A server resume highlights customer service, hospitality, and multitasking skills to succeed in restaurants, hotels, and cafes. It should emphasize experience with POS systems, food safety, teamwork, and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.x

In the bustling world of hospitality, a compelling Server resume can make all the difference in securing that coveted position. With our carefully selected resume examples for Server roles, you’ll find inspiration to showcase your unique skills and experiences, ensuring you catch the eye of hiring managers. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, our guide will empower you to create a standout resume that opens doors to new opportunities.

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Server Resume Examples

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How to Craft a Strong Server Resume

Creating a compelling resume is crucial for servers aiming to land their dream job in the hospitality industry. Hiring managers typically look for specific skills, experience, and the ability to provide excellent customer service. This guide will help you effectively highlight your strengths, ensuring your resume stands out among the competition.

Key Sections for a Server Resume

A typical server resume includes the following 5 sections.

1. Resume Summary (2-3 sentences tailored to hospitality)
2. Work Experience (restaurant, hotel, catering, customer service)
3. Skills (hard + soft skills with hospitality focus)
4. Education (high school diploma, food safety certifications)
5. Optional Sections (languages, awards, volunteer work)

Next, we will go in details about these sections:

Resume Summary

A strong summary for a server resume provides a snapshot of your qualifications for the server job. Therefore, it should highlight your experience level, any specialization (like fine dining or casual service), key soft skills such as communication and teamwork, and hospitality skills. If you possess relevant certifications, such as food safety training, include them to enhance your profile.

A well-crafted summary can set the stage for the rest of your resume, engaging hiring managers right from the start.

Entry-Level:
Enthusiastic server with a passion for delivering outstanding customer service in busy environments. Eager to leverage strong communication skills and a positive attitude to enhance guest experiences.

Mid-Level:
Dedicated server with over 5 years of experience in high-volume restaurants, specializing in fine dining and exceptional customer service. Proven ability to increase sales and customer satisfaction through attentive and personalized service.

Skills & Qualifications

When building your skills section, highlight a mix of technical abilities and soft skills that make you effective as a server. Technical skills can include food safety knowledge, POS system proficiency, and cash handling, while soft skills cover communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.

To choose the right skills, review job postings and note the qualifications employers emphasize. Align your list with those requirements and format it in an ATS-friendly way so it passes screening while appealing to hiring managers.

Work History

In your work history section, emphasize your relevant experience and achievements. Highlight aspects like customer satisfaction, sales metrics, or your role in team leadership, depending on your level of experience. Use bullet points to make your accomplishments clear and quantify them when possible, as numbers often speak louder than words.

For formatting, adopt a reverse-chronological layout to showcase your most recent roles first. This structure allows employers to quickly see your career progression and most pertinent experiences.

Entry-Level:
Server, Joe’s Diner, Cityville, CA, Jan 2023 – Present
– Greet and serve customers in a fast-paced environment
– Assist in maintaining cleanliness and organization of dining areas
– Collaborate with team members to ensure efficient service

Mid-Level:
Lead Server, The Gourmet Bistro, Townsville, TX, June 2018 – Dec 2022
– Managed a team of servers in a high-end dining setting
– Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20% through exceptional service
– Trained new hires on menu knowledge and customer engagement techniques

Education

Although a formal degree is not always required for server roles, including relevant training or certifications can strengthen your resume. Many servers list a high school diploma, while others highlight coursework or degrees in hospitality, culinary arts, or related fields.

When adding your education section, keep it clear and concise: include the degree or certification, the institution’s name, its location, and your graduation year. This straightforward format makes it easy for hiring managers — and ATS systems — to quickly recognize your qualifications.

Example:
Diploma in Hospitality Management, Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY, 2020

Additional Sections

To make your server resume stand out, consider adding optional sections that highlight unique strengths. Certifications in areas such as food handling, wine service, or customer service can set you apart from other candidates. Likewise, listing multilingual abilities can be a strong advantage in diverse dining environments.

When listing certifications, follow a clear and consistent format:
– Certification Name – Issuing Organization – Year
Here are examples of such certifications to consider:

Certification:
ServeSafe Food Handler Certification – National Restaurant Association – 2022
TIPS Alcohol Certification – 2021

Do’s and Don’ts

Keep these tips in mind to make your resume both ATS-friendly and appealing to hiring managers:
Do:

• Use relevant keywords from job descriptions so your resume passes ATS screening.
• Highlight measurable achievements (e.g., “Increased upselling revenue by 15%”).
• Incorporate hospitality-specific terms such as POS systems, food safety, customer service.

Don’t:

• Use vague or generic statements like “hard worker” or “team player” without proof.
• Overlook soft skills — communication and teamwork are critical in hospitality roles.
• Overload your resume with buzzwords or filler phrases that don’t show real impact.