Being a server requires patience and understanding. You will need to work with guests, memorize a lot of information, and be prepared for any stressful situations. And, to maximize your chances of getting this job, it’s important to showcase all of these skills in a well-made server resume.
Luckily, you’re not on your own here.
In this guide, we’re going to tackle everything you need to know to create an attention-grabbing resume that will surely land you the job. Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
The best format to use for your server resume is the reverse-chronological one. Besides that, you can also use thefunctional or combination format, depending on the level of experience you have.
If you’re an entry-level candidate and still working on enhancing your career, consider writing a resume objective. On the other hand, write a resumesummary instead if you’ve established a reasonable amount of work experience.
To highlight your skills in the best way possible, try to tailor them to the job description and mention some of them throughout your resume.
Optional sections are a great way to further enrich your resume since they showcase additional skills and achievements.
What is the Right Format to Use for a Server Resume?
The best option for a well-put server resume format is the reverse-chronological one. It’s the most popular format type among job-seekers because:
It lists your work experience from the most recent positions—which is what recruiters want to see first—to the earliest.
The format is ATS-friendly.
Recruiters are already used to this format, so they won’t have to spend time figuring out a new one.
There are also two more formats you can choose from:
Functional resume format.It’s a great option for students, recent graduates, or even those who’d like to further enhance their career, as it draws attention to skills rather than work achievements.
Combination (or hybrid) resume format. This is the perfect blend between a functional and reverse-chronological format. Using it is a great way to showcase both skills and work experiences.
Resume Layout
Once you settle on the format, the next step is choosing a good resume layout.
The first thing you need to be aware of is that your server resume should portray as much information as possible in a clean and concise manner. That’s why it’s recommended to fit all the necessary information onto a single page.
Also, choose the best font for your resume. Cambria, Tahoma, and even Verdana are considered resume-friendly, so it’s a good idea to opt for them or any other similar one.
Next, take a look at what the right font size for your text should be. The 10–12 pt font size is great for regular texts, whereas 14–16 pt is perfect for headers.
Lastly, set your margins to 1 inch on each side, and your server resume will be all set!
What Sections Should a Server Resume Contain?
Now is a good time to discuss what sections your server resume should contain.
For starters, you need some mandatory sections that every recruiter expects to see on a resume. These are:
Your contact information
Your resume objective or summary
Your work experience
Your education
Your skills
On the other hand, optional sections are used to enhance your resume with additional information you didn’t manage to provide in mandatory sections. They include:
Courses and awards
Languages
Hobbies and interests
Creating all these sections and merging them into a proper resume requires a certain amount of time and can be daunting, especially if you haven’t done it before. Luckily, you don’t need to go through that alone—you can use our online tool and build a top-notch server resume in record time!
Our builder has a standard server resume template you can adjust according to your needs and wishes. All you have to do is enter your information and choose the layout, and you’ll have a fully personalized resume in no time!
Server Resume Contact Information
The easiest mandatory section to fill out is the one containing your contact information. All you have to do is write down your name, job position, email address, and phone number.
Avoid adding any irrelevant social media or using a funny job title, but feel free to add your LinkedIn profile, for example.
You also don’t need to list your full location here, as this may lead to privacy concerns. The same goes for listing your race, religion, etc.
Let’s take a look at an example:
Contact Information Example
Jessica Jung
Server
+ 225 901 4291
jessicasjungs@example.com
linkedin.com/in/jessjung22
Server Resume Objective or Summary
The best way to grab a recruiter’s attention is by starting your resume with a strong opening section. It should have 2–4 sentences and summarize your resume, making recruiters want to learn more about you. Depending on your experience level, this section is referred to as a resume objective or summary.
If you’re a fresher, a resume objective is a great way to show off your skills and career goals, which should be your biggest strengths. On the other hand, a resume summary is a better fit to showcase your work accomplishments if you’re a professional and already have some experience under your belt.
Server Resume Objective
As mentioned above, a resume objective is a good option if you haven't had the chance to establish a solid work experience list yet. That’s why it's a great fit for job hoppers and recent graduates.
Here you can show that you are the best person for the job by highlighting the abilities you’re proud of and expressing your willingness to grow despite your lack of work history. While doing this, keep in mind the requirements and skills listed in the job description and make sure your skills match them.
Let’s look at an example:
Good Example
“Highly motivated and patient graduate with outstanding memory looking for a position as a server in [Company]. Looking to further develop my interpersonal and social skills to help your hotel and the team maximize their potential.”
On the other hand, here’s what a bad example looks like:
Bad Example
“Just graduated. Looking for a server job so I can advance in my career in your hotel.”
Showing your eagerness to work and learn is always admirable, but you should also mention what you can offer the prospective employer.
Server Resume Summary
A resume summary is usually a “synopsis” of your entire resume that contains the professional achievements you’re most proud of and shows how experienced you are.
It should look like this:
Good Example
“A professional server of 10+ years of experience with thorough knowledge of restaurant etiquette and great communication skills. Assisted in training new recruits at the Hilton Hotel. Looking forward to using my customer service skills to contribute to [Company]’s overall success.”
Here’s a bad example, too, so that you can compare it to the previous one:
Bad Example
“Well-established server that is good at talking to people and handling problems. Wants to be part of your team.”
