Ken Chase 
What are the top Server skills that restaurant owners expect to see on your resume?
By some estimates, there are as many as 2.5 million Servers working in the food and hospitality industry across the United States. Many of these Servers can make a good living, especially those who work in high-end restaurants. To land one of those lucrative positions, however, you'll need a resume that effectively highlights the top Server skills employers are looking for.
In this Server skills guide, we'll explain why these skills matter and explore some of the key abilities you need to include in your resume. We'll also provide some tips to show you the best way to add those vital skills to make a powerful impression on employers.
What are Server skills?
Server skills include all the key competencies and character traits that great waiters and waitresses employ to provide a positive experience to their restaurant guests. Successful Servers possess a core set of both hard and soft skills that help them to navigate the technical aspects of their role while successfully interacting with customers.
Related reading: What Are Skills? (With Examples and Tips on How to Improve Them)
Why are the top Server skills important for your resume?
The Server's role within any food service establishment is critical for that company's success. As a result, employers are always on the lookout for candidates who possess the vital abilities needed to maintain high-quality service standards. By ensuring that your resume includes the top Server skills employers are looking for, you can improve your chances of making the right impression on any hiring manager.
Related reading: Make the Perfect First Impression With Your Resume
Which top Server skills do employers prioritize?
To understand which skills employers are looking for, you need to consider the role's job responsibilities. A typical Server job description will include the following duties:
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Welcoming guests when they are seated at the table
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Providing menus and taking initial requests for drinks, appetizers, etc.
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Taking customer orders and delivering them to the kitchen
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Serving orders once they are prepared and verifying that everything is to the customer's satisfaction
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Managing the bill, payments, and any change
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Interacting with customers to create the best possible experience
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Helping to clear tables, clean them, and prepare them for other guests
Key Server skills for your resume
To help you get your resume ready for employers, we've compiled a brief list of the top hard and soft skills Servers need for success. As you consider these skills, remember that hard skills are measurable, job-specific abilities that you need to possess to do your job. Meanwhile, soft skills enable you to effectively interact with other staff, customers, and management. You need a balanced mix of each to succeed in this role.
Hard skills for a Server skills resume
- Point of Sale system expertise: POS systems are used for everything from taking customer orders to billing and payment processing. Employers will always prioritize Servers who are familiar with these technologies.
- Menu knowledge: Every restaurant menu is different, so it's important to be able to learn every aspect of a new menu so that you can answer customer questions like a pro. You should highlight this skill in your resume so that employers know that they can rely on you to adapt to their menu choices.
- Proper food safety best practices: It is vital to be proficient in the best practices for food handling, safety, hygiene, and dietary restrictions. Even if you're not certified in food safety, you should stress your expertise in this important area of concern.
- Basic math: As a Server, you need basic math skills to manage bills, payments, and tips. This can help you to make sure that every customer receives an excellent experience from the time they're seated to the moment they leave their tip and walk out the door.
Soft skills for a Server skills resume
- Communication: Communication is one of the top Server skills, so make sure that your resume highlights your ability to effectively convey information to customers, co-workers, and management.
- Multitasking: Servers are often pulled in many different directions during their shift. Your resume should communicate your ability to manage multiple tables and duties, adapt to and overcome unexpected challenges, and still keep a pleasant smile on your face!
- Time management: To manage all those duties effectively, you'll need excellent time management skills. Knowing how to prioritize those tasks can help you provide timely and efficient service to every customer you meet.
- Collaboration: No matter how great you might be at managing customers, you'll need excellent teamwork to provide the best experience for your guests. Emphasize this skill to show that you have what it takes to effectively collaborate with your team.
Related reading: 11 Best Communication Skills for Your Resume (With Examples)
How to add top Server skills to your resume
You'll also need to know how to add these top Server skills to your resume. Below, we've outlined some key tips that you can use to craft a compelling Server resume.
Related reading: How to Write a Targeted Resume That Lands You an Interview
Find vital keywords in the job description
First, examine the job description to find any skill-based keywords. You should use those exact terms in your resume to help you get past any applicant tracking systems that the restaurant may be using to screen candidates. As more and more companies have adopted online job applications, beating the ATS is more important than ever before.
Related reading: How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume - Tips for ATS 2024
Add skill keywords in your resume headline
Once you've listed your contact information at the top of your resume page, you can add a resume headline right below it. Include the job title and one or two skills that highlight your value as a Server:
Dedicated Server Committed to Food Safety Best Practices and Superior Customer Dining Experience
Include keywords in your resume profile
Your resume profile is a brief summary of your experience, top Server skills, and achievements. For example:
Server with 5 years of experience providing the best dining experience to customers. Team-focused professional skilled in multiple POS systems, food safety, menu knowledge, and restaurant best practices. Head Server at Party Time and led team responsible for managing event party rooms that received consistent 100% satisfaction rates.
Related reading: Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)
Focus on relevant skills in your skills section
Of course, you also need to add these top Server skills in your skills section. Here, you should focus on listing a balanced mix of hard and soft skills, using bullet points for your list. It's also a good idea to format this entire section into two or three columns.
Add skills to your work experience achievement statements
When you list your previous work experience, make sure to include several bullet point achievement statements below each prior job listing. This can help you to show how you used your skills in those jobs to create real value for your customers and employers.
For example:
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As team leader, trained all new Servers on POS, food handling, and order management systems
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Recognized by employers for contributing to 20% increase in return customers
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Routinely managed 12 tables during busiest service times, with zero order or billing errors
Separate yourself from the crowd with the top Server skills
Identifying the top Server skills and including them in your resume can help to increase your odds of landing an interview and a coveted job offer. By following the tips and examples presented in this guide, you can be well on your way to making the right impression on any employer!
Does your resume have the top Server skills needed to capture an employer's attention? Our team of experts can help you to make sure that your resume has what it takes to land the perfect job. Get a free resume review today!