Server Resume Skills: Your Complete Guide to Landing a Serving Job

Before you can charm guests, expertly take orders, and manage the fast-paced restaurant environment, you need to ace the first hurdle: landing the interview. And in the competitive hospitality industry, your server resume is your most powerful tool.

A compelling server resume isn’t just a list of your past jobs; it’s a strategic document that showcases your skills, experience, and personality in a way that grabs the attention of restaurant and bar managers. It needs to be professionally formatted, highlight the right skills, and demonstrate why you are the perfect candidate.

Feeling overwhelmed? If you haven’t updated your resume in a while or are creating one for the first time, don’t worry. This comprehensive guide will equip you with all the knowledge you need to create a server resume that wins you interviews and gets you hired.

In this guide, we will cover:

A Job-Winning Server Resume Example
An 8-Step Guide to Writing a Server Resume that Stands Out
Free, Customizable Server Resume Templates
Tips for Optimizing Your Server Resume Skills Section
And much more!

Let’s get started with a look at an effective server resume example:

Server Resume Example

Build Your Server Resume Now

This server resume example is a great model to follow. Here’s a breakdown of what makes it so effective:

Employs the reverse-chronological resume format: This format is favored by recruiters and is ideal for server resumes as it immediately showcases your most recent and relevant experience.
Features a strong resume summary: A captivating summary at the beginning quickly highlights the candidate’s key qualifications and encourages the manager to read further.
Highlights achievement-driven work experience: Instead of just listing duties, this resume emphasizes accomplishments, demonstrating the candidate’s impact and value.
Includes relevant certifications: Certifications demonstrate a commitment to professionalism and industry standards, making the candidate more appealing.
Keeps the education section concise: In the service industry, practical experience and skills often outweigh formal education, so this section is appropriately brief.
Lists industry-relevant skills: The skills section is tailored to the server role, showcasing the specific abilities needed to succeed.
Incorporates “Languages” as a valuable addition: In customer-facing roles, multilingualism is a significant advantage, and this resume effectively highlights language skills.
Utilizes a professional resume template: Using a template saves time on formatting and ensures a visually appealing and professional layout.

Are you exploring other customer service roles? We offer a variety of resume examples to help you create the perfect resume for your career goals. Explore more examples for inspiration.

8 Steps to Craft an Exceptional Server Resume

Inspired by the example? Excellent! Now, let’s walk through the process of creating your own standout server resume.

Follow these 8 essential steps to write a compelling server resume that gets you noticed:

#1. Choose the Right Server Resume Format

Before diving into the content, it’s crucial to establish the correct format and layout for your server resume.

When it comes to resume formats, you have three main options: chronological, functional, and combination. For a server resume, the reverse-chronological format is generally the most effective and recommended choice.

This format is widely recognized by hiring managers and recruiters globally. It emphasizes your career progression by listing your most recent positions first, making it easy for employers to quickly grasp your experience and relevant skills.

Here’s a visual representation of the reverse-chronological resume format:

Once you’ve chosen the format, focus on the layout of your server resume. Key layout considerations include:

Concise Resume Length: Aim for One Page: Restaurant managers are busy and often quickly scan resumes. A one-page resume ensures they can efficiently review your key qualifications without getting bogged down in excessive detail. Focus on the most relevant information.
Clear and Distinct Section Headers: Use clear headings to separate different sections of your resume (e.g., “Contact Information,” “Work Experience,” “Skills”). This improves readability and organization.
Professional and Readable Font: Select a font that is both professional and easy to read. Classic choices like Times New Roman or modern sans-serif fonts like Roboto are good options. Avoid overly decorative or informal fonts.
Consistent Font Size: Maintain a uniform font size throughout your resume, typically between 11 and 12 points for body text. Use slightly larger font sizes for headings to create visual hierarchy.

Unless specified otherwise in the job description, always save your resume as a PDF file. This ensures that your formatting remains consistent across different devices and operating systems, preventing any unwanted layout changes when the hiring manager opens your resume.

Streamline the Process with a Server Resume Template

Creating a visually appealing and professional resume layout from scratch can be time-consuming. Hours can be spent tweaking margins, fonts, and spacing to achieve a polished look.