Don’t write a vague resume summary, as it will seem uninteresting and unserious. The best way to avoid this is to back up your skills with prior work experiences instead of just listing them.
Server Resume Work Experience
The work experience section is the most important, as recruiters will spend most of their time looking at it. In other words, writing it properly provides you with the opportunity to sell yourself by mentioning your most prominent work accomplishments.
General Tips
A captivating work experience section on a server resume should include:
Job title
Company name
Employment dates
Job responsibilities and achievements
Here are some general tips on how to ace this section:
Don’t add more than 3–5 points to your bullet list.
Use numbers and statistics to support your claims.
Use strong action verbs to make this section stand out.
Speaking of action verbs, here are some you can include in your server resume to avoid overused words and phrases:
Interacted
Planned
Responded
Created
Engaged
Enhanced
Entry-Level Server Experience
If you’re an entry-level candidate, you probably don’t have an extensive work history you can showcase. For this reason, you want to use some alternative options that allow you to present yourself in the best light possible.
Here’s an example of a good work experience section for freshers:
Entry-Level Resume Example
Work Experience
Server Intern
Chez Panisse, Berkeley, CA
March 2022–September 2022
Managed the top floor of the restaurant.
Welcomed 70+ visitors per day and helped with each of their orders.
This is a good example of a candidate who decided to list their internship as a way to show some type of experience gained. You can do the same by listing any volunteer work as well.
Experienced Server
If you’re an experienced server, your number one priority should be to show off your professional accomplishments in the field. This way, you will prove your expertise and show what you have learned during all those years you spent working in similar positions.
Here’s a good way to do this:
Experienced Server Resume Example
Work Experience
Caterer/Server
Clos Maggiore
London, UK
July 2019–Current
Helped raise the customers’ comfort level by attending to them upon their entrance to the restaurant, suggesting meals from the menu, and taking their orders.
Trained over 25+ recruits to become co-servers.
Dealt with occasional complaints in a respectful manner and with a positive attitude
Server Resume Education Section
A good education section can make up for the lack of work experience, as it can back up your skills and other qualifications you have gained.
Speaking of that, here are the education details you want to include in your resume:
The highest degree you hold
The institution that issued it
The city and state where the institution is located
Years of attendance
Prominent achievements
Here’s an example of what this section should look like:
Education Section Example
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management
University of California, Irvine, CA
2017–2022
GPA: 3.67
Relevant coursework: Time Management, Customer Communication
Adding your GPA (if it’s higher than 3.5) and coursework besides your university and degree is a great way to draw attention to this section.
Even if you haven't finished your studies yet, you can still mention them—you just need to write “current” instead of your graduation date.
Server Resume Skills
Once your resume is run through an ATS, your skills will be scanned as keywords. This way, recruiters will determine whether your abilities match their job description requirements and decide if they will proceed further with your application.
Because of this, it’s crucial to mention your skills throughout your server resume and list the most prominent ones in a separate section.
Server Skills List
Here’s a list of skills that every server is expected to have:
Active listening
Time management
Familiarity with POS
Excellent memory
Operating a cash register
Customer service
Conflict-solving
Server Resume Optional Sections
If you’d like to enhance your resume by putting a personal twist on it, optional sections are the way to go. Let’s see which ones would make great assets to your server resume:
Courses & Awards
If you’ve attended some relevant courses, such as customer service or time management ones, it’s always good to mention them in your resume. The same applies to any awards that are relevant to the server position, as they show that you have made some important achievements in the field.
Languages
Once you start working as a server, you may be dealing with various types of customers, including foreigners who don’t speak your language. So, if you’re proficient in any other language besides your own, don’t hesitate to mention it in your resume. You should list them in a separate section, along with proficiency levels.
Hobbies & Interests
Your hobbies and interests allow hiring managers to see more of your personality, so you should definitely add some of them to your resume. For example, as a server, you can mention that you like cooking, baking, socializing with other people, or anything else that comes to mind.
Should You Submit a Cover Letter With Your Server Resume?
You should always submit a cover letter with your server resume, even if a recruiter does not ask for it. Here’s why:
You take an extra step to show recruiters that you’re serious about the job offer.
You get a chance to create a solid and personal connection with the recruiter.
You get an additional chance to talk about your qualifications in more detail.
Expert Tips for Creating a Server Resume
If you’ve read this far, you probably already have an idea of how to create your server resume from scratch. While you do it, you can follow these expert tips in order to polish it:
Double-check every nook and cranny. Show that you’re organized and detail-oriented by avoiding grammatical and spelling errors and keeping a clear structure throughout your resume.
Opt for a one-page resume. If you’d like to highlight more skills and achievements, use a cover letter to express any additional information instead.
Write your resume objective/summary last. This way, you’ll be able to take a look at all your achievements and choose the ones that have a good chance of sparking recruiters’ interest.
Closing Thoughts
Crafting the perfect server resume can sound troublesome, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
This guide has shown you what steps you need to take to create a comprehensive and concise server resume that will grab anyone’s attention! All you have to do is keep a neat layout, choose the right format, and carefully pick what you include in your resume. And, of course, if you need a faster and easier option, you can always give our resume builder a go!
