Waitress Resume Examples: Guide and Writing Tips

Exceed your job competition by looking at Waitress resume examples! Our examples are completely customizable and can show you what information to include in your resume.

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LiveCareer Staff Writer
by LiveCareer Staff Writer
Last Updated: June 17, 2024 
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Waitress resume
summary examples

The resume summary is one of the first sections a recruiter will look at during their initial seven-second scan of your resume.

You want to quickly capture a recruiter’s attention by showcasing your top skills and qualifications in a concise two-to-three-sentence paragraph.

If you’re an experienced job seeker, you should opt for the professional summary, which focuses on how you meet the employer’s requirements.

Candidates with little to no work experience should choose the objective statement, which allows them to share their career goals and the skills that will help achieve them.

Below, we’ll share examples of professional summaries and resume objectives for the Waitress role so you can better understand them.

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Good example:

“ Experienced waitress with over 5 years of experience providing exceptional customer service and hospitality. Achieved high customer satisfaction ratings, and reduced food waste by 15% through implementing efficient water conservation methods. Skilled in multitasking, problem solving, and working in a fast-paced environment.”

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.
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Bad example:

“ Hardworking and reliable waitress with experience in the food service industry. Possesses excellent customer service skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Looking to utilize my skills to contribute to the success of a restaurant.”

Why this example fails:

  • Doesn’t include any numbers that quantify waitress’s performance
  • Uses vague descriptions and skills.
  • Doesn’t include years of teaching experience.

The fastest way to write your
professional summary

Impress employers by featuring must-have skills for a Waitress and achievements that make you an irresistible employee. Find the best content suggestions for your professional summary in our Resume Builder that will wow recruiters.

  • 1

    Enter the details about the job title you held. The builder comes preloaded with auto-suggested phrasing written by resume experts.

  • 2

    Then, just pick from these suggested phrases that best frame your experience and customize them to your liking!

  • 3

    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!

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Waitress resume work
experience examples

One of the most important sections in any resume is the work experience. Writing a work experience section that demonstrates you have what it takes to thrive in the job is crucial to writing a good resume. Recruiters want to see your unique achievements, so leave the generic job duties out. Use the following examples to understand better how to write this section.

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Good example:

Rolling Meadows Middle School I Rolling Meadows, IL I 8/2018-current

  • Served customers in a fast-paced restaurant environment, taking orders and delivering exceptional customer service
  • Exceeded daily sales goals by upselling additional menu items and promotions
  • Demonstrated excellent multitasking skills by managing orders, cleaning tables, and helping with kitchen duties
  • Developed strong relationships with customers, resulting in a high rate of repeat business.

Why this example passes:

  • Numbers and statistics add detail and quantify the results this waitress 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.”
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Bad example:

Emily Dickinson Elementary I Redmond, WA I 4/2022-present

  • Greeted customers
  • Took orders
  • Brought food to tables
  • Cleaned tables

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.

Waitress resume skills examples

Here are 18 sample skills for waitress:

  • Plate presentation
  • Hors d`oeuvres service
  • Dining area maintenance
  • To-Go Order Preparation
  • Seating Assignment Preparation
  • Supply Restocking
  • Customer Service
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Payment Processing
  • Safe Food Handling
  • Menu Recommendations
  • Team Collaboration
  • Order Management
  • Menu Memorization
  • Performance Improvement
  • Banquet Coordination
  • Table Bussing
  • Beverage Preparation

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

Your Waitress resume must include your contact information, professional summary, work experience, skills and education. You can further customize your resume with extra sections to showcase other qualifications.

Here are some examples of optional waitress resume sections that you could add to provide greater detail:

  • References
  • Additional skills
  • Languages
  • Certifications
  • Professional skills
  • Soft skills
  • Accomplishments
  • Core qualifications

Ensure you only share relevant qualifications in your resume’s additional sections. Better to have a concise resume that’s quick to read!

Examples of resume formats

You can use one of three established layouts to organize your resume sections, also called resume formats. The three resume formats are chronological, functional and combination.

The main difference among them is whether or not they give more visual weight to your work history or to your skills section. The format you should select for your resume is based on your years of work experience as a waitress.

How to choose a resume format

0-3
Years of experience

Functional formats

  • Focus on skills.
  • Best for first-time waitress 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 waitress.
  • 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 waitress 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 waitress resume template. Templates are preformatted layouts created by design professionals to ensure your resume looks amazing!

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