Food Service Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

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Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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Downloadable Resume Examples

Entry-level
Food-Services_Entry-level.pdf

Example #1 Entry-level

Mid-career
Food-Services_Mid-career.pdf

Example #2 Mid-career

Senior-level
Food-Services_Senior-level.pdf

Example #3 Senior-level

Food Services Resume Examples

Years of Experience
  • Entry-level Entry-level
  • Mid-career Mid-career
  • Senior-level Senior-level

Oliver Brown
(888) 888-8888 | [email protected] | 920 Windy Hill Street, Green Bay, WI 30611

Profile

Motivated Food Service Professional specializing in resort hospitality.

Professional Experience

Assistant Restaurant Manager, Marriott Resort, Green Bay, WI | July 2020 to Present

  • Organize and store vendor contracts and invoices
  • Oversee and motivate restaurant staff to ensure quality dining service
  • Coordinate communication between front-of-house and back-of-house staff
  • Monitor compliance with safety and hygiene regulations
  • Ensure guests receive prompt, courteous service at all times

Server, Green Bay Resort, Green Bay, WI | April 2018 to July 2020

  • Served up to 10 tables at a time
  • Familiarized guests with menu and daily specials
  • Helped customers with food allergies and diet restrictions in selecting meals
  • Accurately recorded food and drink orders

Education & Professional Development

Associate of Science in Food Service Management, Madison Community College, Madison, WI | June 2020

Certificate in Hospitality & Tourism Management, University of Central Florida, online | November 2020

Key Skills

  • Employee Interviewing & Scheduling
  • Inventory Monitoring
  • Product & Service Upselling
  • Reporting & Documentation
  • Team Collaboration

Certifications

ServSafe Food Safety Manager | 2018

ServSafe Food Handler | 2018

Charlotte Cardoza
512 Brewer Street, Hartford, CT 86106 | [email protected] | (860) 888-8888

Profile

Enthusiastic Food Service Professional & Leader with demonstrated success running large events.

Professional Experience

Catering Coordinator, Extreme Cuisine Catering, Hartford, CT | March 2019 to Present

  • Use scheduling software to book catering events and confirm with clients
  • Coordinate and oversee event infrastructure, set-up, and breakdown
  • Liaise and negotiate with various vendors
  • Schedule and oversee 15-20 catering and kitchen staff
  • Help managers set and execute food and decor budget

Lead Banquet Server, Urban Taste, Springfield, MA | September 2016 to February 2019

  • Prepared and double-checked each banquet for accuracy, making additions as needed
  • Supervised all servers on the floor throughout each function
  • Inspected all aspects of table place settings, including silverware, china, glass, and condiments for correct placement by servers
  • Prepared tables, action stations, buffets, service carts, dessert table/carts, and cordial carts
  • Informed kitchen staff of any food allergies, dietary needs, or special requests

Banquet Server, Black Dog Catering, New Haven, CT | June 2013 to August 2016

  • Served plated dinners to guests, and responded to requests for beverages or appetizers
  • Helped prepare food and tables before each event
  • Set up buffets in accordance with food safety and presentation standards
  • Opened wine and took drink orders

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Food Industry Management, Arizona State University, online | 2020

Key Skills

  • Conflict Resolution
  • Inventory Management
  • Menu Planning & Development
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Payroll Processing & Review
  • Multi-Course Meal Running
  • Supply Management
  • Team Supervision

Certification

ServSafe Food Manager | 2019

Liam Jackson
(512) 333-3333 | [email protected] | 414 Shiloh Street, Austin, TX 78613

Profile

Skilled Food Service Leader with 8+ years of experience. Committed to driving gains in both guest satisfaction and restaurant profitability. Demonstrated success managing and motivating a 30+ member team.

Professional Experience

General Manager of Food Service, Bucee’s, Austin, TX | June 2018 to Present

  • Oversee food prep methods, portions, and presentation
  • Train and supervise employees to ensure optimal efficiency and service quality
  • Manage budgeting and payroll operations
  • Ensure employees comply with all health and food safety standards
  • Set schedules and assign duties for 50+ employees per week

Kitchen Manager, The Cheesecake Factory, Temple, TX | May 2015 to May 2018

  • Supervised kitchen staff and organized food orders
  • Recruited and trained new hires on food safety, health standards, and company policies
  • Assessed inventory weekly

Highlight:

  • Cut supply costs 15% by negotiating new vendor contracts

Assistant Kitchen Manager, The Melting Pot, Oklahoma City, OK | March 2014 to May 2015

  • Managed daily operations and 8 kitchen staff under direction of general manager
  • Ensured adherence to all health and safety guidelines
  • Evaluated guest feedback and resolved 70% of in-person complaints without supervisory intervention

Highlight:

  • Streamlined food prep procedures, increasing profit by 5%

Line Cook, Whiskey Cake, Oklahoma City, OK | June 2012 to April 2014

  • Member of a 60-person restaurant team
  • Trained new workers on food prep, storage, safety, and sanitation
  • Prepared simple dish components by chopping vegetables, cutting meat, and preparing sauces

Highlight:

  • Named “Employee of the Month” twice for high efficiency and work quality

Education

Associate of Applied Business in Hospitality Management (concentration in Culinary Arts), Tri-County Tech, Bartlesville, OK

Key Skills

  • Conflict Resolution
  • Inventory Management
  • Menu Planning & Development
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Payroll Processing & Review
  • Staff Supervision
  • Task Prioritization & Sequencing
  • Team Collaboration

Certification

ServSafe Food Safety Manager | 2018

Tips for Writing a Better Food Service Resume

Quantify your food service experience

When writing your bullet points, see if you can include answers to the questions, “How much?” or “How many?” For example:

  • How many tables did you serve every hour?
  • How many other servers/kitchen employees did you train?
  • How much time/money did your idea save your restaurant?

As long as these numbers align with the scope of your target job and employer, they’re a great way to flesh out the detail on your resume.

Examples:


  • Waited on ~10 tables with 4+ people per hour
  • Contributed food sanitation ideas that reduced daily food waste by 15%

Showcase your food service technology skills

Food service today requires knowledge of various point-of-sale, scheduling, online ordering, catering, kitchen display, inventory management, and accounting software or applications, depending on the role. While many of these skills can be learned on the job, employers like to see you have prior experience with relevant software programs. You can highlight these in your Experience or Skills sections, or in a separate Technical Skills section.

Example


  • Point-of-service software proficiency, including Lightspeed, Upserve POS, and Toast POS

Common Key Skills for Food Service Resumes

One of the best ways to improve your resume is to add keywords.

That’s because most employers now use an applicant tracking system (ATS), which scans each submitted resume for keywords relevant to the job opening at hand. When the ATS finds a resume with many relevant keywords, it flags the document for the hiring manager.

To make your resume ATS-friendly, add a keyword-rich “Skills” or “Expertise” section. Here are some common keywords for food service resumes:

Key Skills & Proficiencies
Alcohol Safety Bartending
Bussing Cash Handling
Cooking Customer Service
Food Preparation Food Presentation
Food Safety & Sanitation Inventory Monitoring
Microsoft Office Suite Point-of-Sale Computer Systems
Product Sales & Promotions

Common Action Verbs for Food Service Resumes

One of the most frequent resume mistakes is using too few verbs. You may fall into repeating the same generic verb (say, “Manage”) many times. This repetition can distract the hiring manager and fail to show the varied nature of your experience. The following list will help you mix up the verbs on your food service resume:

NOTE: The verbs listed below are all in the present tense. Use the present tense to describe your current job duties. But use the past tense (e.g., “Generated,” “Improved”) to describe any projects you’ve completed or achievements you’ve had in your current job. Also use the past tense to describe both duties and achievements in all your previous jobs.

Action Verbs
Assist Clean
Cook Coordinate
Develop Monitor
Prepare Process
Replenish Resolve
Serve Stock
Store Supervise
Welcome

How to Align Your Food Service Resume With a Job Posting

One thing unique to most job postings is the description of the hiring organization or facility. You can enhance your food service resume by tailoring it based on any details about the facility that resonate with you. Follow these four steps:

Step 1: Jot down a few notes on the type of work environment you like best. For instance, you may prefer an environment that’s:

  • Collaborative
  • Customer-focused
  • Fast-paced
  • High-pressure
  • Process-oriented
  • Quality-focused

Step 2: When you find a job posting that appeals to you, look for any details about the hiring company or its work culture (these often appear at the top).

Step 3: Compare those details against your preferred work environment, and highlight any overlap.

Step 4: Add a line or two to your Profile emphasizing that similarity. For example, say you prefer a work environment that’s customer-focused. You find a posting that says “We are a team that places customer service and satisfaction at the center of everything we do.” You can then add a Profile line such as:

  • “Thrive in customer-focused work environments.”
  • “Committed to providing top-quality customer service and experiences.”

This simple exercise can make your resume more accurately show why you’re a great fit for the role as well as why the hiring manager should call you for an interview.

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