Why this resume works
- Quantifies accomplishments: By improving customer satisfaction by 15% and increasing beverage sales by 20%, the applicant illustrates measurable impacts on operations.
- Showcases career trajectory: Transitioning from dining attendant to server and waitress roles reflects consistent experience in the field, showcasing adaptability within high-paced hospitality environments.
- Uses action-oriented language: Action verbs like “processed,” “collaborated,” and “increased” highlight proactive efforts to improve service quality.
More Waiter and Waitress Resume Examples
Check out these waiter and waitress resume examples to understand how to showcase your customer service skills, multitasking abilities, and hospitality experience. Use these samples to help you create a resume that attracts restaurant employers and suits various server roles.
Entry-level waiter
Why this resume works
- Centers on academic background: Graduating with a degree in hospitality management reveals the applicant’s commitment to learning and academic excellence, setting a strong foundation for future career growth.
- Effective use of keywords: Including role-specific keywords like “customer service” and “cash handling” ensures this resume effectively navigates through applicant tracking systems.
- Places contact information prominently: A professional resume header is essential for callbacks, providing quick access to contact information and establishing credibility right from the start.
Mid-level waitress
Why this resume works
- Includes a mix of soft and hard skills: Balancing technical skills like payment processing and interpersonal skills, the applicant seamlessly adapts to diverse customer needs and collaborates with their team.
- Points to measurable outcomes: By serving over 150 patrons daily with a 99% satisfaction rate, the applicant showcases their ability to achieve measurable success and exceed expectations consistently.
- Displays technical expertise: Holding a ServSafe certification and mastering menu knowledge, the applicant demonstrates critical technical expertise required for maintaining health standards in dynamic food service environments.
Experienced waitress
Why this resume works
- Showcases impressive accomplishments: Highlighting quantifiable achievements like cutting waste costs by 20% monthly effectively demonstrates the applicant’s problem-solving skills and efficiency-focused approach.
- Focuses on work history: Using a chronological format, the applicant emphasizes extensive career experience across various roles in hospitality, making their work history easily traceable.
- Sections are well-organized: Bullet points and headers are well-organized, allowing for easy scanning of key accomplishments and responsibilities, improving reader engagement.
Waiter and Waitress Resume Template (Text Version)
Michael Rodriguez
Dallas, TX 75204
(555)555-5555
Michael.Rodriguez@example.com
Professional Summary
Experienced waiter with 4 years in high-paced environments. Skilled in customer service, order processing, and upselling. Proven record of improving satisfaction rates by 15%.
Work History
Waiter
Sunset Grill – Dallas, TX
July 2024 – July 2025
- Processed orders for 50+ patrons per shift
- Collaborated with kitchen staff for prompt food delivery
- Enhanced customer satisfaction rate by 15%
Server
Harborview Bistro – Austin, TX
July 2023 – June 2024
- Managed tables and ensured timely service for guests
- Increased beverage sales by 20% through upselling
- Maintained high standards of food safety
Dining Attendant
The Golden Plate – Pinehill, TX
July 2021 – June 2023
- Assisted with table setting and clearing
- Achieved 95% customer satisfaction rate
- Supported team to ensure smooth operations
Skills
- Customer Service
- Order Processing
- Cash Handling
- Team Collaboration
- Food Safety Compliance
- Upselling Techniques
- Attention to Detail
- Multitasking
Education
High School Diploma General Education
Los Angeles High School Los Angeles, California
June 2021
Certificate Hospitality Management
Culinary Arts Institute Los Angeles, California
June 2022
Certifications
- Food Handler Certification – California Department of Public Health
- Responsible Beverage Service – California Alcoholic Beverage Control
Languages
- Spanish – Beginner (A1)
- French – Intermediate (B1)
- Japanese – Beginner (A1)
Related Resume Guides
Advice for Writing Your Waiter or Waitress Resume
Explore tips on how to write a resume that will help you stand out in the bustling world of hospitality. Discover how to highlight your unique skills, from multitasking and customer service to teamwork and attention to detail.
Whether you’re seasoned or new to the role, we’ve got insights that can give your application the edge it needs.
Write a strong professional summary
A professional summary on a resume acts as an introduction to hiring managers. It helps them quickly understand who you are and what you bring to the table. When drafting your resume, consider whether a summary or a resume objective best fits your situation.
A professional summary is typically three to four sentences that highlight your experience, skills, and achievements. It is most suitable for experienced applicants like seasoned waitresses and waiters who want to show their professional identity and value. A strong summary can capture attention by using action-oriented language to emphasize how you’ve made a difference in previous roles.
