May 2019
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- ServSafe Allergen Certification, National Restaurant Association, 2019
4. List busser-related skills and proficiencies
Bussing tables isn’t just about removing dishes and giving everything a wipe-down. You must also know how to prepare the table for the next guest, coordinate with the servers and hosting staff, and properly disinfect the space.
Many restaurants offer on-the-job training for these things, but including a list of your skills can show a hiring manager you can hit the ground running. Here are some common skills managers look for in bussers:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Customer satisfaction | Customer service |
| Dining area cleanup | Dining area preparation |
| Dining facility maintenance | Efficiency improvement |
| Food safety and sanitization | Process improvement |
| Table setting | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Time management |
How To Pick the Best Busser Resume Template
Pro tip: You don’t have to create your resume from scratch. Using a busser resume template lets you plug your information into a ready-made format to send in applications efficiently. At a minimum, it should have room for your contact information, profile, professional experience, and skills list.
A basic template organized with headers works well for this position, but a resume with room to call out any specific awards, recognitions, or career achievements can help you stand out.
Busser Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Skyler Thompson
123 W 15th Street, Minneapolis, MN 12345 | (123) 456-7890 | [email protected]
Profile
Attentive Busser with three years of experience in a family-owned restaurant setting. Committed to helping provide a clean, prompt, and pleasant dining experience for customers. Skilled communicator who builds positive relationships with diverse coworkers. Focused on finding ways to help continually improve and expedite service operations.
Work Experience
Busser, SLK Restaurant, Minneapolis, MN | August 2019 to Present
- Uphold high service standards for this popular family-owned restaurant
- Help set tables for each incoming customer group
- Quickly clean up any spilled food or beverages during each meal
- Refill napkins and condiment containers to promote a smooth service experience and help waitstaff stay focused on food orders
Day Shift Team Member, Burger King, Minneapolis, MN | June 2018 to July 2019
- Gained solid foundation in efficient customer service at this fast-food restaurant location
- Helped maintain a clean, sanitary, and organized work area
Education
Associate Degree
Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis, MN
Graduate
Southwest Senior High, Minneapolis, MN
Key Skills
- Customer Service & Satisfaction
- Dining Area Preparation
- Efficiency Improvement
- Food Safety & Sanitization
- Process Improvement
- Table Setting
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Time Management
Frequently Asked Questions: Busser Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for busser resumes?-
A busser resume should be one page at most, which means every word needs to make an impact. That’s where action verbs come in. These verbs start your sentences and bullets and make your resume more engaging for the hiring manager.
Each verb you use should be unique, and you may run out of words. Use our list of common action verbs for busser resumes to find new options to help highlight your experience.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Assist | Clean |
| Clear | Collaborate |
| Engage | Maintain |
| Monitor | Organize |
| Provide | Refill |
| Remove | Replenish |
| Respond | Restock |
| Retrieve | Sanitize |
| Serve | Set |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food and beverage workers are expected to see average job growth in their sector through 2032. This, coupled with the high turnover common in restaurants, means there will likely be many open positions. Ensure you're at the top of the candidate list by aligning your resume to each job.
While many busser duties will be the same across positions, you must tailor your resume to help applicant tracking systems (ATS) identify you as a good match. Use keywords from the job description and change up your skills list to reflect what’s listed in the posting.
If a job lists that bussers will also need to help refill guests’ drinks, mention how you helped servers keep up with table maintenance during rush.
What is the best busser resume format?-
The combination format works well for a busser resume. There’s plenty of room for a detailed work history if you’re strong on experience. Those just starting in the field can use the skills list to show they can handle the job. A combination format also has sections for your profile summary and education.
If you’re an entry-level applicant and your resume looks sparse, add any relevant volunteer experience. Bussing tables at a food pantry or cleaning up after school meals is worth mentioning.
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Hiring managers for bussing positions often review hundreds of applications, and attaching a cover letter to your resume can help you stand out. Choose a few key points from your resume to provide context, such as explaining how you covered extra tables when the restaurant was short-staffed. If you need more examples, check out our food service cover letter guide for ideas.
