Server Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

As a server, your role extends to multiple aspects, such as maintaining hygiene standards or ringing up customers. Consequently, it may be challenging to fit all these responsibilities into a one-page server resume.

Standing out from a sea of applicants can also be a taxing feat. Fortunately, you don’t have to despair over what to and what not to cover in your food server resume.

You can check out our resume templates below to guide you through a concise outline of what your recruiter wants. Some of the headings include a summary, work experience, and skills.

Being a member of the waiting staff has allowed you to accrue multiple soft and hard skills. Your job is to mention the ones most relevant to your applying position.

Server Resume Examples

The food serving market’s outlook expects a 10% larger than average growth. The job is competitive, especially for high-paying positions in the Fine Dining industry.

For this reason, creating a winning resume is critical to land a server role. You’ll want to integrate your customer service, organization, and time management skills.

The job also requires a multi-tasker able to work under constant pressure from waiting customers and piling orders.

Barista Server Resume Example

Baristas are responsible for curating artistic coffee beverages and handling customers and payments. They also ensure every table and coffee machine is well-sanitized for the following orders.

Summary

Dedicated Barista with five years of experience. Hold excellent customer service skills that have granted an average tip charge of 20%. Knowledgeable of various coffee-making methods and excel in latte art.

Work Experience 1

Worked at Kitchen Labs as Barista

• Welcomed customers and provided them with a friendly cafe environment. Offered a positive first impression by discussing the menu and recommendations.
• Recorded store inventory and communicated with Lead Barista to order new supplies and items.
• Prepared and served coffee, espresso, and cold drinks using an espresso machine. Used multiple coffee-making methods such as Moka pot, single brew, drip coffee, and French press.
• Served customers promptly and avoided delays by up to 10% using an efficient system. Applied customer service skills to de-escalate issues with customers.
• Rotated and replenished tables as customers filtered out. Kept tabs on labels of pastries and their expiration.

Work Experience 2

Worked at DIY Burger as Waitress

• Greeted and seated guests promptly after arrival. Used a friendly manner during interaction to provide a welcoming ambiance.
• Took orders and completed financial transactions. Utilized a digital cashier application to keep track of orders.
• Communicated with back-of-house staff regarding orders and customer dietary specifications.
• Followed standard operating procedure per manager guidelines. Maintained hygienic practices during food delivery.
• Discussed menu items and ingredients with inquiring patrons. Received an average of 20% tip from customers.

Project Experience

• Attended a catering event for a quinceañera. Served several foreign patrons and distributed beverages and dishes in a professional manner.
• Catered for a birthday party for children. Provided ideas to stay in theme with the “Charlie in the Chocolate Factory” theme like a Willy Wonka-sized chocolate fountain.

Skills

• Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication
• Customer Service
• Latte Art
• Knowledgeable of Coffee-Making Equipment
• Arithmancy

Certifications

• Undertaken Coffee Skills Program from Specialty Coffee Association

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Colorado Boulder

Why This Resume Works

The resume incorporates your knowledge of Barista standard procedure. It also quantifies your skill set by mentioning your average tip percentage. The document presents your friendly attitude, professional coffee-making skills, and customer service.

It also highlights multiple keywords used within the industry, such as “Latte Art,” “French Press,” and “Espresso.” The resume offers skills from various standpoints, such as cashier knowledge, back-of-house communication, and proficiency in coffee terminology.

Bartender Resume Example

Bartenders are primarily responsible for creating alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. As most servers, they also manage the cashier and greet customers.

To land a role as a bartender, you need a friendly attitude with lots of drink-making experience.

Summary

Hard-working Bartender with ten years of experience. Gained extensive knowledge of mixology and drinks. Experiences have showcased excellent performance in customer service satisfaction and delivering orders promptly.

Work Experience 1

Worked at Country Hills Bar and Grill as Bartender

• Ensured bar space was kept clean and well-sanitized. Re-stocked drink supplies and equipment through an inventory recording system.
• Used a POS system when ringing up customers and credit card readers. Customer payments were completed promptly and enhanced customer service survey responses.
• Served customers various drink options ranging from wine, beer, liquors, and mixed drinks. Created a new mix to drive up consumer revenue by 5% weekly.
• Greeted patrons with a welcoming attitude and provided them with menus and recommendations. I took their orders and communicated with the back-of-house staff regarding food orders.
• Advertised the loyalty membership to consumers to increase sales revenue. I sold over 40 memberships monthly.

