13 Server Resume Examples for 2025

Creating a good resume is key for server positions in the hospitality industry. This article includes proven resume samples and practical tips. Learn how to list your skills, experience, and qualifications to catch an employer’s eye. Understand the importance of clear formatting, keywords, and specific industry jargon.

  Compiled and approved by Steve Grafton
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best server resumes.

  • Use Numbers To Show Impact: Great resumes show the impact using numbers. Some metrics you might find include: served 100+ customers daily, increased table turnover by 20%, reduced order errors by 15%, and trained 5 new servers.

  • List Relevant Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some important ones are POS systems, food safety, menu knowledge, inventory management, and cash handling. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Highlight Experience In Busy Settings: Showing you handle busy settings well is key. Include phrases like high-volume, fast-paced, or peak hours.

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Position your education efficiently

As a hiring manager, I know how you place your academic background on your resume matters. If you are newly entering the workforce or are still studying, your education should be near the top of your resume. This lets me see your latest achievements quickly and understand your current focus.

As a server seeking employment, if you have special certifications such as a food safety handler certificate, this should be highlighted early in the education section. It shows your dedication to the role and the industry. An associate's degree in hospitality or a related field is also significant and should be placed prominently if you have one.

If you have been working for some years, place your experience first. The fact that you have been active in the industry is more telling than your academic history at this point. In such cases, your education section can follow your experience, showing that you have a good foundation to build upon.

Certifications and training

List any food safety certifications. Employers value this knowledge.

Mention any training in hospitality or customer service. This shows employers you are ready to handle guests and provide good service.

Ideal resume length

Keep your resume short and focused. If you are applying as a server, one page is the best length for your resume. This allows you to show your most relevant skills and experiences without overwhelming the reader. You need to prioritize what matters most for serving roles such as customer service skills and a quick learning ability.

When you have more experience, say more than ten years, you might go up to two pages. But remember that hiring managers often look at the first page only for a short time. Make sure your strongest points are on this first page. Use good spacing and a readable font size to keep things clear. Avoid tiny text and narrow margins. If you need more space, it's better to choose a clearer layout or cut less relevant information than to shrink everything down.

Highlight relevant skills

Show skills like multitasking and customer service. These are important in the restaurant industry.

Include details of experience with point-of-sale systems. This technology is often used in service jobs.

Make your resume ATS-friendly

When you apply for a job as a server, your resume might first be read by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This system looks for certain words and details to decide if your resume fits the job well. To help you get past the ATS, here are some tips:

  • Use keywords from the job description. For example, if the job asks for 'customer service skills,' make sure you mention your experience with 'customer service' in your resume.
  • Keep your resume format simple. Use a standard font and avoid using tables or images that the ATS might not read correctly.

Make your skills shine

When tailoring your resume as a server, you need to show the skills that restaurants look for. Think about what you do well that helps serve food and drinks and keeps customers happy. Make sure your resume speaks about your real skills in this job.

  • Point out your ability to handle many tables or tasks at once. Use phrases like managed a busy section with 10+ tables to show you can keep up with a fast pace.
  • Show off how you make customers happy. Mention times you solved a problem or made a customer's experience good. You could write resolved guest concerns promptly, emphasizing quick and caring service.
  • Talk about how you work with others. Restaurants need people who can be part of a team. For example, you could include phrases like collaborated with kitchen staff for efficient service.

Show success, not just tasks

When you list what you have done as a server, focus on your achievements, not just your daily tasks. Your resume should show how well you did your job, not just what your job was. This helps you stand out to hiring managers who are looking for the best fit for their team.

Instead of writing tasks like 'Took customer orders', you can say 'Accurately processed customer orders, leading to a decrease in order mistakes by 15%'. Another example is changing 'Provided customer service' to 'Achieved a 98% satisfaction score from customer feedback surveys, reflecting superior service skills'.

  • Before: Served food and drinks to customers
  • After: Enhanced dining experience, receiving commendations for timely and attentive service
  • Before: Managed tables and seating
  • After: Efficiently coordinated seating arrangements, decreasing wait times by 10%

Use strong action verbs

When you apply for a job as a server, choosing strong action verbs can make your resume stand out. These verbs show what you can do and how you do it. Think about the tasks you do every day and use verbs that make these tasks sound important.

