Server Resume Examples [+ Skills For Any Restaurant in 2023]

Taking orders, serving food, answering all the questions, and keeping not only a smile but a clean and neat presence. That’s the shortest summary of a server’s job. To land it, your server resume should highlight your relevant experience and skills that are useful for the job.

Sounds like carrying three plates on one arm? Luckily, creating a perfect restaurant server resume is easier than serving an entire pork roast while answering questions regarding 1991 Château Margaux! So, Garson, let’s get right to it, shall we?

This article will show you:

• Server resume examples better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a server resume that will land you more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put server skills on a resume.
• How to create a server description on a resume to get any job you want.

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.

Create your resume now

Use this resume template

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

Targeting other jobs in the food industry? Look at our delicious guides:

• Banquet Server Resume
• Bartender Resume
• Bar Manager Resume
• Catering Resume
• Chef Resume
• Restaurant Resume
• Restaurant Manager Resume
• Waitress Resume
• Food Service Resume
• Restaurant Server Resume

Server Resume Example

Now that’s a perfect server resume example. Delicious, muah! Now let’s find out how to make one that’s served just like this one.

For a MICHELIN-star-worthy application, see a server cover letter sample: Server Cover Letter

1. Choose the Best Format for Your Server Resume

From bars and eateries to fine dining restaurants, servers are needed everywhere. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for server jobs in the US will grow by 7% between 2016 and 2026.

What does it mean to you as a candidate? Many job opportunities. Buts also⁠⁠—a lot of competition.

To win this contest, you need a restaurant server resume that’s better composed than a 5-meal dinner in a restaurant. A list of server duties for a resume scribbled on a cocktail napkin won’t do the job.

How to satisfy the recruiters’ taste? Begin with the professional resume format.

Let’s find out how to format your server resume sample:

• Divide your resume into sections and categories. Boost the readability of your document by following this outline:
1. Resume header (including your name, position, phone number, and e-mail address)
2. Summary Statement or Career Objective
3. Experience Section
4. Education Section
5. Useful skills
6. Extra sections (certifications you received, languages you speak, interests you have, etc.)

• Add your contact information. You don’t want the reader to contact somebody else.
• Select a good font for your resume. A clear, legible one with plenty of white space will make a tasty resume.

• Set standard margins to an inch on each side and a line spacing of 1.15. Your document is like a clean table thanks to that.
• Choose the right name for your resume file. Profession-Resume-Name is only one of the options.
• Save your resume as a PDF unless the employer asks for an MS Word file specifically.

Learning the right format is not even an appetizer. It’s a “Please, let me escort you to your table, and I'll bring the menus shortly. In the meantime, would you like something to drink?” So you know well more is coming!

Pro Tip: Writing a server resume with no serving experience? Still, go for a chronological resume format. However, put more focus on the skills that you can transfer from your other jobs.

2. Create the Perfect Restaurant Server Job Description for a Resume

Whether you’ve served at an upscale restaurant or a local bar⁠, how you describe your work experience on a resume matters.

Your description of server responsibilities on a resume must treat the restaurant managers.

How to put your experience on a server resume:

• Write in a reverse chronology. Showing your recent activities at the top of the document is a great idea because your recruiter is interested in what you’ve been up to lately.
• Tailor your resume to the job description, so you’ll be able to show that you’re a desired candidate for the job.
• Add some action verbs, power words, adjectives, and synonyms. Eloquence is valuable for a server, as it comes along with elegance and prestige. Also: it’s a wonderful way of emphasizing your server skills on a resume!
• Speak about your accomplishments, not about your duties. It’s how you prove you’ve done your server responsibilities well on a resume.
• Show the world how great you are by quantifying your every achievement. That will also make them more specific!

Take a look at these experienced server job descriptions:

Food Server Job Description for a Resume

What’s the difference between these two?

The “wrong” example is a boring list of server duties put on a resume. The “right” one shows both duties and achievements and backs them up with numbers.

And what if you haven’t worked as a catering server before? List all related jobs on your resume. Here’s how: 

Entry-Level Restaurant Server Resume⁠—Job Description

See? This former barista makes for a great future restaurant server.

Pro Tip: Make sure your experience bullet points refer to both your hard skills and soft skills.

3. Make Your Restaurant Server Resume Education Section Shine

Even if you’re writing a fine dining server resume, you don’t need any formal education. Of course, you can get certified in the food serving industry, and to do that, visit The National Restaurant Association website. However, most restaurants provide on-the-job training. So what should shine on your resume for a fine dining server? Any academic track record may boost your chances of winning that dream job. 

Other requirements for a server job? Some restaurants ask for a food handler card or a special permit to work as a server. But these are usually sponsored by the employer.

Regardless of the education that you have⁠, the education section on a resume does matter.

General tips:

• Candidates with more than five years of professional experience should stick to listing their degree, school name and location, and graduation year.
• Less experienced candidates may also add their GPA (if upwards of 3.5), extracurricular activities, academic accomplishments, and relevant coursework.
• Don’t add a high school entry if you finished college.

Here’s how to do it right:

Resume Description for a Server: Sample Education Section

Your university degree is still in progress? Don’t worry:

And finally, a high school diploma:

Need more details regarding a resume education section? You’ll find them here: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]

4. Highlight Your Server Skills on a Resume

All right. You have your professional profile and server job description ready. But recruiters are hungry for more!

