
40 Top Common Job Interview Questions & Answers
A list of common job interview questions and answers—right and wrong—with expert tips. Behavioral interview questions, phone interview questions, and more.
You're a customer service representative, mind reader, and glassware balancing acrobat. Follow our tips to serve up your skills and experience as a full-flavored resume.
Servers provide patrons with the best possible dining experience. They take orders, serve food and beverages, and answer questions regarding the menu. A perfect server resume covers relevant experience in the dining industry as well as skills such as active listening, problem-solving, and stress tolerance.
Sounds like carrying three plates on one arm?
True—the server’s job is demanding.
But you can do all these with your eyes shut.
How to prove it to your future employer?
Write a job-winning server resume. The one that shows your achievements and impeccable customer service skills.
We’re here to help.
This article will show you:
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 Server Resume—See more templates and create your resume here.
Targeting other jobs in the food industry? Look at our dedicated guides:
Also, make sure to see a server cover letter sample here: Server Cover Letter
1
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for server jobs in the US will grow by 7% between 2016 and 2026.
From bars and eateries to fine dining restaurants, servers are needed everywhere.
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 well-composed restaurant server resume. A list of server duties scribbled on a cocktail napkin won’t do the job.
How to satisfy the recruiters’ taste?
Begin with the professional resume format.
The reverse-chronological resume is your best choice. It leads the hiring manager through your restaurant job history step by step, and it promotes your recent achievements.
Other benefits of the rev-chron resume? Most hiring managers are familiar with its layout. It’s easy to read and scan.
A chronological resume will also help you pass the ATS test (many restaurant chains today use the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to pre-select candidates).
How about a server resume template?
It needs to be elegant and easy to navigate, like the menu in a fancy restaurant. So divide your document into clear resume sections, pick the best resume fonts, and leave enough white space.
Finally, save your resume as a PDF, unless the employer asks for an MS Word file specifically.
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.
Not sure about your resume format choice? See our guide: Resume Format: Samples and Templates for all Types of Resumes (10+)
2
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 your best career moments you put at the top of your catering server resume.
It can be either a resume summary or 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.
Take a look at the examples below:
Right |
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Customer-focused server with 5+ years of experience serving guests at New York’s Senses and Tastes. Catered to up to 50 guests per night and ensured all meals are served on time. Handled the restaurant’s payment transactions with 99% accuracy. |
That’s a first-class server resume summary.
Why?
It’s short and to the point. It shows facts and numbers. It paints an overall picture of the candidate’s experience.
Wrong |
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Friendly server with plenty of restaurant experience. Always kind to diners, knows how to advise customers and solve problematic issues. Dealt both with orders and payments. |
“Friendly” server with “plenty of experience”?
Unfortunately, this could be anyone.
Avoid resume cliches. Instead, name achievements and quantify them.
Now for those less experienced in the food and beverage serving industry—a sample objective.
Right |
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Well-organized college student with 2+ years experience as a weekend barista. Accustomed to a fast-paced environment and accurate with bills (98% correct cash transactions). Earned the “Barista of the Month” award in 2017. Eager to support your wait staff team at The Tasty. Wrong Hard-working server-to-be. Interested in your opening for a serving position at The Tasty. Previous experience includes bartending. |
Wrong |
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Hard-working server-to-be. Interested in your opening for a serving position at The Tasty. Previous experience includes bartending. |
The first objective?
Although the candidate doesn’t have any serving experience, they show transferable skills from other positions.
The second one?
Without any facts and numbers, it’s not going to convince any recruiter.
Pro Tip: Write your server resume summary or objective once you finish writing all the other sections. It will be much easier to collect the best material this way.
Still not sure 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
3
Whether you’ve served at an upscale restaurant or in the local bar—
How you describe your work experience on a resume matters.
Your description of server responsibilities must treat the restaurant managers.
How to make this happen?
Find out exactly what they’re looking for and tailor your restaurant server job description to the job ad.
Pick the most relevant achievements and describe them using resume action verbs, such as managed, ensured, coordinated, catered to, etc.
Always quantify your accomplishments. This way, you will help the hiring manager assess your work capacities.
Take a look at these sample server resume job descriptions:
Right |
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Head Server January 2016–December 2018 Moi Italian Restaurant, New York, NY Key responsibilities:
Key achievements:
|
Wrong |
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Head Server January 2016–December 2018 Moi Italian Restaurant, New York, NY
Key responsibilities:
|
What’s the difference between these two?
The “wrong” example is a boring list of duties. 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:
Right |
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Barista July 2015–April 2016 North Cafe, New York, NY
Key responsibilities:
Key achievement:
|
See?
This former barista makes for a great future restaurant server.
Pro Tip: Make sure your experience bullets refer to both your hard skills and soft skills.
Trying to tailor your resume job description to the job ad? Read our dedicated guide: 6 Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description (Examples)
4
To become a server, you don’t need any formal education. Most of the restaurants provide on-the-job training.
However, 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.
Here’s how to do it right.
A degree on your server resume:
Right |
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2008 Diploma in Restaurant Hospitality Institute of Culinary Schooling, New York, NY 3.7 GPA |
Your university degree is still in progress? Don’t worry:
Right |
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Diploma in Restaurant Hospitality Institute of Culinary Schooling, New York, NY Expected Graduation in 2019 |
And finally, a high school diploma:
Right |
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Victoria and Albert High School, New York, NY Graduated: 2012 |
General tips:
Need more details regarding a resume education section? You’ll find them here: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]
5
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 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:
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:
Food and Beverage Server Job Ad
We’re looking for someone to serve food and drinks to guests with our new delivery system.
Responsibilities include: greeting guests, answering their questions, advising on food and drinks options, interacting with patrons, and ensuring a friendly atmosphere. Other duties: taking orders to the service bar and kitchen via the register system, responding to guest requests immediately, taking payments, making correct change, clearing and resetting dining tables.
Your custom-selected skills:
That’s how you do it!
Pro Tip: Working in a fast-paced environment requires perfect time management and flexibility. If you consider a server’s job, but you feel it may be too fast for you, don’t worry. There are ways to improve your time management.
Looking for more skills examples? Check out this guide: 99 Key Skills for a Resume (Best List of Examples for All Types of Jobs)
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.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
6
Extra sections on a restaurant server resume work just like a dessert course. They trick the recruiter’s brain into wanting more.
You can surely add:
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:
Hobbies and interests:
Certifications:
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for opportunities to get certified in the food serving industry, visit The National Restaurant Association website.
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)
7
Do you need a cover letter for a server position?
Quick answer—
You do. About 50% 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?
Pro Tip: Follow up on your job application. This will show the recruiter 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]
Here’s how to write your server resume:
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!
A list of common job interview questions and answers—right and wrong—with expert tips. Behavioral interview questions, phone interview questions, and more.
How to pick the best resume format to make sure your application stands out? Learn from our handy guide on resume formatting. Read more!
How to write a resume that will get you the job you're looking for? This step-by-step guide will show you the best resume examples, and you can write a resume in a few easy steps.