Before listing your skills and experiences, here’s a guide with some good verbs that fit a server's job. These words will help you describe your work in a powerful way. Use them to start your bullet points under your job history and skills section.

  • To show you can start conversations and make guests feel welcome, use greeted, engaged, welcomed, informed, entertained.
  • For describing how you keep everything running smoothly, say you coordinated, managed, organized, oversaw, executed.
  • To highlight your sales skills, use verbs like upsold, recommended, promoted, persuaded, generated.
  • Show your teamwork and support with verbs such as assisted, collaborated, contributed, supported, aided.
  • If you want to emphasize your customer service skills, include resolved, accommodated, listened, responded, served.

Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Researched, Established, Teach, Utilize, Performed.

Highlighting your leadership growth

When you're looking to stand out with your resume, it's important to show any leadership roles or promotions you've had. Employers value seeing that you've taken on more responsibility over time. Think about times you've led a team, trained new staff, or been given more tasks.

Here are ways to show your growth:

  • Mention if you were a lead server, responsible for opening or closing the restaurant, or if you helped manage schedules.
  • Include examples where you took charge, like organizing an event or leading a team during a rush hour.

Use clear phrases to describe your experience. For example:

  • Promoted to head server after consistently leading by example and improving customer satisfaction.
  • Tasked with training new team members due to strong performance and knowledge of menu items.

Key skills for servers

When crafting your resume, it's important to highlight the right mix of skills. You want to show that you have the practical abilities needed for serving customers well. Here are some of the top skills you should consider including:

  • Order management
  • POS systems expertise
  • Menu knowledge
  • Payment processing
  • Table setting
  • Food safety
  • Beverage service
  • Customer service
  • Inventory management
  • Time management

Don't worry about having to include every skill listed. Choose the ones that you are good at and that match the job you want. For example, if you are applying to a high-end restaurant, menu knowledge and beverage service might be particularly important. On the other hand, a fast-paced diner might require strong time management and order management skills.

Most servers include these skills in a dedicated section on their resume. This helps your resume pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that look for specific keywords. Think about the job you're applying for and select skills that make you a strong candidate for that specific role. This approach will help you create a resume that is both relevant and appealing to hiring managers.

Quantify your serving impact

When you're looking to demonstrate your value as a server, numbers can be your best friend. They show, in concrete terms, the impact you've had in your previous roles. Think about how you can translate your experience into quantifiable achievements.

Here are some ways you can do this:

  • Include the average number of tables or customers you served per shift. This shows your ability to handle volume and maintain service quality.
  • Mention any increase in tips or sales you contributed to, which can highlight your salesmanship and customer service skills.
  • If you participated in upselling strategies, note any percentage increase in upselling items like desserts or drinks.
  • Did you implement a new system or suggestion that led to time savings? Indicate how much time was saved.
  • In case of a team environment, describe how your suggestions or actions led to a reduction in customer wait times.
  • For those who have trained others, quantify it by stating the number of new staff trained.
  • If you received any customer feedback, include the percentage of positive customer feedback.
  • Highlight any efficiency improvements, such as quicker table turnover, through average time reductions.

Remember, even if you're not sure about the exact numbers, you can estimate based on your experiences. Think about your typical shift and what you achieved. These numbers will help employers see the tangible benefits you can bring to their team.

Tailor your resume for the venue size

When you target a small venue like a local restaurant or a startup eatery, show you can wear many hats. You might say 'Experience with both serving and assisting kitchen staff in small, busy restaurants.' This shows you are ready to handle various tasks.

For larger companies like national chains or upscale hotels, focus on specialization. For example, 'Skilled in providing high-volume table service and guest satisfaction at large, well-known establishments.' Mention any experience with systems used in big restaurants, such as point-of-sale software.

Remember, the smaller the venue, the more they will value your versatility. The bigger the company, the more they will look for your ability to handle their specific service style and volume.

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