Server Resume Templates and Examples for 2024

Server Resume Templates and Examples (Downloadable)

• Entry level
• Midlevel
• Senior level

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DOCX

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PDF

DOCX

Google Docs

PDF

DOCX

Google Docs

What Server Resume Template Should You Use?

Your server resume must demonstrate an ability to provide exceptional customer service as you take orders, deliver meals, and process payments. Hiring managers should be confident you can handle serving during their peak business hours and navigate potentially disgruntled customers. This guide will help you craft a resume that serves up your tableside expertise in a way that’s appetizing to potential employers.

Key takeaways:

• Highlight service skills: In the resume profile section, mention your ability to serve guests with attentive, proactive care, immediately showing your service expertise.
• Quantify achievements: Use dollar amounts and other numbers to describe times when you did something such as serve a large party, improve satisfaction scores, or increase sales.
• Incorporate relevant keywords: Identify server skills and terminology from the job ad and work them into your resume. This will help optimize your document for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

How To Write a Server Resume Example

A great server resume communicates the best of your experiences in the food industry and shows hiring managers that you’re qualified for the job. Ensure you include the most important aspects of your career by following a simple outline like the one below:

• Contact information
• Profile
• Key skills
• Professional experience
• Education and certifications

1. Share your contact information

Place your contact information at the top of your resume so hiring managers know who they’re reading about and can easily reach you to set up an interview. Include all the basics: phone number, email, and city of residence. You can also provide a link to your LinkedIn profile page, if applicable.

2. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your server qualifications

Acting as the appetizer of your resume, this first paragraph gives a small sampling of your server career so far. Include your job title, years of experience, and a few key qualifications that align with the job description. The goal is to quickly convey why you’re the perfect addition to their dining establishment.

Mention how you thrive in a fast-paced setting or that you have a unique ability to make guests feel welcome. Perhaps you have experience in a specific type of cuisine, or maybe you’ve worked in a Michelin-star restaurant. The goal is to write something compelling to pique the hiring manager’s interest.

3. Showcase your server experience

The work history section of your server resume is like the main course. Here you’ll serve up all the hearty details of your past jobs. Under each position, include three to eight bullet points that describe achievements and responsibilities. From handling multiple tables to upselling desserts and drinks, describe how you excelled as a server in the past.

It takes a team to run a successful dining establishment, so remember to work in some detail about your ability to collaborate. Partnering with kitchen staff and front-of-house operations is key to successful food service. Show hiring managers that you flourish in a team setting.

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

Numbers can make a big difference in your professional experience section. They show the results you’ve achieved in your past positions. Instead of just stating your job duties, you can use percentages, monetary figures, and other metrics to illustrate your influence at work. Take a look at our example:

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

Restaurant hiring managers are usually looking for a very specific set of skills and qualifications in their servers. If you want their attention, speak to their needs. You can find everything you need to know by studying the job description. What are the job requirements? How many years of experience are they looking for? What’s the dining environment like?

Note the words and phrases used in the job posting. Then, include those terms and any specific requirements you match up with throughout your resume in the profile, professional experience, and skills sections.

What if you don’t have experience?

Many restaurants are often willing to train the right individuals. If you have a good work ethic and solid interpersonal skills, the technical aspect of serving is just a matter of training. But, what do you put on your resume, then? Prioritize the following:

• Soft skills: Serving is a customer-centric job that requires excellent communication. If you have work experience in a different field, describe your interpersonal abilities instead of unrelated hard skills.
• Volunteering: Unpaid work is still a valuable form of experience you can highlight on your resume. Any volunteer work you’ve participated in with handling, preparing, or serving food is especially useful.
• Certifications: Most states require at least a food handler’s permit to serve food in a restaurant. If you can prove that you’ve already earned yours, that’s a great way to show your initiative.

4. List any education and certifications relevant to serving

Server positions often require at least a high school diploma. Start your education section with your highest level of achievement and prioritize any culinary or hospitality-related coursework. Include the degree or diploma name, school name and location, and graduation date.

Food handlers permits and other types of food safety licensing are often an expectation. If you’ve already earned those credentials required for the job, list them on your resume. Hiring managers appreciate applicants who are certified and ready to start serving immediately.

5. List pertinent key skills

A list of hard and soft skills gives hiring managers a good idea of what you’re capable of as a server. These technical and interpersonal service abilities demonstrate that you can handle daily tasks and maintain positive interactions with guests and fellow staff. Review our examples below to get familiar with some of the keywords you may encounter as you write your server resume:

Resume writer’s tip: Use specific action verbs

Action verbs are mainly used in the professional experience section of your resume. They help describe your past accomplishments and job duties concisely. As you create the bullet points for each of your previous roles, use words like these:

How To Pick the Best Server Resume Template

When you bring a plate of food to restaurant guests, presentation matters, and your resume is no different. The best resume template for servers is easy to read and well-organized, with your most relevant professional accomplishments and key skills clearly outlined. Look for a template that offers a simple layout without distracting graphics or cluttered formatting. Your content should be the focus, so stick with a modern design and only one or two colors.

Server Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Frequently Asked Questions: Server Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with a server job description?

Between 2022 and 2032, employment for servers (sometimes called waiters or waitresses) is projected to decline by 3%. Although positions will still continue to come open as people retire or change industries, competition will likely be tough for jobs at the most desirable restaurants. To stand out, you’ll need a server resume that aligns with the job requirements.

First, identify those key skills, experiences, and qualifications potential employers mention in the job description and understand how you can meet those needs. Let’s suppose a high-end Italian restaurant is looking for someone familiar with fine wines and traditional Italian cuisine. In this case, you would highlight times you offered wine pairings while serving similar dishes.

What is the best server resume format?

A server resume is best formatted in chronological style. This easy-to-follow presentation focuses on your work history, starting with your most recent and relevant position. Experience is vital as a server. Hiring managers need to know you’ve had plenty of time on the floor to handle their peak business hours. This format clearly illustrates how you’ve excelled and progressed throughout your serving career, with plenty of room to demonstrate your past accomplishments.

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Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.