Restaurant Server

Restaurant Server Resume Keywords and Skills (Hard Skills)

Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Restaurant Server job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. Go to Sample Templates ↓ below to see how to include them on your resume.

Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all keywords on your resume, identify those that are most relevant to the job you're applying to. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.

Choose a category
  • Food & Beverage
  • Hospitality
  • Restaurant Management
  • Food Service
  • Waiting Tables
  • Customer Service
  • Catering
  • Social Media
  • Hospitality Management
  • Fine Dining

Resume Skills: Customer Service

  • Budgeting
  • Inventory Control
  • Scheduling
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Customer Service
  • Quality Control
  • Table Setup
  • Food & Beverage Pairings
  • Order Management
  • Customer Relationships
  • Customer Retention

Resume Skills: Management Tools

  • OpenTable
  • 7Shifts
  • Avero Slingshot
  • Toast POS
  • Optimity

Resume Skills: Hard

  • Stock Management
  • Supplier Negotiation
  • Financial Reporting
  • Menu Engineering
  • Food Safety Regulations
  • Restaurant Marketing

Resume Skills: Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Resume Skills: Software

  • POS Systems
  • MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • OpenTable
  • NCR Aloha
  • Square POS

Resume Skills: Safety & Compliance

  • Food Safety Certification
  • OSHA Regulations
  • Alcohol Beverage Compliance
  • TIPS Certified

Resume Skills: Culinary

  • Food & Beverage Pairings
  • Menu Development
  • Special Dietary Needs

Resume Skills: Technical

  • Point Of Sale (POS) Systems
  • Reservation Platforms
  • Ordering Systems
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Reservation Systems
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Resume Skills: Financial

  • Cash Handling
  • Revenue Growth
  • Inventory Management

Resume Skills: Food Safety

  • Allergen Awareness
  • Food Preparation Standards
  • Health and Safety Compliance

Resume Skills: Technology

  • Point of Sale Systems (Micros, POSiTouch)
  • Reservation Systems (OpenTable)

Resume Skills: Hospitality

  • Table Setting
  • Menu Knowledge
  • Wine Pairing
  • POS Systems proficiency
  • Allergen Awareness
  • Health code standards
  Does your resume contain all the right skills? Paste in your resume in the AI Resume Scan ↓ section below and get an instant score.

Sample Restaurant Server Resume: How To Include These Skills

Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences, education or Skills section, like we've shown in the examples below. Use the examples below as inspiration.

