Server Resume Examples | Job Descriptions, Templates, Tips

As a server, one's duty is not only to make sure the food gets on the table efficiently and correctly. The customer's dining experience is highly affected by the service they get from the restaurant server, from explaining the menu, taking orders, serving food, to making sure customer's needs are met.

Sounds like juggling five glass bottles at once, doesn't it?

Therefore, before serving patrons the best service, one has to make sure that his/her food server resume is appetizing for the hiring manager. A good server resume can absolutely be one's meal ticket to a great new server job as long as it covers skills, previous experience, accomplishments, and highlights the quality that will make one an outstanding server.

Here are the 6 essential steps to making an exceptional server resume.

Whether this is your first time creating a resume for a server job or not, it's always better to refresh and re-learn the difference between a CV and a resume. 

On the other hand, a CV is commonly used for the application for an academic role. It consists of detailed information throughout the candidate's life course from education, all work experiences, even stretches to awards as well. Thus, a server resume is highly preferred to a server CV during job applications.

A resume format dictates how the information is laid out and indirectly determines what employers will see first. Do you want to showcase your skills first or your work experience first? It all depends on the nature of the job and the requirements of the employer. 

Hence, selecting the right server resume format is crucial as it isn't merely for resume design purposes, but also allowing which aspects of one's qualifications to be accentuated.

For a professional server resume and those who are writing for a specialized server job, such as a fine dining server resume, server trainer resume, banquet server resume, and lead server resume, it is best to go with the basic reverse-chronological format since these server roles require more than exceptional communication skills and physical strengths. They demand more knowledge, particular training, and more experience than a general server. Therefore, displaying work period and experience is important.

Meanwhile, people with no prior work history can opt for the functional resume format in writing a server resume with no experience.

Just like Neil Armstrong once said, "Research is creating new knowledge", reviewing others' work can and will be a new source of learning. 

Now, don't expect that you'll get the best server resume example with the first click. It's always best to compile data, do a recap and draw your own conclusion based on the collected information.

A good server resume is essentially made-to-order, meaning you craft that resume for a server job according to the restaurant's demand to appeal to the hiring manager. This could be done by mentioning the restaurant's or company's name or putting relevant qualifications required by the hiring entity, to name a couple.

Yes, you read it right.

Part of the personalization is including a server cover letter on your job application, especially candidates who have little to no employment history are highly suggested to compose a server cover letter with no experience to increase their chance of getting hired. That said, it doesn't mean those with sufficient experience should neglect this portion.

Double-check or even triple-check both the server resume and server cover letter before sending them to the employer. A well-written resume and cover letter don't necessarily need fancy word choices. It's better to keep it simple but improve the quality by checking all the grammar and typos.

Cake has gathered all the essentials for you, so you don't need to be stuck in a dilemma and ponder on what to write or even how to write a professional-looking server resume.

1. Resume header

The beginning of a good server resume, or any resume for that matter, is an introduction of the applicant. 

Here are the dos and don'ts to set up a glowing resume.

2. Resume headline

It is a one-liner below the applicant's name on the server resume. It’s also called a resume title, and serves a purpose to let recruiters know the candidate's current position. 

3. Resume summary

An engaging two-to-four-sentenced paragraph on a server resume that highlights the applicant's top skills and/or achievements. This part is crucial because it can lead to the hiring manager passing the application or continuing to review it. 

4. Resume objective

A resume objective is usually a part of the server resume summary and commonly found as the last sentence of a resume summary to give an emphasis. 

Continuing with the cocktail server resume example above

5. Skills

Although the skills required to become a server are mainly practical and easily attainable by training, with any resume format you choose, the server resume skills section should include both hard skills and soft skills. 

6. Experience

Server resume bullet points are highly recommended when listing down one's work history. Not only is it easy to read, but it also reduces redundancy compared to writing in a paragraph form. 

A complete work history consists of company name, position, the period of employment, achievements, and responsibilities, for instance:

7. Education

Although a server position doesn’t necessarily require a high educational degree, providing the information will not reduce your chance of getting hired. 

On the other hand, students looking for a part-time job as a server should definitely include their school/institution to complete their server resume with no experience, for instance:

8. Additional information

This section can range from language skills, awards, to interests or hobbies. To make sure your server resume stands out, try including any food, service, or communication-related information in this section. 

#1 Always craft a resume based on the job description and role. Make a customized server resume that appeals to the specific employer. Ways to customize: mention the company name, use words related to the role, industry, and company.

#2 Implement keywords on the server resume as a part of the customization. These keywords are like hidden gems within the job posting that can get one's application ahead of others.

#3 Present your data in numbers and percentages format, especially when elaborating prior work responsibilities and accomplishments. This helps recruiters understand a candidate's past responsibilities.

#4 Be sure to provide a readable file or server resume pdf to pass the ATS. It does not matter how amazing one's achievements are if the server resume submitted cannot be read and fails to go through ATS.

#5 Use action verbs to simplify sentences, reduce wordiness, and catch the hiring manager's attention. Action verbs have a stronger presence compared to passive words, and indirectly, they portray initiative.

#6 Mention any sports or hobbies that train physical strength. Becoming a server requires physical endurance and showing the recruiter that a job seeker is physically strong could boost their chance of getting hired.

Writing a cover letter for a server position should not be a complicated thing, especially when you already know what to incorporate to make a top-seller cover letter. These are the ABCs to a great server cover letter (also works for a server cover letter with no experience).