Waitress Resume Template + Top Skills Responsibilities

Waitress Resume Template + Top Skills Responsibilities Ready to write a waiter or waitress resume?You can wipe a spill with one hand, balance a precarious tray with the other, and simultaneously take a 4-tops order into your memory.Youd make a fine addition to the waitstaff team, and you know it.The thing is, the restaurant manager doesnt yet understand the food service talents you bring to the table.SoIntroduce yourself to them with a fine waitstaff resume that gives them your past experience, restaurant skills, and proud accomplishments on a silver platter.Its not so hard.Read on and youll see a professional waiter and waitress resume example you can adjust and make your own. Plus, youll learn an easy formula for writing a resume for waiting and waitressing jobs that will land you 10x more restaurant interviews than any other resume youve written in the past.Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. Its fast and easy to use. Plus, youll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resum e templates and create your resume here.Sample waiter/waitress resumeSee more templates and create your resume here.One of our users, Nikos, had this to say:[I used] a nice template I found on Zety. My resume is now one page long, not three. With the same stuff.Create your resume nowSample Waitress Resume to Get You Inspired (Text Version)Linda B. AltieriExperienced Waitress907-344-0888linda.b.altieri@me.comlinkedin.com/in/lindabaltieriSummaryPersonable waitress with more than 4 years of restaurant experience providing table service at busy dining establishments in the Anchorage business district. Achieved a 99.5% guest satisfaction score or above in each of the past 24 months. Seeking to leverage excellent order recall, friendly service, and the ability to handle multiple tables and groups to become the new waitress at Fabricios Fine Foods.ExperienceWaitressJohns Fish Chips, Anchorage, AKSeptember 2017October 2019Key Qualifications ResponsibilitiesInvited customers into the resta urant in a friendly manner and seated them at appropriate tables.Instructed guests on menu specials, took food and beverage orders, and answered any questions which may have arisen.Paid close attention to dietary and allergic restrictions and remained clean and hygienic throughout all shifts.Recommended perfect beer and meal pairings according to customer tastes and fish of the day.Key AchievementsMaintained 99.5% customer satisfaction rating for 24 months in a row.Waitress BusserJamies Bar Grill, Anchorage, AKApril 2015September 2017Key Qualifications ResponsibilitiesSeated customers in a 150-guest dining establishment at the bar or in the restaurant as requested.Informed dining guests on steak specials and happy hour bar offers.Took food and drink orders from customers and delivered them when appropriate.Bussed tables and reset place settings quickly and effectively.Key AchievementsAchieved Server of the Month in August 2017, March 2018, and July 2018.EducationMajoring in Food and NutritionUniversity of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AKAnticipated Completion: 2022Relevant Coursework: Nutritional Biochemistry, Food And Culture, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Microbiology, Food Service Management, Environmental Science, Nutrition Care Process, Nutritional Journalism, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology.High School DiplomaEagle River High School, Anchorage, AKCompletion: 2017SkillsFriendliness PersonabilityWritten Verbal Communication SkillsCollaborative Interpersonal SkillsPhysical Stamina StrengthFood Safety Personal HygieneCourses and CertificatesCertified Restaurant Server: American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational InstituteServSafe Alcohol Certification: National Restaurant Association Educational FoundationBefore we begin, here are several other food service-related resume examples:Busser ResumeBarista ResumeBarback ResumeBartender ResumeBar Manager ResumeCatering ResumeDishwasher ResumeFast Food ResumeHospitality ResumeLine Cook ResumeRestaurant Manager ResumeServer ResumeBest Resume ExamplesNow, lets get cookinHeres how to write a resume for waitstaff jobs in 7 easy steps:1Structure Your Waiter or Waitress Resume Template ProperlyBefore you can seat guests and serve them food, youll set the table first.On a resume for waitresses and waiters, that means formatting it correctly before you start writing.Heres how to format a waiter or waitress resume template:Layout: reverse-chronological format.Subheadings: standout titles make it easy for restaurant owners to find things quickly.Fonts: choose easy-to-read typefaces.Font size: 1112pt for general text, 24pts larger for section headings.Margins: border the waitress or waiter resume with a 1 margin on all sides.Line spacing: stick with 1.15 or single line spacing.Sections: keep it easy on the eyes with plenty of white space.Filetype: save as a PDF, unless the job ad specifically asks for a Word doc.Now, heres a quick outline with what a resume should include, from top to botto m:Header: include relevant contact information.Introduction: a short paragraph explaining how youre perfect for the table-waiting job.Work experience: history of your past job duties and achievements, restaurant or otherwise.Education: brief description of academic accomplishments.Skills: concise list of the most job-related abilities.Extra sections: to round it out, such as