Choose a template
Your Name
Restaurant Server
City, Country  •  (123) 456-789  •  [email protected]  •  linkedin.com/in/your-profile
EXPERIENCE
Outback Steakhouse June 2020 - Present
Restaurant Server
Revitalized customer service strategies, addressing complaints promptly and professionally, resulting in the restaurant receiving a 90% positive feedback rating from patrons.
Implemented a dynamic new food service protocol that increased table turnaround time by 20%, contributing to higher revenue.
Facilitated staff training on the most effective waiting tables technique, improving overall operational efficiency by 30%.
Championed the use of social media to advertise daily specials; led to a 10% increase in walk-in customers and boosted online engagement.
Collaborated with management to improve the restaurant's fine dining services, increasing repeat clientele by 15%.
The Cheesecake Factory March 2018 - May 2020
Lead Server
Optimized the existing food & beverage menu leading to an increase in sales by 25%.
Enhanced guest experience by offering superior customer service, resulting in a 20% increase in repeat customers.
Proposed and facilitated Beverage Training workshops for 50+ staff members to improve cocktail knowledge and upselling tactics.
Starbucks January 2016 - February 2018
Barista
Led the morning team, consistently earning the highest customer satisfaction scores within the district.
Excelled in latte art, leading to a 15% increase in Instagram followers and higher footfall.
Contributed to a reduction in service time by 10% by coordinating efficiently with other team members.
EDUCATION
Resume Worded Academic Center June 2020
Associate’s degree in Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management
Emphasis in Food safety and handling procedures
Earned ServSafe Food Handler certificate during study period
Resume Worded Institute December 2015
Barista Basics Certification
Part-time certification alongside full-time work at Starbucks
Learned fundamentals of coffee varieties and brewing techniques
SKILLS
Culinary Skills: Food & Beverage Pairings, Menu Development, Special Dietary Needs
Customer Service: Conflict Resolution, Customer Relationships, Customer Retention
Technical Skills: Point Of Sale (POS) Systems, Reservation Platforms, Ordering Systems
Financial Skills: Cash Handling, Revenue Growth, Inventory Management
OTHER
Certifications: ServSafe Food Handler certificate (2016), CPR and First Aid Certified (2018)
Leadership & Volunteering: Volunteer server at local nonprofit soup kitchen (2017 - Present), Captain of local community basketball team (2016 - Present)
Professional Development: Completed online courses in Restaurant Management and Customer Service
Awards: Employee of the Month at Outback Steakhouse (August 2020), Starbucks Barista Champion (2017)
Your Name
Restaurant Supervisor
City, Country  •  (123) 456-789  •  [email protected]  •  linkedin.com/in/your-profile
EXPERIENCE
Coached.com December 2017 - Present
Restaurant Supervisor
Implemented strategic plan to streamline restaurant management operations, resulting in a 10% reduction in overhead costs.
Played a pivotal role in the execution of seasonal catering events, contributing to a 35% increase in event profits.
Negotiated with vendors for better terms leading to a 5% decrease in annual food costs.
Elevated hospitality service standards, leading to a 20% increase in positive customer reviews.
Conducted weekly staff meetings focused on improving food service efficiency resulting in a 15% decrease in customer wait times.
Buffalo Wild Wings March 2015 - November 2017
Assistant Manager
Coordinated logistics for major sporting events, enhancing the overall guest experience and increasing sales by 18%.
Developed effective restaurant marketing strategies that resulted in an average 12% increase in monthly sales.
Managed a team of 25 servers, elevating customer service standards and decreasing staff turnover by 20%.
Panera Bread January 2013 - February 2015
Shift Supervisor
Increased efficiency through the development of a weekly scheduling system that reduced absenteeism by 50%.
Streamlined back-of-house operations leading to a 20% reduction in food waste.
Leveraged social media platforms to drive engagement with the restaurant’s guests, improving online ratings by 15%.
EDUCATION
Resume Worded Institute June 2018
Certified Food Service Manager
Passed with distinction, achieving top 10% score nationally
Resume Worded University May 2012
Bachelor of Science - Hospitality Management
Concentration in Restaurant Management
Award: Dean's List - 2010 & 2011
SKILLS
Restaurant Management: Budgeting, Inventory Control, Scheduling, Conflict Resolution, Customer Service, Quality Control
Software: POS Systems, MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), OpenTable, NCR Aloha, Square POS
Safety & Compliance: Food Safety Certification, OSHA Regulations, Alcohol Beverage Compliance, TIPS Certified
OTHER
Certifications: ServSafe Food Handler & Alcohol Certification (Renewed 2020)
Leadership & Volunteering: Volunteer, Local Food Bank; Organized quarterly events for community to promote food sustainability (2016-Present)
Professional Development: Completed leadership development program at the National Restaurant Association, 2018
Your Name
Food and Beverage Manager
City, Country  •  (123) 456-789  •  [email protected]  •  linkedin.com/in/your-profile
EXPERIENCE
Resume Worded October 2017 - Present
Food and Beverage Manager
Launched new tableside service concept that increased customer satisfaction and resulted in an additional $500K in annual revenue.
Executed a food and beverage pairing menu based on regional cuisine which elevated the fine dining experience and increased per-person check average by 20%.
Orchestrated high-profile catering events which increased visibility and reputation.
Implemented a new employee on-boarding program that reduced turnover by 22%.
Led the initiative to gain approval for a wine and spirits license that resulted in an increase in total sales by 40%.
Red Lobster August 2015 - September 2017
Restaurant Manager
Managed weekly inventory and ordering leading to a 15% reduction in food costs.
Implemented robust hospitality management training for staff, leading to improved customer satisfaction scores by 30%.
Enhanced the restaurant’s social media presence, resulting in a 18% increase in online reservations.
Caviar January 2013 - July 2015
Catering Coordinator
Coordinated and executed large-scale corporate events, increasing company revenue by $200K annually.
Secure contracts with local businesses, increasing corporate catering services by 25%.
Developed strong relationships with vendors, receiving discounts and freebies which reduced overall event costs by 10%.
EDUCATION
Resume Worded Academic Center Sep 2017
Advanced Certificate in Restaurant Management
Award: Advanced Restaurant Management certificate (Top 5% participants)
Resume Worded University May 2012
Bachelor's in Hotel Management
Concentrations: Food and Beverage Management, Marketing
Award: Dean's List 2011 (Top 15%)
SKILLS
Management Tools: OpenTable, 7Shifts, Avero Slingshot, Toast POS, Optimity
Hard Skills: Stock Management, Supplier Negotiation, Financial Reporting, Menu Engineering, Food Safety Regulations, Restaurant Marketing
Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Conversational)
OTHER
Certifications: ServSafe Manager Certification (2020), Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Award in Wines (2018)
Leadership & Volunteering: Resume Worded Food Network (Volunteer Chef, 2018 - Present)
Awards: Manager of the Year, Red Lobster (2017)