Satisfy their appetites with a server skills list on a resume that proves you know how to serve plates and how to talk to guests. Your server resume skills section needs to combine soft skills and technical abilities.

Use the list below to pick out skills for your resume:

Server Resume Skills⁠—Examples 

• POS (Point of Sale) systems
• Cashier skills
• Dining room setup
• Cash and credit transactions
• Drink dispenser use
• Food safety procedures
• Restaurant intercom
• Politeness
• Energy
• Detail-orientation
• Service-oriented
• Reading comprehension
• Communication skills
• Stress tolerance
• Active listening
• Active learning
• Negotiation
• Coordinated
• Social perceptiveness
• Monitoring self-performance
• Persuasion
• Teamwork skills
• Customer service skills
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Time management

But don’t clutter your resume skill list with every single skill you can think of. Go back to the job ad to see what skills are mentioned there.

For instance:

Your custom-selected skills:

That’s how you do it!

Looking for more skills examples? Check out this guide: 99 Key Skills for a Resume (Best List of Examples for All Types of Jobs)

Pro Tip: Working in a fast-paced environment requires perfect time management and flexibility. If you are considering a server job but you feel it may be too fast for you, don’t worry. There are ways to work on that.

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.

Create my resume now

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.

5. Add Other Sections to Your Server Resume

Additional information on a resume for a restaurant server works like a dessert course. They trick the recruiter’s brain into wanting more.

You can surely add:

• Language skills. Being able to explain a meal to a foreign customer or pronouncing bouillabaisse flawlessly can be your winning point!
• Achievements and awards. An award always deserves mention in a resume, as long as it’s relevant to the job you’re after. Include not only the name of the award but also the year you received it.
• Volunteer experience. It’s just something every recruiter loves to see on a resume!
• Hobbies and interests. If they are relevant to the job you’re after, i.e., you’re interested in Asian cuisine, they can work magically!

But remember, pick the skills relevant to a server job.

Say, achievements.

Maybe you maintained the highest client satisfaction rate or were named “The Friendliest Host of 2019”? Show it on your resume.

Here are some tips for other sections:

Want to list your server certifications on a resume, but you’re not sure how? More info here: How to List Certifications on a Resume: Guide (+20 Examples)

6. Write a Fine Server Resume Objective or Summary

As a restaurant server, you know the importance of the first impression. Charisma plus a smile⁠⁠. And your guests feel you care for them from the very first minute. 

Your server resume needs to work the same way because it makes for the recruiter’s first impression about you.

How to grab the hiring manager’s attention right away?

Write a professional profile, a short introductory paragraph that sums up the best career moments you put at the top of your catering server resume. It can be either a resume summary or a resume objective. 

Here’s the difference between the two:

• A resume summary works best for experienced candidates. It concentrates on your key achievements and best serving gigs.
• A resume objective is a good choice for entry-level positions. It highlights the skills and describes your motivation to work at this particular place.

Moreover, here are formulas you can follow to make your own resume summary or objective!

How to Write Your Summary Statement for a Server Resume

To get a summary so yummy, use this template:

Do you know why this example wins? It’s short and to the point. It shows facts and numbers. It paints an overall picture of the candidate’s experience.

Now see this:

“Friendly” server with “plenty of experience”? Unfortunately, this could be anyone. Avoid resume cliches. Instead, name achievements and quantify them.

How To Write Your Career Objective for a Server Resume

Although the candidate doesn’t have any serving experience, they show transferable skills from other positions.

Use the following to achieve a first-class objective:

And now, see what not to do:

Without any facts and numbers, it’s not going to convince any recruiter.

Still unsure how to start your resume to grab the recruiter’s attention? Check out our guide: How to Start a Resume: A Complete Guide With Tips & 15+ Examples

7. Attach a Server Resume Cover Letter

Do you need a cover letter for a server position? Quick answer⁠—you do. 83% of recruiters expect your application to include a cover letter. That’s a lot. So writing a good server cover letter can really boost your chances of getting this restaurant job.

How to create a gourmet server cover letter in no time:

• Choose the right cover letter format. Having it consistent with your resume template will show your attention to detail. Grab the reader’s attention within the first few sentences
• Set the right tone in your cover letter intro.
• Include a call to action in your cover letter conclusion. Make an offer to the employer. Say how you can help them.
• Write a follow-up to your application. That will show the recruiter that you really care!

Wondering what the best cover letter length is? Find out in our guide: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be? [Ideal Word Length & Page Count]

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:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaway

Here’s how to write your server resume:

• Use the best format for your restaurant server resume. A reverse-chronological resume layout will help you promote your accomplishments.
• Quantify your achievements and paint a compelling picture of your server work history in the experience section of your resume.
• Tailor your server skills list to the job ad. You’ll find the skills they’re after in...the job offer itself.
• Add a cherry on top by putting extra sections on your resume.
• And complement your resume with a mouth-watering cover letter for a server job.

And that’s how you write a winning server resume!

Are you writing a server resume for the first time? Or perhaps you’re a seasoned pro eager to help someone get the Michelin star? We’d love to hear from you. Leave your comment below!

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

Sources

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/waiters-and-waitresses.htm
• https://restaurant.org/Home