Waiter Resume Example & Writing Tips for 2021

Waiters and Waitresses

Waiters take customers’ orders, relay them to the kitchen, and bring out food and drinks. They are the face of the restaurant, and therefore must be pleasant and helpful.

Let’s review the steps to creating an enticing resume for a waiter.

How to Write a Summary for a Waiter

Mention your previous experience. How long have you worked as a waiter? If you haven’t, then describe experiences you’ve had that relate to waiting -- being able to multitask, managing conflicts, making people feel comfortable, being friendly.
Describe your greatest strength.
Emphasize your interpersonal skills. Are you great at resolving customer concerns? Do you work as an intermediary between two disgruntled coworkers? Do you make customers feel at home in the restaurant?

How to List Your Work Experience as a Waiter

Use reverse chronological format. List your most recent jobs first, as this shows managers how you’ve gained experience in the industry.
Use action verbs related to food service. Verbs are critical to demonstrating what you can do for the company. Review the following list for some powerful examples.

Assist
Bring
Carry
Clean
Greet
Help
Maintain
Operate
Prepare
Recommend
Relay
Resolve
Serve
Suggest

See our list of over 350 action verbs to find more.

Work Experience as a Waiter

Greeted customers in a friendly manner and presented them with menus
Prepared food like garnishes, drinks, and salads
Served customers in a timely manner
Ensured customers were satisfied and happy
Recommended dishes and house specialties
Operated cash registers and provided exact change
Cleaned tables and maintained a presentable lobby
Carried trays of food and drinks from the kitchen to the dining tables
Double-checked customers’ orders to ensure their accuracy
Relayed orders to kitchen
Removed dirty dishware and cleaned tables after customers finished their meals
Prepared itemized checks and ran payments from customers through cash register
Maintained a pleasant and friendly demeanor
Balanced eight tables at a time per shift
Stocked service areas
Assisted with food preparation as needed
Catered large events with over 400 people
Referred complaints and suggestions to manager on duty
Answered customer queries and resolved issues promptly

Senior Waiters also do the following:

Trained waiters and hosts on proper food handling, safety, and customer expectations
Monitored dining room to ensure optimal customer experience
Resolved customer inquiries and conflicts in a prompt and professional manner
Scheduled wait staff and approved time-off
Calculated and dispensed tips to waiters
Reconciled cash drawer in registers

How to List Your Skills as a Waiter

Waiters need to be able to multitask and deal with conflicts, whether it’s with other customers or fellow employees.

Ability to Multitask
Organization
Time Management
Balance (for carrying trays!)
Friendly Demeanor
Ability to Prioritize

How to List Your Education as a Waiter

Waiters do not require a college degree or a GED diploma. You just need a strong work ethic and a willingness to get your hands dirty.

Some restaurants require waiters to have a food handling certification, though this is mainly for managers and upper-level employees. However, you must be a certain age -- 21 in some states, 17 in others -- to serve alcohol. Check your state for age requirements in this matter.

Waiter Career Overview

Job Outlook

The job outlook for Waiters is growing at 6% per year, which is considered average. In 2018 there were 2,634,600 jobs available.

Average Salary

Waiters make $22,890 per year on average. However, this depends on each state’s minimum wage. Some states have salaries as low as $2.65, while others start at $11.00. Your salary also depends on the type of restaurant and the location, because tips are better in metropolitan areas and upscale restaurants.

Top Paying Salaries by State