Work Experience 2

Worked at Yoko’s Bar as Bartender

• Used extensive product knowledge to assist customers and accomplished a 5% return rate. I went over my assigned sales target by over 10%.
• Trained three new staff recruits regarding Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) while maintaining customer service quality.
• Promoted appetizer menu to customers and increased their sales by over 5% monthly. I mixed and customized beverages accurately according to patron instructions.
• Maintained an average 20% tip balance. I oversaw tip distribution to the working staff. I consistently offered high-quality customer care and increased patron satisfaction by over 10% since hired.
• Mixed several standard and eclectic drinks. I mastered complicated beverages, such as the Commonwealth and the Ramos Gin Fizz.

Project Experiences

• Joined a bartender workshop and experimented with new beverage flavors to create a sophisticated drink.
• Created a community page for bartenders to share their drink experiments and provide customer service tips.

Skills

• Customer Service
• Mixology
• Budgeting
• Time Management
• Results-Driven

Certifications

• International Bartender Certification from Mixology Academy
• TIPS Alcohol Safety Training Certification

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Penn State University

Why This Resume Works

The resume provides multiple responsibilities accurate to the bartender role. It also displays your accomplishments. It uses percentages to quantify your achievements as well.

The document offers diverse tasks bartenders complete day-to-day. Aside from mixing challenging drinks, the resume also mentions your hygiene precautions and leadership skills.

You can add more responsibilities to showcase your management by delegating tasks to employees.

Inexperienced Server Resume Example

You may be looking to set foot in the food and beverage industry without prior experience. In this case, you need to spruce up your resume with your skills.

You can also use other experiences and relate them to the server role, such as retail jobs, which enhance your customer service skills.

Summary

Current Retail Associate with two years of experience in customer service roles. I work efficiently under pressure. Can utilize organizational and problem-solving skills for a server position. Able to drive up sales revenue for loyalty programs and offers.

Work Experience 1

Worked at Old Navy as Retail Associate

• Assisted customers with retrieving clothing items and guiding them through new collections. Provided recommendations and discussed sale offers as well.
• Rung buyers up and used a POS cashier system and credit card readers. Helped customers with return and exchange purchases successfully.
• Restocked clothing items. Neatly displayed them by folding and steaming them according to shop standards.
• Promoted the Old Navy Rewards Program and gathered over 20 members monthly. Boosted sales revenue by 10% by offering the loyalty program.
• Trained two recruits regarding company policies and job tasks. Received positive feedback from my training.

Work Experience 2

Worked at McDonald’s as Cashier

• Welcomed customers warmly to order and received 95% positive survey feedback after ordering.
• Prepared food according to standard company procedure and recipe plan. Worked in a sanitized work environment.
• Used problem-solving skills to mitigate any customer distress regarding late or wrong orders.
• Received customer orders. Used the McDonald’s NP6 cashier system to ring payments up.
• Ensured a restock of all food items for the following shift day. Kept inventory of items and communicated them to the manager.

Skills

• Customer Service
• Problem-Solving
• Organization
• Knowledgeable of Cashier System
• Communication

Certifications

• Customer Service Training and Certification from Service Strategies

Education

• High School Diploma from Emma Lazarus High School

Why This Resume Works

As an inexperienced server, finding a role is challenging since the job is highly competitive. In turn, the resume uses experiences from retail and cashier services to reflect well on a server role.

That said, the resume uses quantifiable evidence of accomplishments to stand out during candidacy.

The skills mentioned align fittingly well with the points in your experience. Aside from that, the summary highlights the much-needed skill set required for a server role.

Experienced Server Resume Example

The restaurant industry is a highly competitive market.

In turn, these corporations are looking for top-performing servers to uphold their standards and generate revenue from return rates and high-quality customer care.

Summary

Motivated server with eight years of experience in the industry. Honed multiple skills throughout work experience ranging from problem-solving to customer service. Used education knowledge to improve restaurant revenue and enhance server standards. Successfully trained recruits and guided them through day-to-day and delegated tasks accordingly.

Work Experience 1

Worked at Bellagio Bar and Grill as Server

• Welcomed customers and built rapport by providing suitable recommendations according to taste. Increased order per table by 5% after using extensive knowledge of the menu.
• Practiced safe hygiene by sanitizing tables, work surfaces, utensils, and menus. Organized restaurant seating arrangements and hostess stand.
• Received phone calls for customer reservations. Sent SMS messages two hours before the reservation. Contacted customer once exceeded wait time.
• Reduced order idling time by four minutes by receiving them from the kitchen, regardless of the server responsible.
• Trained five staff recruits on the standard operating procedure. Offered feedback to new members to enhance their service practice.