This is where resume templates become invaluable. Templates eliminate the formatting hassle, allowing you to concentrate on crafting compelling content. By using a template, you can:

Save significant time: Skip the tedious formatting process and jump directly to filling in your information.
Achieve a professional look: Templates are designed by experts to be visually appealing and recruiter-friendly.
Ensure ATS compatibility: Many modern templates are designed to be Applicant Tracking System (ATS) friendly, increasing the chances of your resume being properly parsed and reviewed.
Stand out with a modern design: Choose from a variety of templates to find one that reflects your personality and makes your resume visually distinct.

Platforms like Novorésumé offer a range of free, customizable resume templates specifically designed to be both visually stunning and ATS-friendly. These templates allow you to create a professional-looking resume quickly and easily.

#2. Clearly List Your Contact Information

This section is straightforward but crucial. Accurate contact details are essential for a restaurant or bar manager to reach you for an interview. At the very top of your resume, include:

Full Name: Use your complete first and last name.
Professional Title: A simple title like “Restaurant Server” or “Experienced Server” is effective.
Email Address: Use a professional-sounding email address (e.g., [email protected]), not an informal or outdated one.
Phone Number: Double-check that your phone number is accurate and includes the area code.
Location: Include your city and state (or city and country if applying internationally). You don’t need to provide your full street address for privacy reasons.

Here’s an example of a well-formatted contact information section:

Example:

**Justin Doe**
Restaurant Server

[email protected]
123-123-2222
New York, NY

Crucial Tip: Before moving on, meticulously proofread your contact details. Typos in your phone number or email address can prevent a potential employer from contacting you, costing you a job opportunity!

#3. Write a Compelling Resume Summary or Objective

The resume profile, placed prominently at the top of your resume, serves as a brief introduction and aims to immediately capture the hiring manager’s interest. This concise paragraph (2-3 sentences) should convince them to keep reading and consider you a strong candidate.

You can structure your resume profile as either a resume summary or a resume objective, depending on your level of experience:

Resume Summary: This is the preferred choice for candidates with relevant work experience. A summary highlights your:

Years of Experience: Briefly mention your total years of experience in the serving industry.
Key Skills: Emphasize your most relevant server skills (both hard and soft skills).
Top Achievements: Include 1-2 quantifiable achievements that showcase your impact in previous roles.

Example of a Server Resume Summary:

Positive and customer-focused Restaurant Server with 4+ years of experience in fast-paced dining environments. Proven ability to provide excellent customer service, demonstrated by consistently exceeding customer satisfaction ratings. Certified in food safety and proficient in POS systems.

Resume Objective: A resume objective is more suitable for entry-level candidates or those with limited serving experience. It focuses on:

Career Goals: State your enthusiasm for the server position and your career aspirations within the hospitality industry.
Relevant Skills and Qualities: Highlight transferable skills, positive personality traits, and any relevant background that makes you a good fit.
Value Proposition: Explain what you hope to contribute to the restaurant or bar.

Example of a Server Resume Objective:

Enthusiastic and motivated individual seeking a part-time Server position to leverage strong communication and teamwork skills. Eager to learn and contribute to a positive dining experience for guests. Possesses excellent time-management abilities and a commitment to providing exceptional customer service.

#4. Maximize Your Work Experience Section

Your work experience section is the core of your server resume. It provides concrete evidence of your abilities and is often the first place hiring managers look to assess your suitability for the role.

To format this section effectively:

Reverse Chronological Order: List your most recent job first and work backward. Focus on relevant experience; summer jobs from your teens are likely not pertinent unless they are directly related to customer service or food service.
Structure Each Entry: For each position, include:
- Job Title: Your official title (e.g., Server, Food Runner, Bartender).
- Restaurant/Company Name and Location: Name of the establishment and its city and state.
- Dates of Employment: Start and end dates (month and year).
Bullet Points for Responsibilities and Achievements: Use bullet points to describe your duties and accomplishments in each role. Aim for 3-5 bullet points for recent positions and 1-2 for older roles.

Whenever possible, emphasize achievements over just listing responsibilities. Achievements demonstrate your impact and value. Think about how you contributed to the restaurant’s success, improved customer satisfaction, or streamlined processes.

Examples of Achievement-Oriented Bullet Points (Correct):

- Increased average customer spend by 15% by effectively upselling appetizers and desserts.
- Trained and mentored 3 new servers, resulting in faster onboarding and improved team performance.
- Consistently received positive customer feedback for friendly and efficient service, contributing to a 10% increase in positive online reviews.

