When you think about your career history, certain roles likely jump to mind immediately – the internships, the professional positions, the milestones proudly displayed on your LinkedIn profile. But what about those “pre-career” jobs? The ones that might feel less relevant now, like that serving job you held in college? It’s time to reconsider their importance, especially when crafting a resume that truly showcases your capabilities.
Many job seekers grapple with the question: Should You Keep A Serving Job On Your Resume? The answer, in short, is often yes – with some strategic considerations. Let’s dive into why those seemingly unrelated roles, particularly in the service industry, can be valuable assets in your job application and how to present them effectively.
The Hidden Value of Serving Jobs: More Than Just Taking Orders
Serving, waiting tables, bartending – these roles are often seen as temporary gigs, stepping stones to “real” careers. However, dismissing them entirely overlooks the wealth of transferable skills and valuable experiences they provide. These jobs are bootcamps for essential soft skills that employers across various industries highly value.
Think about it. A server’s daily tasks involve:
- Customer Service Expertise: Handling diverse personalities, addressing complaints, and ensuring customer satisfaction are core components of serving. This translates directly to client relations, patient care, and any role requiring people skills.
- Communication Mastery: From taking orders accurately to explaining menu items and resolving conflicts, servers are constantly communicating. They learn to listen actively, speak clearly, and adapt their communication style to different audiences.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: A restaurant thrives on teamwork. Servers collaborate with bussers, bartenders, cooks, and managers to deliver seamless service. This experience highlights your ability to work effectively within a team towards a common goal.
- Problem-Solving on the Fly: Spilled drinks, incorrect orders, and demanding customers – servers face unexpected challenges constantly and must think on their feet to find solutions quickly and efficiently.
- Time Management and Multitasking: Juggling multiple tables, remembering orders, and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment demands exceptional time management and multitasking abilities.
- Resilience and Stress Management: The service industry can be demanding and stressful. Servers develop resilience, learn to handle pressure, and maintain composure under challenging circumstances.
These skills aren’t confined to the restaurant setting. They are highly transferable and applicable to a wide range of professions, from sales and marketing to project management and healthcare. By highlighting these skills, you demonstrate to potential employers that you possess a well-rounded skillset beyond your formal education and “career” positions.
When Serving Experience Shines on Your Resume
Including a serving job on your resume isn’t always a given. Context matters. Here’s when it’s particularly beneficial:
- Entry-Level Positions: If you’re applying for entry-level roles or positions early in your career, serving experience can be incredibly valuable. It demonstrates a work ethic, customer service skills, and the ability to handle responsibility – qualities highly sought after in entry-level candidates.
- Career Change Scenarios: Changing careers? Serving experience can bridge the gap and showcase transferable skills relevant to your new field. For example, if you’re transitioning to sales, emphasize your customer interaction, communication, and problem-solving skills honed as a server.
- Highlighting Soft Skills: If the job you’re applying for emphasizes soft skills like communication, teamwork, or customer service, including your serving experience is a strategic move. It provides concrete examples of you applying these skills in a real-world setting.
- Gaps in Employment History: A serving job can fill gaps in your employment history and demonstrate continuous work experience, even if it’s not directly related to your desired career path. It shows you’ve been actively engaged and developing skills.
Presenting Your Serving Job for Maximum Impact
Simply listing “Server at [Restaurant Name]” isn’t enough. To make your serving experience truly impactful on your resume, focus on these strategies:
- Quantify Your Achievements: Instead of generic descriptions, quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example: “Managed an average of 5-7 tables simultaneously during peak hours, consistently receiving positive customer feedback for efficient and friendly service.” or “Handled cash transactions accurately and efficiently, processing an average of $X in sales per shift.”
- Highlight Transferable Skills: Explicitly connect your serving experience to the skills required for the job you’re applying for. Use action verbs and keywords that resonate with the target industry. For instance, instead of “Took orders,” use “Managed customer orders and requests with accuracy and efficiency.”
- Focus on Customer Interaction: Emphasize your customer service skills and ability to build rapport with diverse clientele. Phrases like “Provided exceptional customer service, resulting in repeat business and positive reviews” are powerful.
- Showcase Problem-Solving Abilities: Describe situations where you resolved customer issues or handled challenging situations effectively. This demonstrates your ability to think critically and find solutions under pressure.
- Tailor to the Job Description: Customize your resume for each application. Prioritize the skills and experiences from your serving job that are most relevant to the specific requirements of the position you’re targeting.
When to Consider Omitting Serving Jobs
While serving jobs offer valuable skills, there are instances where you might consider omitting them from your resume:
- Extensive Professional Experience: If you have decades of experience in your chosen field and a long list of directly relevant professional roles, including a serving job from your college years might dilute the impact of your more senior experience.
- Senior-Level Applications: For high-level executive positions, focusing on your leadership experience and industry-specific achievements is paramount. Serving jobs might not add significant value in these cases.
- Space Constraints: If your resume is becoming too lengthy, and you need to prioritize space for more relevant experiences, a very old or brief serving job might be a candidate for removal.
However, even in these situations, consider whether the skills gained from serving are particularly relevant to the specific job. If customer service, communication, or teamwork are still key aspects of the role, a strategically presented serving experience might still be beneficial.
Conclusion: Serving Up Your Skills for Career Success
Deciding whether to keep a serving job on your resume isn’t a black and white issue. It’s about understanding the transferable skills you gained, strategically presenting them, and tailoring your resume to the specific job you’re targeting. Don’t underestimate the power of your “pre-career” experiences. Those roles, even if they seemed temporary at the time, have shaped you and equipped you with valuable skills that can significantly enhance your resume and impress potential employers. By recognizing and articulating the value of your serving experience, you can effectively showcase your well-rounded skillset and stand out in today’s competitive job market.
So, the next time you’re updating your resume, take a moment to reflect on your serving days. You might be surprised at just how much they have to offer your career narrative.