certifications, awards, languages, etc.Read more about resume formatting: How to Pick the Perfect Resume FormatWant a pro tip on writing an interview-winning resume for waitressing? Dont start at the top.Instead, begin with the resume sections you can complete easily, such as your job history. Thisll help you choose the appropriate fillings when you get back to the top.2Start With a Waiter or Waitress Resume Work Experience SectionAccording to the BLS, employment of waiters and waitresses is expected to increase by 6% between 2018 and 2028.This is math you cant quite do on a restaurant cash register, but it come s out to adding 170,200 new restaurant servers in those 10 years.Thats a LOT of competition.If you want to beat the other restaurant candidates, you need to wow the manager with a perfectly seasoned work experience section.Whats the recipe?Heres the best method for creating a waitress resume description of your job history:Use the reverse-chronological layout, beginning with your most recent position first.Add your job title, the restaurants name and location, and the dates you worked for each entry.Use up to 6 bullet points detailing your restaurant job responsibilities and waiter duties.Always tailor your resume to personalize it to the waitress job requirements and ad.Include proud achievements using numbers to show the restaurant supervisor that yes, you are that talented.To make your waiter or waitress description for resumes more impactful, use the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula.Start each entry with action words to be most effective.SoLets take a look at how to put those rules into action.Here are two waiter resume samples of employment history sections:Waiter / Waitress Resume Examples (Experienced)RightHead WaiterFebruary 2017June 2019La Grenouille, Long Island City, NYKey Qualifications ResponsibilitiesEngaged customers in a professional, personable manner in a busy, fine dining French restaurant.Educated guests on meal specials, menu items, and wine pairing options, while giving personal recommendations and suggestions.Served customers food from the kitchen and drinks from the bar in an efficient, effective manner.Worked closely with sommelier, buspersons, bartenders, and kitchen staff to ensure a perfect dining experience for each and every guest.Key AchievementsRegistered $150,000 or more in combined food and wine sales each month.WrongHead WaiterFebruary 2017June 2019La Grenouille, Long Island City, NYKey ResponsibilitiesGreeted guests as they came in.Provided menus and recommendations.Served French food and wines.In the second one, you don t need to be Gordon Ramsey to find something wrong with it.It doesnt give details, there are no quantifiable accomplishments, and it just doesnt show professionalism.The first example, however, is a feast for the eyes. Its tailored, detailed, and uses numbers.NowWhat if youre applying for a first-time waitressing job?If you have a waiter resume with no experience (or little experience), you just need to show them that you can take what you learned in your past job and use it as a great starting point.Check out these resume examples for someone without waitressing experience:Waitress / Waiter Resume Examples (No Experience)RightBaristaFebruary 2018November 2019Cafe Sashay, Brooklyn, NYKey Qualifications ResponsibilitiesGreeted guests to bakery and cafe in a friendly, cheerful manner.Provided coffee and dessert pairing recommendations as necessary.Rang up customers and delivered orders efficiently in a fast-paced cafe setting.Key AchievementsAwarded Barista of the Month in both Augus t 2018 and August 2019.WrongBaristaFebruary 2018November 2019Cafe Sashay, Brooklyn, NYKey ResponsibilitiesTook orders and made coffee drinks.Prepared snacks and apps when asked.Charged credit cards when cash wasnt available.As you can see, this person was a barista in their past life. However, in the right example, they tailored their job responsibilities in a way that is super-relevant to a restaurant server job.The wrong example, in turn, could just as well read Im a barista with no waiting experience.And yet, they both come from the same person! As you can see, its all about what past duties you choose to highlight.When making a resume in our builder, drag drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building your resume here.Create my resume nowWhen youre done, Zetys resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.Read up further on describing work experience on a resume: Tips for Making a Stellar Work Ex perience Section for a Resume3Enter Your Education (Its Not That Straightforward!)You dont need a fancy-shmancy degree to get a job waiting tables.HoweverYou do need to document your education effectively if theyre to take your restaurant waitress resume seriously.When you have plenty of experience, you can just list your academic basics, like this:Waiter Resume Education Sample (Experienced Candidate)RightDiploma and Certificate in Culinary ArtsThe University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, ALCompletion: 2016ButIf you have little experience as a waiter or waitress, delve deeper in your education section, like this:Waitress Resume Education Sample (Entry-Level Candidate)RightBachelor of Arts in Food Service ManagementUniversity of Massachusetts - Amherst, Amherst, MAAnticipated Completion: 2021Relevant Coursework: Culinary Nutrition, Culinary Arts, Restaurant Management and Operations, Hospitality Management, International