Examples of Responsibility-Focused Bullet Points (Less Impactful – Incorrect):

- Took customer orders.
- Served food and drinks.
- Cleaned tables.

If you are struggling to think of achievements, thoroughly detailing your responsibilities using action verbs and power words can still be effective. Action verbs (e.g., “managed,” “served,” “assisted,” “coordinated”) make your descriptions more dynamic and engaging.

Are you writing a server resume with limited or no prior work experience? Focus on transferable skills from other experiences (volunteer work, extracurricular activities, academic projects), and highlight your eagerness to learn and your strong work ethic. Emphasize your soft skills and positive attributes that are relevant to the server role.

#5. Include Your Education Details

Formal education is not always a primary requirement for server positions, but including your education history adds to your overall professional profile.

Here’s how to list your education effectively:

Reverse Chronological Order: List your highest or most recent degree first.
Include Key Information: For each entry, provide:
- Degree Name: (e.g., High School Diploma, Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management).
- Institution Name: Name of the school or university.
- Location: City and state of the institution.
- Years Attended: Start and end years.
Optional Details: You can optionally include your major, minor, GPA (if high), or relevant coursework, especially if you are a recent graduate.
High School Diploma: If you have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, you can typically omit your high school information to save space. However, if your highest level of education is a high school diploma, include it.

Example of an Education Section:

Example:

Saratoga High School
Saratoga, CA
2016-2020

#6. Highlight In-Demand Server Skills

Hiring managers are keen to understand your skillset and your ability to quickly learn and excel as a server. The skills section of your resume is your chance to showcase these abilities.

To make this section impactful:

Be Selective and Relevant: Don’t simply list every skill you possess. Focus on skills that are directly relevant to the server role and those specifically mentioned in the job description. Skills in graphic design, while valuable in other contexts, are likely not relevant for a server position.
Categorize Skills: Separate your skills into “Soft Skills” and “Hard Skills” for better organization and readability.
Tailor to the Job Description: Carefully review the job advertisement and identify the specific skills they are seeking. Incorporate those skills into your resume if you possess them.

By tailoring your skills section, you demonstrate that you understand the requirements of the position and possess the qualities they are looking for.

Essential Soft and Hard Skills for a Server Resume

Here are 20 key skills, divided into soft and hard skills, that are highly valuable for server positions:

Server Soft Skills (Interpersonal and Personal Qualities)

Communication Skills: Clear and effective communication with guests and colleagues.
Organizational Skills: Managing orders, tables, and time efficiently.
Customer Service Skills: Providing excellent and friendly service to guests.
Patience: Remaining calm and professional in busy or stressful situations.
Physical Stamina: Handling the physical demands of standing, walking, and carrying trays for extended periods.
Neat Appearance: Maintaining a professional and well-groomed appearance.
Memory: Remembering orders, menu details, and customer preferences.
Conflict Resolution: Handling customer complaints and resolving issues effectively.
Adaptability/Fast-Paced Environment: Thriving in a dynamic and often high-pressure work setting.
Legible Handwriting: Clearly writing orders and checks (if applicable).
Cleanliness and Hygiene: Maintaining a clean and sanitary work environment.
Time Management Skills: Prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively during busy shifts.
Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with kitchen staff, bartenders, and other servers.

Server Hard Skills (Technical and Job-Specific Abilities)

Computer Skills: Using restaurant management software, tablets, or online ordering systems.
Point of Sale (POS) Systems/Cash Register Proficiency: Operating POS systems for order entry, payment processing, and generating bills.
Memory (for Orders and Menu): Accurately memorizing menu items, specials, and modifications.
Wine and Alcohol Knowledge: Understanding wine pairings, types of alcohol, and drink preparation (especially valuable for higher-end restaurants or bars).
Basic Math Skills: Calculating bills, making change, and handling cash transactions accurately.
Knowledge of Restaurant Machinery: Operating coffee machines, soda dispensers, and other restaurant equipment.
Language Skills: Fluency in multiple languages (especially beneficial in tourist areas or diverse communities).

#7. Enhance Your Resume with Extra Sections

If your server resume is concise and fits comfortably on one page after including the core sections, consider adding extra sections to further strengthen your application, especially if you have space available or are looking to showcase additional qualifications.