Work Experience 2

Worked at Olive Garden as Server

• Greeted guests using a friendly attitude, seated, and offered menus to them. Worked in a fast-paced environment while serving orders, ringing customers, and responding to inquiries.
• Ensured optimal hygiene practice according to standard protocol and guidelines provided by the restaurant.
• Negotiated with customers facing issues with their orders and food tastes. Used a calm approach to provide the best outcome for both parties.
• Maintained a 19% tip charge throughout employment. Divided the tips after each shift among other servers.
• Delegated server tasks with co-workers, such as inventory recording, cleaning tasks, and cashier handling.

Project Experience

• Provided catering services for an upscale business event. Served dishes and drinks professionally.
• Catered to a wedding event. Serviced guests during the reception and dinner portion of the evening.

Skills

• POS system
• Problem-Solving
• Delegating
• Knowledge of Food and Beverage Hygiene Practice
• Customer Satisfaction

Certifications

• Certified Restaurant Server
• Hospitality Restaurant Management Certification from Wake Tech

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the Utah Valley University

Why This Resume Works

The resume provides ample evidence of a professional work ethic. You demonstrated a willingness to go the extra mile by building rapport with customers and establishing a faster arrangement between front-of-house and back-of-house communication.

The document stresses your customer service and organizational ability. It highlights responsibilities such as complying with hygiene standards and mitigating customer complaints.

The certification headline adds professional capital to your resume and increases your chances of getting hired.

Fine Dining Server Resume Example

Upscale fine dining servers distinguish themselves from regular servers with their exceptional knowledge of hospitality practice.

Getting the role is also relatively more challenging due to the high standards posh restaurants are seeking.

Summary

Experienced Fine Dining Server with over ten years in the industry. Acquired sophisticated knowledge of upscale menu items and beverages. Nuanced customer service experience ideal for discerning clientele.

Excelling sales skills on off-menu items and specials to boost restaurant revenue. Well-versed in training new staff and integrating them into the standard operating procedures of fine dining quality.

Work Experience 1

Worked at the Republic Steakhouse as Fine Dining Server

• Accommodated over 300 servers daily in a 20-table serving restaurant. Managed to provide 96% customer satisfaction.
• Studied over ten specials daily, along with their allergens. Promoted specials and succeeded in boosting their revenue by 15%.
• Processed approximately 350 orders per shift with 99% accuracy. Increased accuracy through clarifying and verifying the order to patrons.
• Acquired an individualized method for regular customers by memorizing their usual orders. Increased return rate by over 30%.
• Served selective customers by detailing menu recommendations and explaining their ingredients and cooking methods.

Work Experience 2

Worked at Prime Farm to Table as Fine Dining Server

• Ensured a professional and nuanced experience by following the upscale dining protocol. Seated guests, served menus, and described the specials.
• Delivered customers exceptional food and beverage presentation and assisted them with any item customizations on the menu.
• Boosted sales for off-menu items such as desserts and beverages by over 20%. Received positive feedback from customer satisfaction.
• Maintained a sanitized environment for patrons by cleaning tables, utensils, menus, and chairs.
• Communicated with kitchen staff regarding food customizations to increase satisfaction. Utilized an organizational system to keep track of orders and their waiting time.

Project Experience

• Suggested hosting themed events and providing live entertainment. The restaurant ended up holding a wine-tasting event where I memorized and recited the beverage variations.
• Worked in a charity event organized by the restaurant to fund a sizeable donation to Feeding America. The restaurant gathered over $100,000 in a span of two nights.

Skills

• Wine Knowledge
• Fine Dining Gastronomy Knowledge
• Customer Service
• Negotiation
• Organization

Languages

American English: Native

Spanish: Fluent

French: Intermediate

Certifications

• Certified Restaurant Server
• ServSafe Alcohol Certification

Education

• Master of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Houston
• Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management from the Lone Star College System

Why This Resume Works

The resume has multiple relevant experiences, which can guarantee you a sophisticated Fine Dining position. It uses metrics to measure your successes, such as customer service satisfaction and sales revenue increases.

It also offers hiring managers the necessary knowledge of the scale of restaurants you experienced. In addition to the skills and work experience, the resume also offers a language section.

The subheading could distinguish you from other candidates since Fine Dining restaurants often serve foreign nationals globally.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include On a Server Resume

You should be mindful of the common skills and action verbs you integrate when crafting your resume. They will act as keywords that trigger the application tracking system most employers use nowadays.

Recruiters opt for the software to avoid surfing through hundreds of resumes at once.

For this reason, you can optimize your resume to increase your chances of recruiters taking a deeper look into what you have to offer.

