Dish Up Success with Confidence: Craft a Premium Restaurant Server Resume with Resumonk's Expert Guide

Being a restaurant server is not just about delivering food; it's about creating memorable dining experiences. An exemplary resume is your ticket to stand out in this vibrant industry. Explore Resumonk's handpicked resume examples to understand the art of leaving a lasting mark.

Scroll to the bottom for a restaurant server sample resume to garnish your own.

Primary responsibilities of a restaurant server

Being a server is more than taking orders and delivering food. It's about creating an inviting atmosphere, meeting customer expectations, and proudly representing the restaurant's brand. Being a restaurant server involves:

• Customer service: Provide friendly, responsive service to create an exceptional dining experience.

• Ambiance artist: Be the first touchpoint of unparalleled service, ensuring diners feel welcome.

• Menu maestro: Deep dive into the menu, assisting customers with selections and recommendations.

• Efficiency expert: Seamlessly manages multiple tables, providing accurate and prompt orders.

• Sales sensation: Introduce customers to daily specials, complementary pairings, and upsell when appropriate.

• Hygiene hero: Maintain the gold standards of cleanliness in personal appearance and dining areas.

• Transaction tactician: Handle payments seamlessly, ensuring accuracy.

• Team liaison: Collaborate with the culinary team to ensure order synchronization.

• Guest guru: Handle positive and negative feedback with grace and professionalism.

Must-haves for a restaurant server resume

For a winning server resume, spotlight your dedication and aptitude. Follow these guidelines for a resume that deserves a standing ovation:

• Pick the suitable resume format: Opt for the reverse chronological format. This format, recognized and appreciated, showcases your most recent achievements, making it the best choice for a server resume.

• Contact details: Lead with your name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number, and email. Add links to professional networking profiles such as Linkedin profiles or personal portfolios.

• Engaging entrée: Pen a strong resume summary emphasizing your passion and service mastery.

• Culinary career journey: Elaborate on your service roles, emphasizing responsibilities and triumphs. If you're a fresh entrant, dive into our "How to Write a Resume If You Have No Experience" guide.

• Skills showcase: Highlight unique skills to make your resume immediately captivating.

• Certifications: Mention any vital food safety or beverage courses that further sharpen your service edge.

• Professional look: Ensure a consistent structure, harmonious fonts, and a layout that leaves a lasting impression.

• Use a resume template: Save precious time and ensure a polished look. Harness the power of free resume templates to get that pristine layout and formatting, letting your content shine through.

Explore our "resume-writing tips" article for comprehensive insights and guidance.

Essential skills to showcase in your resume

Serving at a restaurant is an art, blending technique with intuition. One must combine concrete abilities with inherent qualities to rise above the rest. We've categorized these pivotal skills into hard and soft skills below.

Action words for more significant impact

Boost your story with persuasive verbs. These action words give your resume a fresh touch, emphasizing your active role:

• Served

• Recommended

• Upsold

• Coordinated

• Handled

• Communicated

• Cleaned

• Processed

• Liaised

• Organized

• Resolved

• Assisted

• Managed

• Greeted

• Prepared

• Described

• Confirmed

• Demonstrated

• Presented

• Engaged

• Ensured

Bonus sections for enriching your resume

Give your resume a gourmet touch and take it to a five-star rating with these additional sections:

Licenses and certifications 

Distinguishing yourself in the hospitality sector often begins with the proper certifications. Demonstrating professional expertise, these credentials signal your unwavering commitment. Some examples to include are:

• TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS)

• ServSafe Food Handler

• Coffee Skills Program

• Cicerone Certification

• ServSafe Allergens

Awards & Recognition 

Earning titles such as "Server of the Month" or garnering exceptional customer reviews underlines your commitment to service excellence. Highlight these accolades to demonstrate your unmatched capabilities in the culinary industry.

Hobbies & interests 

Personal passions can echo the joy of service, the love for food, or the art of conversation. Consider adding:

• Attending hands-on cooking lessons or wine-sampling events.

• Traveling to explore global cuisines and cultures.

• Participating in local food festivals.

• Blogging about personal cooking experiences and discoveries.

Memberships 

Active involvement in reputable hospitality groups showcases your deep commitment to the field and ongoing professional growth. Consider highlighting affiliations like

• National Restaurant Association (NRA)

• American Culinary Federation

• International Food and Beverage Association (IFBA)

• Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)

• Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE)

Volunteer initiatives

Demonstrate your commitment to community and service. Engage in activities such as

• Community Soup Kitchens

• Local Food Festivals

• Sustainability Initiatives

• Event Catering for Charities

Languages 

Fluency in multiple languages bridges communication gaps with a diverse customer base. Ensure you include any additional languages you're skilled in to highlight your enhanced ability to connect.

Salary Fact: As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for restaurant servers was approximately $14 in 2022.

Vital takeaways

Serve up success with a first-rate restaurant server resume:

• Boost your resume by adding a convincing cover letter that shows how much you love serving people.

• Personalize your applications and establish direct connections with hiring decision-makers whenever feasible.

• Highlight your commitment to customer satisfaction and effective teamwork.

• Ensure your resume and cover letter look good and make a strong impression.

Dive deeper into resume creation with our article, "How to Make a Resume."

Resumonk, your culinary career companion!

Trust Resumonk to sprinkle magic on your professional journey, helping craft an enticing server resume. With our suite of features, creating a pristine restaurant server resume is a cakewalk. Here's how Resumonk can propel your career:

• Interactive resume builder
• Customized resume templates for servers
• Swift Linkedin to resume converter
• Ready-to-use content and curated phrases
• Sleek design and format selections
• Instant editing and customization features
• Varied save and download options
• Affordable and straightforward subscription plans

Use the sample resume below made using the Slim template of Resumonk as your recipe. Bon appétit on your career path!