Valuable extra sections include:

Certifications: List any relevant certifications you hold, such as:
- Food Safety Certification (e.g., ServSafe).
- Alcohol Server Certification (e.g., TIPS).
- Customer Service Certifications.
- First Aid/CPR Certification.
  Relevant certifications demonstrate your commitment to professionalism and industry standards.
Languages: If you are multilingual, create a “Languages” section to highlight your language proficiencies. Specify your level of fluency (e.g., fluent, proficient, conversational, basic) for each language. This is a significant asset in the hospitality industry, particularly in diverse or tourist-heavy locations.
Volunteer Experience: Include volunteer work, especially if it involved customer interaction, teamwork, or service-oriented tasks. Volunteering demonstrates your work ethic, community involvement, and willingness to contribute. Bonus points if your volunteer experience is related to food service or customer service.
Hobbies and Interests: Adding a brief “Hobbies and Interests” section can provide a glimpse into your personality and help you connect with the hiring manager on a personal level. Choose hobbies that showcase positive traits like teamwork, communication, or customer focus (e.g., team sports, public speaking, hospitality-related hobbies like cooking or wine tasting).

Examples of Extra Sections:

Examples:

**Certifications**

ServSafe Food Safety Manager Certification (Valid through 2024)

**Languages**

- Spanish (Conversational)
- French (Basic)

**Hobbies and Interests**

- Cooking and Baking
- Local Food Festivals
- Team Volleyball

#8. Attach a Server Cover Letter

A well-crafted cover letter is a powerful complement to your server resume and is highly recommended to include in your job application package.

A cover letter serves several important purposes:

Elaborate on Key Skills and Experiences: It allows you to expand on the skills and experiences mentioned in your resume, providing more context and detail. You can share specific examples of how you applied your skills and achieved positive results.
Showcase Your Personality and Enthusiasm: A cover letter allows your personality and genuine interest in the server position and the specific restaurant to shine through.
Address Specific Requirements: You can tailor your cover letter to address specific requirements mentioned in the job description and explain how your qualifications align with their needs.
Explain Gaps or Career Changes: A cover letter provides an opportunity to address any employment gaps or career transitions in your resume proactively.
Demonstrate Your Writing and Communication Skills: A well-written cover letter showcases your communication and writing abilities, which are valuable in any customer-facing role.

To write an effective server cover letter:

Personalize Your Greeting: If possible, find out the name of the hiring manager and address your letter to them directly (e.g., “Dear Mr./Ms. [Hiring Manager’s Last Name]”). Avoid generic greetings like “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
Start with a Strong Introduction: Introduce yourself, state the position you are applying for, and immediately grab the reader’s attention by highlighting your 1-2 most relevant skills or achievements.
Develop the Body Paragraphs: In the body of your letter, expand on your key skills and experiences. Provide specific examples and quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. Explain why you are interested in working at that particular restaurant and what you can bring to their team.
Craft a Compelling Closing Paragraph: Reiterate your interest in the position and your enthusiasm for an interview. Include a clear call to action, such as “I am eager to discuss how my skills and experience can benefit your team. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
Proofread Carefully: Thoroughly proofread your cover letter for any grammatical errors or typos. A polished and error-free cover letter demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail.

To ensure your cover letter matches the professional quality of your resume, consider using Novorésumé’s cover letter templates. These templates are designed to complement their resume templates, creating a cohesive and visually appealing application package.

Key Takeaways for Your Server Resume

By following these steps, you are well on your way to creating a server resume that will impress hiring managers and help you land your desired job. Before you finalize your resume, remember these key takeaways:

Prioritize the Reverse-Chronological Format: It’s the industry standard and effectively highlights your most recent experience.
Start with a Strong Resume Summary or Objective: Hook the reader from the beginning by showcasing your key qualifications and career goals.
Emphasize Achievements and Use Action Verbs: Quantify your accomplishments and use dynamic language to make your work experience section impactful.
Include Relevant Extra Sections: Use sections like “Languages” and “Certifications” to stand out and demonstrate added value.
Always Include a Tailored Cover Letter: A cover letter adds a personal touch and allows you to further showcase your qualifications and enthusiasm.

With a strategically crafted server resume that highlights your skills and experience, you’ll be well-prepared to impress restaurant and bar managers and secure your next serving job.