Common Skills for Server Resumes

• Organization
• Customer Service
• Time-Management
• Negotiation
• Ability to Memorize
• Conflict Resolution
• Teamwork
• Hygiene Upkeep
• Physical Stamina
• Adequate Handwriting
• POS system
• Gastronomy Knowledge
• Alcoholic Beverage Know-How
• Basic Arithmancy
• Knowledge of Operating Restaurant Machinery
• Languages
• Communication
• Multi-Tasking
• Detail-Oriented
• Adaptability

Common Action Verbs for Server Resumes

• Recommended
• Ordered
• Prepared
• Coordinated
• Served
• Provided
• Trained
• Welcomed
• Ensured
• Memorized
• Recited
• Engaged
• Assisted
• Promoted
• Solved

Tips for Writing a Better Server Resume

Whether you’re browsing through the best resume builders or resume writing services, crafting it remains challenging.

You need to find ways to demonstrate your authenticity and friendly can-do personality without seeming too generic.

You can follow our resume do’s and don’t’s below to help you write a personalized resume. It’ll give you more wanted attention from your recruiter and gain you a step ahead of the competition.

Do: Use a Proper Outline

Finding the correct outline to use doesn’t require too many complicated headings. It comprises a resume summary, work experiences, skills, certifications, and education.

You can include extra sub-headings to garner a more professional image, such as languages, licenses, and accreditations. You can also add an achievement section. In it, highlight titles you’ve received for optimum work performance.

Alternatively, you can add a career objective if you’re still an entry-level server. It’ll make you seem more enthusiastic about joining the field. You’ll want to perfect each section to create a compelling resume.

Think of your resume summary as your elevator pitch to get your hiring manager to read more. Work experiences should emphasize metric achievements. Your skills should be optimized and in demand to trigger applicant tracking systems.

Do: Tailor Your Experiences to the Role

Whether you’re applying for a barista, bartender, or cashier position, your resume should reflect relevant experience.

For instance, let’s assume that you’re applying for a role at a restaurant specializing in meat items. In this case, you’ll want to demonstrate your knowledge of steak cuts and cooking methods.

For a barista job, mention your in-depth know-how of coffee making and your ability to operate coffee machines.

As for Fine Dining Server positions, you’ll benefit from discussing your proficiency in terminology like “Charcuterie,” “Carpaccio,” or “Umami.” Lastly, a bartender recruiter is likely looking for an employee with excellent beverage presentation and menu knowledge.

Aside from that, you can always reference the server job description or listing to give you clues. Often, recruiters are searching for the soft and hard skills mentioned.

Don’t: Make Your Resume Too Long

Resumes shouldn’t exceed two pages. Recruiters don’t want to read through walls of text explaining your qualification. You should stick to concise and readable points in your work experience.

You can limit your experience sections to five bullet points. In your skills portion, don’t add more than five. Otherwise, listing too many will lose their value. Pick the ones most relevant to the position and your characteristics.

Plus, you don’t need to include all your work experiences. You can choose two of the most relevant ones for the applying position.

Don’t: Rush to Send Your Resume

Before you send the resume, it should undergo editing, proofreading, and review.

The phases will ensure an error-free document you can confidently send to your hiring manager. Grammatical or spelling errors often make for a negative first impression.

It’s also worth noting that applicant tracking systems come with grammatical and spelling error trackers. You can use an online editing tool such as Grammarly to assist you through this process.

Plus, you should fact-check your resume, especially if you’ve included metric details.

Additionally, we suggest asking a past co-worker or friend to review your resume for any discrepancies you may not see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Aside from the resume tips and the server resume template options, check out the frequently asked questions below.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

Like servers, the jobs below hold similar skills and qualifications in the industry. You may have worked in a similar position. In this case, you can reference the resume samples.

• Customer Service Resume: Customer service roles don’t stray far from server experience since both involve handling customers and ensuring their satisfaction.
• Cashier Resume: Server roles typically manage the cashier; you can use this resume as a reference for this particular responsibility.
• Bartender Resume: One of the many server positions available in the industry is a bartender job, which you can add to your work experience.

Wrapping Up

Going over server resumes is a sufficient method of familiarizing yourself with an outline. It provides you with a stepping stone to producing a winning ticket to the interview portion of the hiring process.

By using the right keywords, skills, and action verbs, you’re three steps closer to landing the role. When applying, be sure to tailor your resume to the specified applying role.

Otherwise, employers may think you’ve created a generic resume and sent it out to multiple employers. In turn, it’ll come off as ingenuine and non-personalized.

Let us know your thoughts on server resumes in the comments below. Don’t forget to share the article if you enjoyed reading it.