Cuisines, Advanced Food Service Operations, Food and Beverage Strate gies and Logistics, Culinary Fundamentals.Minor: Culinary ArtsWhen you have a completed culinary school certificate or college degree, leave your high school off the restaurant resume. Otherwise, add it as a secondary entry below.AlsoIf you have little or no waitstaff experience but a pretty legit education section, move the education section over your work history to give them the tastiest dish first.Read up more on adding smarts to your resume: Education Resume Section: How to List High School College Education4List Waiter Waitress Skills Relevant to the Restaurant and RoleWhether you can spin a tray of cocktails on one finger or you have the memory of a dolphin, youve got the restaurant skills to be a fine waiter or waitress.ButYou cant list every ability you have.Which skills to add on resumes for waitresses or waiters?Heres what to do:Read the waiter or waitress job ad and identify the resume keywords this restaurant is searching for.Determine all the relevant skills youve pi cked up in lifetake a peek at your education and work history sections to get some good ideas.Make a master list of all your professional and relevant waiter resume skills.Identify which waitress skills meet the server job ads requirements from the job ad.In the waitress skills resume section, make a list of 510 of the most relevant skills.Be sure to include both hard skills and soft skills on your resume for waitressing.FirstHere are some waiter skills and cuisines to give you ideas for your master list:20+ Most Common Waiter Waitress Resume Skills ( Menus)Math Basic CalculationsEnergy EndurancePhysical StrengthTechnical SkillsPoint of Sale (POS) Cash RegisterCredit Card TerminalsComputer SkillsBalance AgilityTable Setting BussingCleanliness HygienePreparing Sides AppsPersonability FriendlinessCritical Thinking SkillsCustomer Service SkillsProject Management SkillsDecision Making SkillsInterpersonal SkillsProblem Solving SkillsPublic Speaking Presentation SkillsExcellent Communication SkillsConflict ResolutionTime Management SkillsFrench CuisineItalian CuisineArtisanal / Craft BeersFood Wine PairingGreek CuisineSteaks BurgersVietnamese CuisineMexican Dishes AppetizersWhiskey, Vodka, Cognac, Rum, GinMediterranean CuisineSushi / SashimiNowLets take a look at some examples of skills to add on both an experienced waiter resume and a resume without serving experience:Waitress Skills Resume Example (Experienced Candidate)RightFrench CuisineCredit Card TerminalsFood Wine PairingCleanliness HygieneConflict ResolutionWaiter Skills Resume Example (No Experience Candidate)RightMath Basic CalculationsCustomer Service SkillsCredit Card TerminalsPersonability FriendlinessCleanliness HygieneSee those?As you can see, there are certain server skills you can pick up anywhere, such as hygiene or conflict resolution.Most importantly, remember to follow the responsibilities section from the restaurant job ad to determine the exact skills this particular eatery i s looking for.Read more about adding skills to resumes: 99+ Skills to Add to a Resume (List Examples).5Show Dont Tell: Add Extra Sections to Your Waitstaff ResumeImagine youre serving up a plate of pancakes.You wont just deliver that fluffy stack as is.Its the same with your waitress or waiter resume.Extra resume sections are the maple syrup, blueberries, and whipped cream on top. They add flavor to your job application and really get the restaurant managers mouth salivating.Here are a few examples of delish additional sections to add on a resume for waiter jobs:Waiter / Waitress Resume Samples: Extra Sections1.Resume Licenses CertificationsFood service certifications and food handling licenses show any restaurant manager youre worth your salt. Here are a few of the best in the industry:ServSafe Food Safety Food Handler CertificationFood Protection Certificate: NYC Health AcademyAlcohol Seller and Server CertificationCertified Food Protection: Association of Nutrition and Foodser vice Professionals (ANFP)Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP)2.Resume Volunteer WorkHave any volunteer experience under your apron? Though unpaid, it can be a great way to show work experience, especially when you dont have much other real-world working expertise.3.Second Language on a ResumeDo you know another language? Adding your proficiency in a foreign language to a restaurant server resume makes a strong impression, especially if its particularly relevant to the restaurant (knowledge of French in a French restaurant, Spanish in a Latin American neighborhood, etc.).4.Pastimes on a ResumeDont think your hobbies and interests belong on a resume for waitress jobs? Think again. When they relate to restaurant servers, such as your passion for food blogging, add it to your wait staff resume.5.Memberships in Trade OrganizationsAdding your membership in a waitstaff or food service association shows the restaurant supervisor youre a professional choice. Take a look at these examples:Association of Nutrition Foodservice Professionals (ANFP)Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM)National Restaurant Association (the other NRA)American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF)American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute (AHLA-EI)For more possibilities when it comes to additional parts of a resume, see this guide: What to Include on a Resume: 20+ Top Examples6Compile the Best Bits Into a Waiter or Waitress Resume Objective