On the other hand, a resume objective is a statement of your career goals. It’s ideal for entry-level job seekers, career changers, or those with employment gaps. Unlike summaries that focus on past accomplishments, objectives center on what you aim to contribute in future roles.
Next, we’ll provide examples of both professional summaries and objectives tailored for various experience levels to help guide you in crafting one for yourself.
Waiter and waitress resume summary examples
Entry-level
Recent hospitality management graduate with foundational skills in customer service and food safety. Completed internships at local restaurants, gaining experience in table setting, order taking, and maintaining dining area cleanliness. Certified in Food Handlers Safety and eager to contribute to a dynamic team environment while ensuring guest satisfaction.
Mid-career
Skilled waitress with over four years of experience in fast-paced dining establishments. Proven track record of efficiently managing large volumes of guests while delivering exceptional service. Familiar with POS systems, adept at upselling menu items, and known for maintaining a positive rapport with patrons and staff alike. Committed to optimizing the guest experience through attention to detail and prompt service.
Experienced
Seasoned waiter with over a decade of expertise in fine dining settings. Known for leadership abilities in training new staff and improving team performance. Specialized in wine pairing recommendations and creating personalized dining experiences for VIP guests. Recognized for consistently achieving high customer satisfaction scores and fostering long-term relationships through attentive service.
Waiter and waitress resume objective examples
Entry-level
Enthusiastic and customer-focused individual seeking an entry-level waitress position to use strong communication skills and a passion for providing excellent dining experiences. Eager to learn and contribute to a vibrant team environment while ensuring guest satisfaction.
Career changer
Detail-oriented professional transitioning into the food service industry, aiming to leverage transferable skills in customer service and teamwork as a waitress. Committed to delivering memorable dining experiences by creating a welcoming atmosphere and attending to guests’ needs efficiently.
Recent graduate
Recent hospitality management graduate with hands-on experience in event coordination, seeking to start a career as a waiter. Passionate about improving customer interactions by using organizational skills and enthusiasm for the restaurant industry.
Want to make your waiter and waitress resume stand out? Try our Resume Builder for easy-to-follow steps that help you highlight your best skills and experience.
Include relevant certifications and training
Listing certifications and training for a service job is important because it shows you have the skills and knowledge to do your job well. Certifications can make you stand out from others who might not have them.
Training in areas like food safety or customer service can help you serve guests better and work more efficiently. Having these credentials can also show employers that you’ve taken extra steps to learn more about your role. Some certifications that can help you stand out include:
- ServSafe Food Handler Certification
- TIPS Alcohol Server Training
- CPR and First Aid Certification
- Customer Service Excellence Certificate
- Food Allergy Awareness Certificate
Including certifications in your resume makes you more attractive to employers looking for skilled waitresses and waiters. It lets them know you’re ready to handle various situations, making their business run smoothly. Remember, showing your credentials can be just as important as listing your education.
Example of a certifications section
Food Handler’s Card
Issued by: National Restaurant Association
Issued 2022
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification
Issued by: ServSafe
Expires 2027
Alcohol Server Certification
Issued by: State of California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)
Issued 2023
CPR and First Aid Certification
Issued by: American Red Cross
Expires 2026
When listing your certifications, include either the issue date or expiration date of each to show that your credential is current.
Showcase your work experience
Showcasing relevant work experience is important on a resume because it helps employers see what you have done and how it matches their needs. When applying for a server job, it’s key to list your past roles in reverse-chronological order, starting with the most recent position first.
Make sure each entry includes your job title, employer name, location, and employment dates. This clear format allows hiring managers to quickly understand your career path and see how you’ve grown over time.
Use concise, action-oriented language to describe your tasks and achievements as a waitress or waiter. For instance, instead of saying “served customers,” opt for phrases like “efficiently managed customer orders during peak hours.”
Whenever possible, highlight measurable outcomes such as “increased table turnover by 15%.” These specifics help show the impact you had at previous jobs while demonstrating your ability to contribute effectively. Core duties like taking accurate orders, handling cash transactions, maintaining cleanliness standards, and delivering excellent customer service should also be included.
Sharing specific examples from past experiences can create a stronger impression of your skills. Whether you handled challenging customers or thrived in fast-paced environments, these moments say more about your abilities than generic statements ever could. Tailor each description to reflect what the potential employer prioritizes in an ideal applicant.
5 waitress and waiter work history bullet point examples
- Managed a section of 15 tables, ensuring prompt service and customer satisfaction, leading to a 20% increase in repeat customers.
- Trained and supervised four junior waitstaff, improving team performance and reducing order errors by 25%.
