
16+ Creative Resume Templates & Examples
You're a creative soul craving a creative resume. Something pretty, but professional. A template that seductively whispers into a recruiters ear: I'm the one.
You can handle 750 screaming kids, surly kitchen staff, and oh boy, a bus just came through the door. Now you need a restaurant server resume to prove it, with all the trimmings.
Imagine your restaurant server resume as the daily specials board – it's got to be enticing enough to make hiring managers want to order. But if your resume reads like an overcooked steak, you'll be left out in the cold.
Fear not, aspiring server extraordinaire! Our guide will help you revise your resume with the perfect blend of skills and accomplishments. Ready to plate up a resume with hiring managers shouting 'bon appétit'? Grab your apron, and let's get started!
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume samples here.
Want more restaurant resume examples? Here you go:
Ashleigh Eustis
ashleighzeustis@gmail.com
610-305-4928
linkedin.com/in/ashleighzeustis
Accomplished restaurant server with 2+ years of experience creating a great dining experience in a fast-paced restaurant in downtown Milwaukee. Seeking to make customers happy at Beef & Reef. At Prime Chops, served an 8-table section with 4–8 guests each on busy Friday and Saturday nights.
Restaurant Server
Prime Chops, Milwaukee, WI
June 2018 – June 2020
Busser
Prime Chops, Milwaukee, WI
June 2017 – March 2018
Milwaukee Community College
Associate Degree in Business Administration
Graduated: June 2017
Additional Activities
Here’s how to write your own job-getting restaurant server resume:
To get hired by a good restaurant, you need a well-presented restaurant server resume. The right resume layout makes you look good with clean margins, headings, line spacing, and fonts. Just like the right atmosphere makes food taste better, your formatting makes your resume appealing.
For a professional resume format:
Read more: What Are the Parts of a Resume?
I’ve got some bad news. Most restaurant managers won’t read your restaurant server resume. They’re just too busy. They’ll do a quick taste-test, glancing through and moving on. Stop them and get them interested in your skills with a tempting resume introduction. That’s a short elevator pitch that makes them read your resume.
Are you writing a resume for a first job? In that case, write a career objective. In it, say what you’d like to do to help their restaurant succeed.
Have you been around since everything was cooked on open flames? If yes, write a resume summary instead. Dress it with your best food-service achievements. Add your years of experience and how you’ll help the restaurant.
Read more: How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
If you write a one-size-fits-all resume for restaurant server jobs, you won’t get much response. Why not? Everybody likes to feel special—even restaurant managers. Show them they’re your #1 with a custom-fitted resume. With a little tweaking, you’ll make their mouths water, and the phone will ring.
Here’s how to add work experience in resume:
Wondering what kind of paper to print a resume on? See our guide: Resume Paper: What Type of Paper Is Best for a Resume?
Listing education on your resume can help you stand out. Give it more flavor by adding a couple of school accomplishments. The trick? Show restaurant server qualities like interpersonal skills or efficiency. For example, working in a student group can show teamwork, and volunteering can show work ethic.
Use these resume tips:
There’s a right way and a wrong way to show professional skills on a resume. If you add every skill on the menu, the restaurant manager won’t know which ones are your strongest. But add the wrong restaurant server skills, and they’ll think you’re a poor fit. The key? Add skills from the job ad. This approach will also help you make your resume ATS-friendly.
Here's how to add restaurant server skills to a resume:
Pro Tip: Don’t just say you’ve waited tables. If you apply to a seafood restaurant, saying you served 100+ seafood entrees per night makes a great resume keyword.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, our easy resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
Sure you’ve waited tables, but so have lots of people. The employer wants to know—are you awesome to work with? Show it with extra sections.
Here’s how to make your resume irresistible:
Read more: What Are the Key Sections in a Resume?
Are cover letters important for restaurant server resumes? Yep. They can show you’re not just trolling for any ol’ server job. Use yours to show you really care about this restaurant. Also convince the manager that if she hires you, you won’t skip 3 weeks later for a better job.
Write these cover letter parts:
How long should cover letter be? Three to four paragraphs is perfect, because that’s long enough to cover the basics without making the manager feel queasy.
Pro Tip: A follow up email for a job is necessary if you want them to remember you. Make your follow up brief, and attach your resume and original cover letter.
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.
That’s it!
That’s everything you need to write a 5-star restaurant server resume!
Thanks for reading! Do you have more questions on how to write a restaurant server resume that hits the spot? Give us a shout in the comments section!
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