or SummaryLets take it back to the topAn effective specials board stands just outside the restaurant and lures in hungry guests.Likewise, an effective heading statement lures in the restaurant manager and makes them hungry to read more.A standard heading statement comes in two flavors: the summary or the objective.Go over what youve written in your server resume thus far.Locate the most scrumptious morsels, those sure to stand out to a restaurant supervisor and which are relevant to ad d for this waitstaff job.Select 2 or 3 of the top achievements and skills and use that as the chicken broth with which to construct the rest of the heading paragraph.SoDo you have blisters from years on your feet serving food?Use the resume summary statement.The waiter or waitress resume summary is a quick introduction for the restaurant manager. It gives them a brief overview of your restaurant experience, server skills, and waitstaff job background. It also includes a numbered accomplishment to put that cherry on top.Here are two waiter resume example summaries:Sample Waiter Resume Summary StatementsRightFriendly head waiter with over 3 years of experience in French cuisine and fine dining restaurants. Excellent knowledge of French wines, wine pairing, and French cuisine. 2018 waiter of the year and consistently responsible for over $150,000 in sales every month. Seeking to leverage professional serving skills and native proficiency in French to become the lead waiter at La Sirne. WrongHead waiter with plenty of experience in French cuisine, knowledge of French wines, and fine dining professionalism. Seeking a similar position at any French restaurant in the New York City or northern New Jersey areas.The second one will make them frown like theres a hair in their pastaIt isnt tailored to one particular restaurant, doesnt give details, and does not provide numbers to give them an understanding of just how well you performed your waiter duties.NowWhat if youve never served tables before?Use the resume objective statement.A career objective is great when writing a resume with little or no experience in food service or delivery.Rather than documenting your past experience, you delight the restaurant manager with your culinary career goals. Dont forget to include a numbered achievement here, as well.Here are two waitress resume objective examples:Waitress Resume SamplesObjective StatementRightFriendly barista with 2 years of experience serving customers at a busy midtown cafe. Current bachelor's degree student majoring in food service management. Rang up more than $5,000 in sales per day and awarded the BDP Service Recognition certificate for March 2019. Looking to leverage customer-centric attitude and cafe skills to become the next waitress at Vaucluse Restaurant.WrongHaving just completed a bachelors degree in food service management, Id like to get my foot in the door by starting as a server somewhere in town. I also have experience as a barista, and my customers all are happy with the service I provide.Just like in the waitress resume summary, tailor your objective to this particular restaurant. Give a numbered win to make them hungry for more.Looking for the full recipe on starting a resume correctly? Look no further: How to Open a Resume: Tips Examples7Write a Great Waiter or Waitress Cover LetterUnless the restaurant job ad specifically says not toAlways deliver a cover letter with your resume for a waiter or waitress job.How to wri te a waitress or waiter cover letter:Format the cover letter before you go about writing it.Address the waitress cover letter directly to the restaurant owner or manager.Write a cover letter introduction which entices the reader to want to get to know you.Highlight the most impressive restaurant experience and serving skills you bring to the table.End the cover letter with a call to action wrapped neatly inside a powerful closing sentiment like a burrito.Not so difficult, right?But, read our full article on writing a cover letter and what to speak about in a cover letter to really secure your restaurant interview.Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here.Here's what it may look like:See more cover letter templates and start writing.Learn more about writing a cover letter for waitress and waiter jobs specifically: Server Cover Letter Example: 25+ TipsRecapWaiter/Waitress Resu me In an Allergy-Free NutshellHeres the concentrated formula in an easy-to-read menu formatHow to write a resume for waitress jobs:Format the waiter or waitress resume template with a great font, correct line spacing, proper margins, and plenty of white space.Skip writing the waiter or waitress resume objective or summary until the end.Document your previous work history using action verbs, bullet points, and a tailored approach.Talk up the most relevant waitress skills and waiter abilities by referring to the restaurant job responsibilities section.List your education correctly, even though you dont need it to secure waiter jobs.Spice up your waiter resume and waitress job application with choice additional sections.Dont forget to include a waiter or waitress cover letter if you want that restaurant interview!Okay, thats it! Now, wed love to hear from you:What are the biggest challenges for you when writing a server resume?Are you having problems coming up with relevant restaurant skills or achievements?Do you need help with how to make waitressing sound good on a resume?Lets chat below in the comments, and thanks for reading!