- Implemented upselling techniques resulting in a 30% increase in average check size.
- Coordinated with kitchen staff to expedite service during peak hours, decreasing wait times by 10 minutes on average.
- Handled cash register transactions totaling $5,000 daily with accuracy and efficiency.
When crafting a resume for a job as a waitress or waiter, use a resume format that highlights your customer service expertise, multitasking abilities, and teamwork skills prominently.
Match your resume with the job description
Tailoring your resume to job descriptions is important because it helps you stand out to employers and ensures your resume passes through applicant tracking systems (ATS). ATS scans resumes for specific keywords from job postings, so including these words can make a big difference in getting noticed.
An ATS-friendly resume includes the right keywords and phrases from the job description. By aligning these with your skills, you increase your chances of catching the attention of hiring managers.
To identify keywords from job postings, look for skills, qualifications, and duties that are mentioned more than once. For example, if you’re applying for a waitress position, pay attention to phrases like “customer service,” “order taking,” or “team collaboration.”
Incorporate these terms naturally into your resume content by rewriting past experiences. For instance, instead of saying “Took orders from customers,” you could say “Efficiently took customer orders to ensure fast service and satisfaction.”
Targeted resumes that include specific keywords not only improve ATS compatibility but also make it clear to employers that you have the relevant experience and skills they’re looking for. Be sure to customize your resume for each role to highlight how well-suited you are for the position.
Make sure your resume gets through ATS by using our ATS Resume Checker. It checks important parts of your resume and helps boost your score right away.
Salary Insights for Waiters and Waitresses
Knowing salary data helps you decide where to work or what job to choose. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has information to compare pay and plan your future. More details are provided below.
Top 10 highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
Waitresses and waiters earn varying salaries across the United States, with a national average of $37,303. The table below highlights the states where waitresses and waiters command the highest compensation.
Our salary information comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. This official government data provides the most comprehensive and reliable salary information for waitresses and waiters across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The figures presented here reflect the May 2025 dataset, which is the most recent available as of this publication.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Vermont | $61,610 |
| Hawaii | $59,710 |
| Washington | $55,520 |
| New York | $53,360 |
| District of Columbia | $52,330 |
| Maine | $52,390 |
| New Jersey | $49,510 |
| Arizona | $47,660 |
| Connecticut | $45,590 |
| California | $44,250 |
FAQ
Do I need to include a cover letter with my waiter/waitress resume?
Yes, including a cover letter with your waiter or waitress resume can give you an edge over other candidates.
It allows you to express your enthusiasm for the restaurant and highlight experiences that make you a great fit, like handling busy shifts or providing excellent customer service.
If the restaurant is known for something specific, such as farm-to-table dining or live music events, mention any relevant experience you’ve had in those areas.
You might consider using our Cover Letter Generator to craft a personalized cover letter that complements your resume and highlights your strengths.
Additionally, reviewing cover letter examples tailored to the hospitality industry can provide inspiration and guidance on how to effectively present yourself.
How long should a waiter/waitress resume be?
For a waiter or waitress, a one-page resume is usually ideal for showcasing your skills and experience. Focus on key strengths like customer service, multitasking in high-pressure environments, and using point-of-sale (POS) systems. Mention achievements such as managing large tables smoothly or successfully upselling menu items.
If you have significant experience or specialized training, a two-page resume may be appropriate, but make sure every detail aligns with the role. Highlight recent roles that demonstrate your adaptability and teamwork in busy settings.
Check out advice on how long a resume should be to see examples tailored to different career levels.
How do you write a waiter/waitress resume with no experience?
If you’ve never worked as a waiter or waitress before, emphasize transferable skills, relevant experiences, and qualities that suit the role on your resume. Follow these tips to craft a compelling resume with no experience for an entry-level waitress position.
- Highlight customer service or teamwork experience: If you’ve worked in retail, volunteered at events, or participated in team activities, emphasize how those experiences have prepared you to interact with customers and work collaboratively.
- Showcase soft skills: Waiting tables requires strong communication, multitasking, and problem-solving abilities. Include examples where you’ve demonstrated these skills, like managing school projects or handling responsibilities under pressure.
- Include any food-related knowledge: Even informal experience like helping prepare meals at home or volunteering for community food drives can show familiarity with basic kitchen tasks or food handling.
- Mention availability and enthusiasm: Employers often look for flexible schedules and a positive attitude. Add a brief summary that highlights your eagerness to learn and grow in the role.
Tailor your resume to the job description by using keywords related to your duties as a waiter or waitress like serving, cleaning, and customer satisfaction.
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Waitress and Waiter
Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
More Articles by Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW