Restaurant Server Resume Guide + Tips + Example

Kellie Hanna by Kellie Hanna, Content Strategist, Career Advice Expert
Updated on February 10, 2023
 • Rated 4.4/5 Stars

A great job as an restaurant server demands a perfect restaurant server resume. Not sure what that looks like? Don’t worry! We’re here to help you create one. Our guide to crafting a perfect resume for a restaurant server job will help you make the most of your customer service and interpersonal skills to write the best restaurant server resume.

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Restaurant Server Resume Template

Start by editing this restaurant server sample resume, or explore our library of customizable resume templates to find the perfect resume template for a restaurant server job.

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Sample resume for a restaurant server (text version)

Brianna Gibson

South Bend, IN 46556
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com

Professional Summary

Enthusiastic restaurant server with five years of experience working in busy eating establishments. Friendly and upbeat with strong organization, teamwork and interpersonal skills. Reliable, punctual and flexible professional with multitasking and planning abilities. Promotes customer comfort and enhanced experiences by answering questions and responding to concerns.

Work History

June 2022 – Current
Texas Roadhouse – South Bend, IN
Restaurant Server

  • Serve up to 50 meals per shift at this chain steakhouse.
  • Extensive knowledge of the eight different cuts of beef available for sale.
  • Assist customers with dietary restrictions and food allergies by choosing appropriate salads and sides.
  • Responsible for ensuring salad prep areas are clean and well-stocked before each shift.

November 2020 – May 2022
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant – Mishawaka, IN
Server

  • Served up to 40 meals per shift at this busy, family-friendly Italian chain restaurant.
  • Memorized three pasta and two salad specials per shift.
  • Assisted customers with dietary restrictions and food allergies to order appropriate meals.
  • Performed extensive side work before and after the shift to ensure food prep areas were clean and well-organized.

June 2017 – March 2020
Applebee’s – South Bend, IN
Restaurant Hostess

  • Answered an average of 80 customers per shift questions about hours, seating and menu information.
  • Supported servers, food runners and bussers with keeping the dining area ready for every guest.
  • Took up to 100 reservations and to-go orders by phone, answered customer questions and informed of accurate wait times.

Skills

  • Food and beverage pairings
  • Strong communication skills
  • Customer service expertise
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Organization
  • Ability to lift heavy trays
  • Daily specials memorization
  • Dining area cleanliness

Education

June 2017
Marian High School Mishawaka, IN
High School Diploma

5 essentials of a top resume for a restaurant server

  1. Contact details

    Add your contact information to the top of your resume so hiring managers can contact you. As our restaurant server resume sample shows, your contact information must include your full name, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and a professional website, add them last.

  2. Personal statement

    A professional summary, also known as a personal statement, is a concise, three-to-five-sentence statement that tells the hiring manager who you are and what you offer. A resume summary for a restaurant server must include job-relevant skills and one or two notable accomplishments, and it should touch on how long you’ve been in the industry. If you are just starting out in your career, it’s better to write a resume objective for a restaurant server instead.

  3. Skills

    Create a skills section on your resume so hiring managers can see if your skill set matches their needs. A resume template for a restaurant server resume will have a separate section for your job-relevant skills in a bulleted list. As our sample restaurant server resume shows, it’s best to include both hard and soft skills, such as your technical expertise, project oversight and organizational skills.

  4. Work history

    Whether this is your first job or you’ve been at it for decades, your restaurant server resume must include a section to display your job history. In reverse-chronological order, display your current and previous employers and provide company names, locations and the dates you worked for them. Include three bullet points of measurable achievements for every job you list.

  5. Education

    A resume for a restaurant server job must include an education section. In reverse-chronological order, show the name of the schools and the years that you graduated using bullet points. If you did not attend college, then list your high school information and the classes or training you’ve taken since graduating. If you come from an apprenticeship, then list it here.

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Action words for a stand-out restaurant server resume

Use action words and numbers to make your descriptions compelling.

Here’s a short list of perfect action words for a restaurant server resume:

  • Serve
  • Assist
  • Provide
  • Create
  • Sell
  • Engage
  • Organize
  • Collaborate
  • Help 
  • Present

Need the perfect resume for a restaurant server job now? Our Resume Builder has all the tools you need to create a professional resume in minutes! We’ll help you fill in your template. Then you can make edits on the fly, download your finished resume, save it in multiple file formats and send it to your target employer. It’s that easy!

Top skills for a restaurant server resume

Review the job description closely and match the required skills to yours. 

As a restaurant server, your skills might include:

  • Organization
  • Planning
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Teamwork
  • Collaboration
  • Verbal communication
  • Flexibility
  • Persuasion
  • Sales
  • Multitasking
  • Customer service
  • Patience
  • Mental agility
  • Physical agility
  • Friendliness

Certifications for a restaurant server resume

A certification is not required to work as a restaurant server, but having at least one certificate can put you ahead of the pack. Hiring managers will be impressed with your industry, in-depth knowledge and passion for your profession. 

Certification options for restaurant servers include: 

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Restaurant server resume FAQ

  1. 1. What does a restaurant server resume look like?

    There is no standard resume template for a restaurant server resume; you can use any of our templates and customize them for your desired job. A good resume for a restaurant server will look like the restaurant server resume example on this page. It must display the job seeker’s contact information, various hard and soft skills, job history, education and certifications, if applicable. A restaurant server resume might also contain sections for awards and honors if the job candidate has them to display.

  2. 2. What are some tips for creating an excellent resume for a restaurant server job?

    A restaurant server resume will vary from person to person, but you should pay attention to these resume writing basics: 

    • Keep your resume short and to the point. If you have less than 10 years of experience, then it should be one page long; if you have more than a decadeyears of experience, then it’s acceptable to have no more than two pages. 
    • Ensure your resume is formatted correctly, meaning margins should be one inch on all sides and line space should be single or 1.5 inches. 
    • Only use appropriate fonts, like Times New Roman, Arial, or Helvetica, in 11-12 points on the body and 14-16 points on headers.
    • Proofread your resume more than once before sending it to potential employers.

  3. 3. What is the best resume format for a restaurant server?

    The format you choose will depend on your experience and career goals. If you have some experience, try a chronological resume, focusing on your work history and accomplishments. If you have a few years of experience and want to stress your full array of skills, a combination resume format could work well, and if you’re new to the field, then a functional resume is your best bet.

  4. 4. What if I have no previous professional experience?

    On your restaurant server resume, highlight any past academic or extracurricular activities, skills and experience that show that you can be a good fit for the job, such as volunteering to help an organization serve food to the less fortunate in a community. These activities should depict your ability to produce work professionally and efficiently. In your summary, emphasize important intangible skills that also apply to the job, such as the ability to strategically plan and execute a project or a strong work ethic.

Do’s and don’ts for building a restaurant server resume

  • Use measurable achievements to describe your restaurant server skills and experience.
  • Use action words to make an impact on your restaurant server resume.
  • Tailor your resume to your target restaurant server job.
  • Use keywords from the job description throughout your restaurant server resume.
  • Format your restaurant server resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
  • Lie about your restaurant server experience and skills.
  • Boast that you’re the “best restaurant server ever.”
  • Include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
  • Add skills and experience that are about something other than restaurant service.
  • Forget to proofread. A restaurant server resume with errors is unprofessional.

Top 4 tips for acing a restaurant server interview

  1. Research first.

    It’s vital to take the time to learn about the restaurant or company’s history, goals, values and people before the interview. Doing so conveys interest, passion and commitment — traits that can set you above the competition.

  2. Practice your answers.

    Practice is really important. Be sure to practice for your interview by reviewing the most common interview questions, such as: 

    And some possible behavioral questions such as:

    Write down two or three possible answers for each question, then practice answering them with a friend.

  3. Prepare questions to ask during the interview.

    After the hiring manager and potential colleagues question you, they will likely offer for you to ask them some questions. Always have at least three for each person you speak with; doing so shows that you’re interested and have been paying close attention.

    Some questions you might ask for a restaurant server job are: 

    • What is a typical day like in the restaurant?
    • Can you tell me about the challenges this role has to overcome?
    • What is the work culture like?

  4. Gather references

    Have professional references ready during your interview. It comes in handy, especially if the hiring manager offers you the job on the spot. Make a list of two former colleagues and a former manager willing to speak highly about your abilities to perform the restaurant server job.

CV examples for the next step in your food service career

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Kellie Hanna

Kellie Hanna

Content Strategist, Career Advice Expert

Kellie is the content strategist for My Perfect Resume. She has more than 20 years of experience in digital media and is passionate about helping job seekers navigate their careers. She has a B.A. in English and writing from Temple University.

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