Server Resume Examples
Dish out your own fresh resume by looking at some great samples! LiveCareer has a library of professional server resume examples you can customize and use to create your job-winning document!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Server resume
summary examples
A resume’s professional summary is the first important information an employer reads about you. Since most hiring managers only look at a resume for an average of seven seconds, you must nail this section.
Your professional summary is just two-or-three sentences that explain your top service skills and qualifications.
However, if this is your first serving job, consider an alternative, an objective statement. It focuses more on why you want a job as a server rather than proving you can do it.
Using a professional summary is usually stronger if you have serving experience.
Next, we’ll share examples of professional summaries and resume objectives for servers.
Good example:
“ I am an experienced Server with over 5 years of experience in the hospitality industry. I have a proven track record of providing excellent customer service, increasing sales, and reducing costs. I am highly skilled in providing exceptional customer service, working with diverse teams, and ensuring customer satisfaction.”
Why this example passes:
- Feature candidate’s success statistic to grab attention. Numbers add detail about how big the results you deliver are, e.g., test scores, passing rate and more.
- Shows career length, 11 years.
- Mentions employer-desired skills: student motivation and interactive lessons.
Bad example:
“ Hardworking server with experience in the food industry. Enjoys interacting with customers and providing excellent service. Dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction.”
Why this example fails:
- Doesn’t include any numbers that quantify server’s performance
- Uses vague descriptions and skills.
- Doesn’t include years of teaching experience.
The fastest way to write your
professional summary
As a server, you know that timing is everything. So, use a tool that automates the writing of your professional summary faster, our Resume Builder! It can help you have a resume ready in under 15 minutes!
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Enter the details about the job title you held. The builder comes preloaded with auto-suggested phrasing written by resume experts.
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Then, just pick from these suggested phrases that best frame your experience and customize them to your liking!
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All you have to do is choose the summary phrases that best frame your experience. It’s like having a professional do it for you!
Our Resume Builder is a powerful tool, but there’s no substitution for expert help. Consider using our professional resume-writing services! A resume expert will write your job application and make it as attractive as possible to employers.
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Server resume work
experience examples
You need to show employers what you’re capable of as a server in your work experience section.Try to include numbers and statistics about your jobs that show your work capacity, like your average daily sales amount, how many guests you can serve in a shift or how many rotating nightly specials you had to memorize.
Including details like this is one of the keys to writing a good resume.
Good example:
Rolling Meadows Middle School I Rolling Meadows, IL I 8/2018-current
- Served as a server at a high-end restaurant, providing exceptional customer service and ensuring a pleasant dining experience for guests
- Demonstrated excellent multitasking skills by managing orders, serving meals, and bussing tables in a timely manner
- Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure orders were prepared according to customers specifications
- Exceeded sales goals by upselling drinks and desserts to customers.
Why this example passes:
- Numbers and statistics add detail and quantify the results this server delivers: 4% improvement and a class size of 20-25.
- Good use of strong words and active language.
- References specialized value cahier provides with “individualized lesson plans.”
Bad example:
Emily Dickinson Elementary I Redmond, WA I 4/2022-present
- Worked as a server at a local restaurant
- Served customers in a timely manner
- Assisted in stocking the kitchen
- Maintained a clean and organized work area.
Why this example fails:
- Lacks numbers or statistics.
- Describes general tasks, not teaching achievements or career highlights.
- Uses active verbs, but doesn’t focus on results.
Server resume skills examples
Here are 18 sample skills for server:
- Hors doeuvres service
- Dining area maintenance
- To-Go Order Preparation
- Seating Assignment Preparation
- Utensil cleaning
- Supply Restocking
- Quality Control
- Regulatory Compliance
- Safe Food Handling
- Order Management
- Menu Memorization
- Table Setting
- Performance Improvement
- Banquet Coordination
- Table Bussing
- Food Delivery
- Beverage Preparation
- Order Accuracy
You should sprinkle skills and abilities throughout your resume. Include them in your professional summary, work experience blurbs and a dedicated skills section.
Examples of additional resume sections
A server’s resume should have a minimum of five sections: contact information, professional summary, work experience, skills and education. You can also customize it with additional training, licenses or certification sections.
Here are some examples of optional server resume sections that you could add to provide greater detail:
- References
- Additional skills
- Certifications
- Professional skills
- Soft skills
- Languages
- Photo
- Overview
The most common section(s) servers tend to add are food/beverage knowledge or restaurant certifications. It varies from state to state, but by law, many places expect that you have a food handler’s license like a ServSafe or a permit to serve alcohol. It will appeal to employers if you list these necessary items in extra sections.
Examples of resume formats
There are three main ways to organize the sections of a resume, also called a resume formats The three resume formats are chronological, functional and combination. We’ll show you examples of each and explain how to choose.
You should select a resume format based on your experience. The main difference between each format type is whether it focuses more on your skills or work experience.
How to choose a resume format
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Years of experience
Functional formats
- Focus on skills.
- Best for first-time server who lack work experience.
- Good for people re-entering workforce.
- May omit dates in the work history section.
Organization:
- Skills listed above work experience.
3-10
Years of experience
Combination formats
- Balance skills and work history.
- Ideal for mid-career server.
- Suitable for career changers and people seeking promotion.
Organization:
- Skills next to or above work experience.
10+
Years of experience
Chronological formats
- Put the most focus on work history.
- Best for server with a long, steady career.
- Most popular format.
- Preferred by recruiters.
Organization:
- Work experience listed above skills.
Once you know the best format for you, it’s easy to pick a server resume template. Templates are preformatted layouts created by design professionals to ensure your resume looks amazing!
Don’t forget your server cover letter
A cover letter works hand-in-hand with your resume to make a stronger case for why you deserve the job.
It can be competitive to land a role as a server at some restaurants. That’s why it will help you to convey a little bit of what makes you passionate about food, drinks and hospitality.
A cover letter is your window to express your passion and motivation for a role and is also the place to tell the story of your serving career so far.
If you value time and efficiency — key traits of a terrific server — check out our Cover Letter Builder.
It can help you produce a stellar cover letter in a few quick minutes because it automates the writing process and provides useful text suggestions for your letter! That makes creating a cover letter super easy.
You can browse our server cover letter examples for inspiration for what type of information to include in your letter.
Or, if its appearance is your main concern, we have preformatted designs you can use to give your letter a sleek look. Check out our library of cover letter templates.
Review our complete How to Write a Cover Letter guide to know what to include in your letter.
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