Server Resume Examples

Downloadable Examples

Jobs for servers, also referred to as wait staff jobs and including both waitresses and waiters who serve food and beverages to restaurant patrons, are projected to grow at a rate of approximately 6% per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of 2018, there were 2,634,600 server positions in the United States, and through the year 2028, another 170,200 jobs are expected to be created in this field.

Job prospects are expected to remain strong in this field due to the number of open positions created by high employee turnover; however, job seekers should expect to experience intense competition when applying for jobs at upscale restaurants. Downloadable server resume examples are featured below for both inexperienced wait staff and servers who have varying amounts of experience with serving food and beverages to customers.

Downloadable Resume Examples

No Experience

Example #1 No Experience

2-3 Years

Example #2 2-3 Years

5-10 Years

Example #3 5-10 Years

10+ Years

Example #4 10+ Years

Server Resume Examples

Years of Experience
  • No Experience 0
  • 2-3 Years 2-3
  • 5-10 Years 5-10
  • 10+ Years 10+

Andrew Jones
(123) 456-7890
email@youremail.com
65 Chain Street, Happy, OK 25321

Profile

Enthusiastic, friendly high school graduate with great interpersonal skills and a desire to offer excellent customer service to restaurant guests. Fast learner with excellent math skills, technical skills and attention to details.

Key Skills

  • Enthusiasm
  • Friendliness
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Customer service provided with excellence
  • Fast learner
  • Math skills
  • Technical skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Welcoming
  • Attentive to the needs of guests

Education

High School Diploma
Grant High School, June 2019

Professional Experience

Washington Street Soup Kitchen, Happy, OK
March 2018-December 2019

  • Helped guests at the soup kitchen by offering them food options and beverages
  • Carried trays to tables for guests when help was needed
  • Ensured each visitor felt welcome and appreciated as a human being by using interpersonal skills and communication skills
  • Actively listened to guests who requested a referral to other services offered by Washington Street Industries

Danny Banks
(123) 456-7890
email@youremail.com
54 Blevins Road, Catstown, MI 15842

Profile

Server with one year of experience in food service, providing a friendly, upbeat customer experience. Ensured prompt service by maintaining a high level of energy and enthusiasm for customer service. Led the team in the use of new technology when the company’s new POS system was introduced and built team spirit by helping others on the team become comfortable with the use of the new technology.

Key Skills

  • Friendly with customers and team members
  • Enthusiastic about customer service and interacting with guests
  • Technical skills
  • Fast learner
  • Leadership skills and positive attitude
  • POS system operation
  • Customer service
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Communication skills

Education

High School Diploma
Colonel Crawford High School, Jones, TX, June 2019 

Professional Experience

Server, Jenny’s Fine Food, Clayton, GA 
January 2019-January 2020 

  • Enhanced customer experiences by actively listening to customer needs and orders
  • Accurately recorded orders on the Xonos POS system
  • Led the team by supporting and encouraging other when new technology was introduced by management
  • Exhibited a positive, friendly attitude at all times
  • Cashed out customers after the meal, while ensuring the accuracy of the bills

Awards and Honors

Class Valedictorian and Colonel Crawford High School Honor Society President

Janie Halstead
(123) 456-7890
email@youremail.com
1759 Evans Lane, Mt Vernon, Ohio 43050

Profile

Skilled server with eight consecutive years of food-service experience, with a focus on interpersonal communications and customer satisfaction. Positive, friendly attitude and takes pride in accurately recording and serving customer orders. Fast learner with experience using company POS systems and checking out guests on the computerized cash register.

Professional Experience

Server, Cocoa Barn Dessert Shoppe, Cleveland, OH
August 2016-present

  • Greet customers and offer seating options
  • Provide menu offerings and suggestions based on customer queries
  • Enhance guest experiences by using active listening skills and interpersonal communications skills
  • Record orders and deliver them to the kitchen area
  • Serve cold and hot beverages
  • Promptly serve orders when completed in the kitchen
  • Provide excellent customer service by checking back to ensure customers were happy with their food
  • Cash out guests on the cash register

Waitress, Devon’s on the Hill, Charm, OH
May 2012-August 2016

  • Served customers by taking orders and delivering beverages while meals were being prepared
  • Made suggestions regarding popular dishes and specials when asked by customers
  • Provided excellent customer service using interpersonal skills and a friendly attitude

Education

Food Service Certificate and High School Diploma 
Pioneer JVS, Shelby, OH, June 2012

Key Skills

  • Friendly service
  • Efficient when under pressure
  • Active listening skills
  • Strong interpersonal communication skills
  • Cash register operation and basic math skills
  • Excellent customer service
  • POS system entry for both taking orders and preparing guest receipts

Certifications

Safe food handling and service certificate earned from Pioneer Joint Vocational School and the State of Ohio

Monica Cousins
(123) 456-7890
email@youremail.com
765 Berry Lane, Evans, IL 90876

Profile

Professional server with over 17 years’ experience who has served over 100,000 hungry diners while providing a positive dining experience for customers. Practices safe food handling techniques while using interpersonal skills to ensure customer service is positive for guests.

