It’s time for you to get a job, and you’re ready to serve people. Working as a waiter or waitress isn’t an easy position to have. It takes patience, organization, and the ability to read the mind of every customer who comes in the door (or so they think).
If you’re ready to apply, make sure you have these waiter skills for your resume listed so that hiring managers know you’re the right fit for the job. If you’re struggling to highlight these skills effectively, consider using a professional resume writer service to help showcase your experience.
The Most Important Waitress Skills for Resume Inclusion
When hiring an employee to wait on customers, companies need to know they are putting the very best professional waiter or server in front of their paying customer. There are some key habits that the most effective restaurant servers have. That includes knowing their menu and being attentive. Look beyond this though.
When you’re applying for a job, these are the job skills that restaurant servers’ employers absolutely want to see included in your resume.
Customer service skills
It’s hands down the most important skill for anyone applying for a job in the restaurant industry to have. Customer service is still critically important to restaurant industry professionals. There is so much competition in the restaurant industry that employers have to put their very best customer service professionals in front of those customers. What customer service skills should you include on your resume? Anything that applies to your ability to do the job. Good communication and patience are two big ones.
Computer literacy
While this may be one of the newer essential waiter skills, the digital economy makes it critical. Waiters need to be able to navigate computer systems. That includes adding orders to software, managing employee checks, and handling complex orders with ease.
Specifically, this focuses on point-of-sale or POS systems. These systems help companies to process transactions from order taking to cashing out a check. Companies need employees that know how to handle cash register, process payments, and handle inputting orders with accuracy.
Communication skills
Another of the most valuable waiter skills for resume use is communication. Being able to communicate with customers is just one component of this job. You also need to be able to communicate with other employees and with management. Good communication typically means:
- Active listening
- Clearly annunciating words so that customers can understand you
- Appropriate conversation skills for the work environment
Communication skills go a long way, and not everyone is naturally able to do so in a positive manner. Consider how important it is to a restaurant owner for their employee to be able to communicate a delay or manage an irate customer with calm, effective, and confident communication.
When you’re looking for resume tips for waitstaff, it’s a good idea to include specific communication skills. Make sure you include active listening but also any secondary languages you have. In many areas, employers need to meet a diverse clientele base. If you can speak more than one language, that’s a clear bonus to the employer.
Interpersonal skills
Restaurant server skills need to include this one. But what really are interpersonal skills? Employers often are looking for something very specific here. They need employees who can effectively interact with customers in a positive manner, no matter the situation. That means using good eye contact, smiling, being friendly, and showing genuine interest in the customers’ needs and goals.
You’ll want to include these skills on your job resume and application. Then, demonstrate them when you meet the hiring manager for an interview. Keep eye contact with them. Smile. Engage in conversation by really listening to what the person is saying. Being able to understand their needs is also helpful.
Those skills extend beyond the customer base, too. Are you a caring and kind person to support your teammates? Or are you more likely to argue with the back of the house because your tables are waiting? Employers want skills for waiters and waitresses that clearly demonstrate their ability to work with other people.
Food safety skills
Depending on where you live, having a food safety certification can prove to be very valuable for employers in the restaurant industry. That means you know how to handle food, how to reduce foodborne illness risk, and you value cleanliness. If you have any certifications in this area, make sure to include them.
If you don’t have this specific certification, demonstrate your knowledge of food safety in other ways. For example, you may include that you understand the importance of cleanliness, sanitation, and food service regulations. You may understand the temperatures at which food must be kept while being stored. You also can communicate specific insights about food safety skills on the job, such as your ability to take food temperatures to ensure they are within compliance requirements or how to maintain a sanitary workstation.
- Include any certifications you have
- List your ability to meet local health department compliance requirements
- Include any details about company policies regarding product management you know and are confident in managing
Multitasking
Another of the must-have skills for these jobs is the ability to multitask. The job of a waiter or waitress is multi-faceted. You need to greet people coming in, welcome them, offer drinks, and then continue through the process of supporting them through the meal. The problem is, you’ll need to do that while also meeting the needs of four, four, or more other tables. If you cannot multitask, you’ll forget what drinks you need at one table and deliver appetizers to the customer waiting for a check.
When you think about the essential water skills, multitasking is one of the most valuable. How can you demonstrate this on your resume? Certainly, use the word “multitasking” but go further. Do you have experience managing 5 tables in a busy rush hour lunch period? Perhaps you’ve had to multitask in other ways, such as working as a server as well as in food prep. Demonstrate your ability to do that as well.
Exceptional food knowledge
If you look at the top skills for restaurant jobs in the fine dining industry, having food knowledge is critical. That means being able to describe dishes down to the garnish. It also includes providing clarity on specific menu preparation methods or discussing the fine wine pairings with one dish or another.
Food knowledge in fine dining is a very different world compared to any other type of waiter and waitress job, but still exceptionally important. If your expectations are to work as a server in a high-end establishment or a well-recognized restaurant, you’ll need to sharpen your skills in culinary cuisine’s more refined aspects.
If this is a skill you have, it is definitely one to include on your resume. Any hospitality skills for resume inclusion here matter, too, such as having the ability to communicate with sophisticated clientele from around the world or understanding food cultural differences from one area to the next. These are highly desirable and often highly rated skills.
Problem solving
As you think about customer service skills for waitstaff, don’t overlook the importance of being able to solve problems. Problems happen in every restaurant in every location – from fine dining to fast food. As you consider your job and position, you’ll always want to consider how well you can solve problems for your employers and your customers.
- Are you good at finding compromises for customers?
- Are you able to handle conflict situations in a positive manner?
- What happens if you’re short-staffed? How do you problem solve when there’s too much to do?
- Do you have good communication skills under stress/
- Can you demonstrate how you would resolve a problem with a very upset customer?
Include language within your resume and job application that clearly outlines these abilities. You solve problems because you analyze situations and act quickly. You may be the type of employee who’s always asked for help because you’re good at innovating solutions.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to finding a few waitstaff resume examples, that’s easy enough to do when you check out the options at GrabJobs.co. There, you’ll find resources to help you polish your waiter skills for resume perfection – and to help you land the job that will help you build a strong career in an industry you enjoy.
FAQ
Your waiter skills, to include on your resume, should focus on customer service, communication, a desire to help people, and a team player mentality. Put in some great keywords like “attention to detail” and that you’re “willing to accept criticism.”
When you want a job as a waiter but don’t have a work history of it, include the skills mentioned above that may apply to other positions you’ve had. Customer service skills apply to just about every industry. You can talk about problem solving and your ability to manage relationships, too. Include any keywords that apply to your skill from the waitstaff resume examples you find online.
Looking beyond soft skills, include other skills that apply to your situation, including bartending skills, cooking, food prep, and maintenance. Include any information you can offer support for, such as POS management, cashier skills, and leadership skills. Eventually, you’ll find that this is a job that entails a lot of added services beyond just bringing food to a customer.
