Waiter and Waitress Resume Example
Professional resume template and tips for Waiter and Waitress positions
If you're pursuing a career as a waiter or waitress, this guide offers a clear roadmap to master the role. You'll gain insights into daily tasks, from taking orders and serving patrons to processing payments with tools like point-of-sale software. We break down the technical skills and soft abilities employers value, such as active listening and time management, plus key knowledge areas like customer service. Whether you're new to food service or looking to advance, this page provides actionable resume tips to highlight your experience. Explore our comprehensive overview to sharpen your expertise. Then, craft a standout application by building your resume with Mokaru.
MICHELLE DAVIS
Professional Summary
Dedicated food service professional with 3+ years in high-volume restaurant environments. Consistently maintained a 98% positive customer feedback rating through attentive service. Proficient in Aloha POS systems and alcohol compliance protocols to enhance guest satisfaction.
Skills
Experience
- Led training for 5 new waitstaff on Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation, improving order accuracy by 18% and reducing POS errors by 25%
- Developed and implemented a new wine pairing suggestion protocol using social perceptiveness, increasing average beverage sales per table by 15%
- Coordinated with kitchen and management using Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha POS to redesign table rotation, boosting seating capacity by 3 tables during peak hours
- Owned the weekend brunch shift coordination, actively monitoring table flow and collaborating with hosts to reduce wait times by an average of 10 minutes
- Mastered MICROS Systems HSI Profits Series to efficiently manage complex split checks for large parties, improving payment processing speed by 30%
- Applied critical thinking to resolve customer service issues independently, recovering 95% of dissatisfied patrons through complimentary offerings and attentive listening
- Learned NCR NeighborhoodPOS system within first week, accurately processing over 200 daily transactions with minimal supervision
- Supported senior waitstaff during rush periods by actively listening to customer requests and promptly entering orders into Compris software
- Executed precise order taking and ID verification for alcohol sales, maintaining 100% compliance with age regulations during all shifts
Education
Certificates
- ServSafe Food Handler
- Aloha POS System Certified User
- National Restaurant Association Food Safety Certification
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What does a Waiter and Waitress do?
A Waiter and Waitress performs various tasks on a daily basis. Here are the core responsibilities you can expect in this role:
- Collect payments from customers.
- Check patrons' identification to ensure that they meet minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
- Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
- Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
What skills do you need as a Waiter and Waitress?
Employers hiring for Waiter and Waitress positions look for candidates with a strong combination of technical and soft skills. Here are the most important skills to highlight on your resume:
What knowledge areas are important for a Waiter and Waitress?
Beyond skills and tools, employers value candidates with deep knowledge in these areas. Consider highlighting relevant coursework, certifications, or experience:
How do I write a great Waiter and Waitress resume?
Creating an effective Waiter and Waitress resume requires focusing on what employers in the Food Service sector value most.
Use relevant keywords
ATS systems scan for specific terms. Include these keywords naturally throughout your resume:
Quantify your impact
When describing how you "collect payments from customers", include metrics like percentages, team sizes, budgets, or project scope to demonstrate real results.
Showcase technical proficiency
Highlight hands-on experience with Facebook, Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation, Compris software and any customer and personal service certifications that validate your expertise.
Match the experience level
For Waiter and Waitress roles, employers typically expect usually requires a high school diploma. Highlight matching qualifications prominently at the top of your resume.
Example bullet points
Here are some strong bullet points you could adapt for your Waiter and Waitress resume:
- Led training for 5 new waitstaff on Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation, improving order accuracy by 18% and reducing POS errors by 25%
- Developed and implemented a new wine pairing suggestion protocol using social perceptiveness, increasing average beverage sales per table by 15%
- Coordinated with kitchen and management using Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha POS to redesign table rotation, boosting seating capacity by 3 tables during peak hours
How to use AI to improve your Waiter and Waitress resume
AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful when crafting your Waiter and Waitress resume. They can help you brainstorm achievements, rephrase bullet points for impact, identify missing keywords, and tailor your content to specific job descriptions.
However, AI is not perfect. Always proofread the output carefully. AI can sometimes make factual errors, use generic language, or miss the nuances of your specific experience. Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your own judgment.
AI Resume Prompt
You are a senior recruiter with 15+ years of experience in technical hiring and resume optimization. You have reviewed thousands of resumes for Waiter and Waitress positions and know exactly what hiring managers and ATS systems look for.
Your task:
Analyze my resume for a Waiter and Waitress position and provide concrete, actionable feedback to maximize my chances.
Job description:
[paste the job description here]
Provide feedback on the following:
- Match analysis: Which requirements from the job description ARE and ARE NOT reflected in my resume?
- Quantification: Which bullet points lack concrete numbers/metrics? Provide examples of how I can rewrite them.
- Keywords: Which technical terms from the job description (such as Facebook, Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation, Compris software, etc.) are missing or could be more prominent?
- Impact statements: Rewrite my 3 weakest bullet points using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- ATS optimization: What adjustments will increase my score in Applicant Tracking Systems?
- Priorities: Give me a top-5 of changes that will make the biggest difference, ranked by impact.
Be direct and critical - I want honest feedback, not compliments.
Why use Mokaru instead? At Mokaru, we have invested extensive research into our AI prompts and continuously update them based on recruiter feedback and ATS testing. Our AI resume builder handles the complexity for you: optimizing for ATS systems, matching job descriptions, and ensuring professional formatting, so you can focus on landing interviews.
Cocktail Server Resume Example
Looking for a Cocktail Server resume instead? The skills and experience are very similar to a Waiter and Waitress. Here is an example you can use as inspiration:
JONATHAN COX
Summary
Dedicated food service professional with 3+ years in high-volume restaurant environments. Consistently maintained a 98% positive customer feedback rating through attentive service. Proficient in Aloha POS systems and alcohol compliance protocols to enhance guest satisfaction.
Skills
Experience
- Led training for 5 new waitstaff on Compris Advanced Manager's Workstation, improving order accuracy by 18% and reducing POS errors by 25%
- Developed and implemented a new wine pairing suggestion protocol using social perceptiveness, increasing average beverage sales per table by 15%
- Coordinated with kitchen and management using Hospitality Control Solutions Aloha POS to redesign table rotation, boosting seating capacity by 3 tables during peak hours
- Owned the weekend brunch shift coordination, actively monitoring table flow and collaborating with hosts to reduce wait times by an average of 10 minutes
- Mastered MICROS Systems HSI Profits Series to efficiently manage complex split checks for large parties, improving payment processing speed by 30%
- Applied critical thinking to resolve customer service issues independently, recovering 95% of dissatisfied patrons through complimentary offerings and attentive listening
- Learned NCR NeighborhoodPOS system within first week, accurately processing over 200 daily transactions with minimal supervision
- Supported senior waitstaff during rush periods by actively listening to customer requests and promptly entering orders into Compris software
- Executed precise order taking and ID verification for alcohol sales, maintaining 100% compliance with age regulations during all shifts
Education
Certifications
- ServSafe Food Handler
- Aloha POS System Certified User
- National Restaurant Association Food Safety Certification
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Frequently Asked Questions
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