Professional Experience

Server, Chewie’s, Danville, OH
July 2013-present

  • Take drink orders
  • Deliver menus to guests upon arrival and offer appetizer suggestions
  • Accurately record guest orders
  • Deliver meals to table promptly to ensure food was served while hot
  • Check salad bar temperatures and rotate cold foods to ensure food safety per health department regulations

Starlight Cuisine, Dryden GA
May 2003-July 2013

  • Enhanced an upscale dining experience by quickly greeting customers and offering to take an order or check back
  • Entered orders into a Xonos POS system to ensure accuracy
  • Confirmed accuracy of orders and customer satisfaction with food by checking back frequently
  • Offered upsell suggestions to customers, including appetizers, beverage upgrades and dessert ideas
  • Cashed out customers at the table so they were able to remain seated to improve their dining experience

Education

Associate Degree in Business Management 
NC State College, Mansfield, OH, June 2003

Key Skills

  • Accurately records orders
  • Ensures correct orders before serving
  • Checks back frequently to ensure customer satisfaction
  • Clears tables to keep the dining area in good order

Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Server Resumes

Technology is part of the modern hiring process, and that makes it especially important that you include keywords related to your skills as a server when writing your resume. When hiring managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to choose the best server applicants, the recruiter enters desired serving skills as keywords and the ATS software identifies the resumes with the most matching keywords. When you add as many keywords as possible and lead with action verbs, it gives you a better chance of getting an interview because it’s more likely your resume will be seen by a hiring manager.

Key Skills & Proficiencies
Ability to carry trays of food and beverages Ability to stand for full shift
Active listening Attention to details
Enthusiastic Fast learner
Friendly Interpersonal communication
Memory Note-taking
Patience under pressure Positive attitude
Verbal communication Well-groomed
Action Verbs
Adapt Anticipate
Enhance Listen
Respond Serve

Tips for Writing a Better Server Resume

Use Soft Skills to Showcase Your Serving Experience

Your personality and interpersonal skills play an important role in your success as a server. Recruiters in this field want to know how you will interact with customers, so add examples of your soft skills to show why you are an excellent server candidate. Be sure to pull the soft skill you feature from keywords in the job description to help the ATS pull your resume so the recruiter sees it.

Example # 1

Good

Anticipated customer needs by scanning the seating area to determine immediate needs, such as refills on water and coffee, before being summoned. Exhibited patience under pressure when tour buses brought in large groups on nights that were already busy.

Bad

Filled empty glasses and cups at customer’s request

Quantify Your Previous Serving Experience

Quantifying your serving experience lets a recruiter see examples of your past work as a server. Pro tip: If you have experience with a particular point of sale (POS) system, include the information in the summary of your skills to show your ability to use required technologies. Answer questions that put a number with an action verb and a key serving skill. For example:

  • How many tables have you served in a shift?
  • How many customers have you served on an especially busy evening?
  • How many tables have you served while also maintaining the buffet area in a restaurant?

Example #1

Good

Served 10 tables while taking orders on a Xono POS tablet with an average of four customers per table each shift. Ensured the satisfaction of as many as 75 customers per afternoon shift by using effective verbal communication techniques. Enhanced customer experience by employing active listening techniques when taking orders and following up to ensure orders were right.

Bad

Served 75 people per day and used a tablet to enter orders for kitchen staff to prepare

How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description

Recruiters in this field search for candidates who have the skills to provide excellent customer service to diners. They typically look at a lot of applicants to find the right candidate for each open position. That’s why it’s so important to showcase the skills you possess and any past experience you have that makes your resume stand out from the resumes of other applicants.

If you aren’t confident regarding which skills and experiences to showcase, review the job description and pull skills from the top of the listing. Recruiters often put the requirements they need most from an applicant at the beginning of the job description. Also, look for any skills that are mentioned more than once in the job description because if the recruiter took the time to mention a needed skill more than once, you want to be certain you mention having that skill, or being willing to learn it, in your resume.

Example Server Job Description

Smittie’s Buffet is a family-owned chain of restaurants that serve Amish-style cooking in a buffet setting. The company is known for providing excellent quality and relaxed, friendly service to patrons. Put your customer service and interpersonal skills to use by joining our friendly team of servers. While the buffet is the heart of the meal offerings at Smittie’s, servers are required to use the Xonos POS system to record drink orders and print out guest receipts. Servers are also asked to cash out customers to thoroughly ensure a positive customer service experience.

Responsibilities:

  • Provide excellent customer service
  • Use interpersonal skills effectively
  • Take drink orders
  • Carry drinks to tables
  • Clear dirty dishes from tables so diners are able to enjoy a clutter-free dining area during each meal
  • Use Xonos POS system
  • Recommend popular dishes when asked by customers
  • Cash out guests
  • Provide a positive, friendly dining experience for customers

Qualifications:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Strong reading and writing skills
  • Verbal skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Active listening skills
  • Basic math skills to ensure guest checks are correct
  • Ability to stand most of the shift and carry trays of drinks and dishes

According to the Smittie’s Buffet job description, the recruiter is searching for an applicant who is:

  • Friendly
  • Focused on customer service
  • Who has strong interpersonal skills and communication skills
  • Who has basic math ability and the ability to use a Xonos POS system
  • Who has the drive to provide a positive customer service experience for customers

After you’ve identified key skills from the job description, match your own skills and experience to the ones mentioned in the job description. Check the example below for an idea on how to add the needed skills to your own resume.

Server, Michael’s Authentic Italian and Steaks, Canton, OH
January 2016-present

  • Provide fast, friendly customer service to diners
  • Use interpersonal skills and communication skills such as active listening to ensure guests enjoyed a positive dining experience
  • Ensure accuracy of orders when entering details in the POS system

Other Resume Examples