Compare Your Resume To These Restaurant Server Skills (ATS Scan)

Paste your resume below and our AI will identify which keywords are missing from your resume from the list above (and what you need to include). Including the right keywords will help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. resume screeners) which may scan your resume for keywords to see if you're a match for the job.

How do I add skills to a Restaurant Server resume?

1
Review the job posting closely.

Go through the Restaurant Server posting you're applying to, and identify hard skills the company is looking for. For example, skills like Customer Service, Waiting Tables and Social Media are possible skills. These are skills you should try to include on your resume.

2
Add industry skills like Food Service and Catering.

Add other common skills from your industry - such as Hospitality, Food & Beverage and Restaurant Management - into your resume if they're relevant.

3
Add skills into your work experience.

Incorporate skills - like Hospitality Management - into your work experience too. This shows hiring managers that you have practical experience with these tools, techniques and skills.

4
Use the exact job title.

Try to add the exact job title, Restaurant Server, somewhere into your resume to get past resume screeners. See the infographic for how to do this.

Word Cloud for Restaurant Server Skills & Keywords

The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Restaurant Server job descriptions. The bigger the word, the more frequently it shows up on employer's job postings. If you have experience with these keywords, include them on your resume.

Top Restaurant Server Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

Restaurant Server Soft Skills

Here are common soft skills that appear on Restaurant Server job postings. Unlike hard skills, which refer to tools, software or techniques, soft skills focus on character traits and interpersonal skills. Instead of listing these phrases on your resume, try to show them through your bullet points like in the examples below.

  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Skilled Multi-tasker
  • Phone Etiquette

Tip: Do not list these words or phrases on your resume, and instead focus on the hard skills we described above.

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Restaurant Server Resume Templates

Here are examples of proven resumes in related jobs and industries, approved by experienced hiring managers. Use them as inspiration when you're writing your own resume. You can even download and edit the resume template in Google Docs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What skills should you put on a Restaurant Server resume?

Some effective Restaurant Server skills you can add to your resume include:

  • Food & Beverage
  • Hospitality
  • Restaurant Management
  • Food Service
  • Waiting Tables
  • Customer Service
  • Catering
  • Social Media

What soft skills are common in Restaurant Server roles?

Soft skills like Teamwork, Time Management, Communication, Multitasking and Organization Skills are essential for Restaurant Server roles and jobs.

Target your Resume to a Job Description

While the keywords above are a good indication of what skills you need on your resume, you should try to find additional keywords that are specific to the job. To do this, use the free Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes the job you are applying to and finds the most important keywords you need on your resume.

It is personalized to your resume, and is the best way to ensure your resume will pass the automated resume filters.

Start targeting your resume

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