Before you can start working on your resume’s contents, you’ve got to first deal with the resume format and layout.Out of the three resume formats out there (chronological, functional, and combination), we recommend that you use the chronological format (also known as reverse-chronological). It’s not only the most popular among
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#1. Format Your Server Resume Right
recruiters worldwide, but it also highlights your most recent work experiences by listing them first.Once that’s taken care of, you can start working on the layout of your server resume. This includes:– Keep your resume length one page. Managers don’t have the time to read long resumes but instead prefer a resume that
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#1. Format Your Server Resume Right
only includes the most relevant information. That’s why the optimal resume length is one page.– Clear section headers. Section headers are a good way to distinctly separate your resume’s sections from one another.– Professional font style. The font you end up using can either make your resume look professional or rushed. That’s
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#1. Format Your Server Resume Right
why you should go for a casual but professional font like Times New Roman or Roboto.– Uniform font size. Keep the font size between 11 and 12 pts and make sure it stays thesame throughout the resume.
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#2. List Your Contact Details
As you can probably imagine, this is the most straightforward section in any resume.For the bar or restaurant manager to get in touch with you, at the top of your resume include:– Full name.– Professional title.– Email address.– Phone number.– Location (city and state/country)
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#3. Write an Impressive Resume Summary/Objective
The resume profile is a 2-3 sentence long paragraph that goes at the top of your resume and aims to convince the restaurant/bar manager they should consider you as an applicant from the get-go.Now, depending on your level of experience, your can shape up your resume profile as:A resume summary, which includes your work
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#3. Write an Impressive Resume Summary/Objective
experience, skills, and 1-2 of your top achievements to date. If you have years of experience to show for, you should definitely opt for the resume summary.A resume objective, on the other hand, focuses on your professional goals, the reasons you want to work as a server, and how your skills and background make you the
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#3. Write an Impressive Resume Summary/Objective
right fit. An objective is better for younger candidates lacking in work experience.
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#4. Make The Most Out of Your Work Experience Section
At the end of the day, it’s your hands-on experience as a server that speaks best about you as a candidate and that can help you stand out from other candidates.That said, the first thing to do when writing this section is format it the right way, which includes:– Start with your current/most recent work experience and go backward in time. Keep your
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#4. Make The Most Out of Your Work Experience Section
work entries relevant though - the restaurant/bar manager won’t really care about your work in summer camp from your teenage years.– Build each entry by putting your professional title first, followed by the company’s/restaurant’s name and location, as well as the time period you worked there.– List 3-5 job responsibilities and achievements (if
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#4. Make The Most Out of Your Work Experience Section
applicable) in bullet points. For older jobs, you can list 1-2 bullet points under each.
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#5. Add Your Education
Serving at a bar or restaurant doesn’t require any formal education, but you should nonetheless include your education background on your resume.Here’s how to include your education history the right way:– List your latest (and highest) degree first.– Start off with the degree name, institution name, and location, and the years attended.
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#5. Add Your Education
– Feel free to skip your high school information if you have a Bachelor’s Degree.
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#6. Include In-Demand Skills
Server Soft Skills1. Communication2. Organization3. Customer service4. Patience5. Physical stamina6. Neat appearance7. Memory for patrons and their orders8. Conflict resolution9. Ability to keep up in a fast-paced environment10. Legible handwriting
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#6. Include In-Demand Skills
11. Cleanliness12. Time management13. TeamworkServer Hard Skills1. Computer skills2. Point of sale systems/cash register3. Memory4. Knowledge of wine pairings and alcohol in general5. Basic math skills
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#6. Include In-Demand Skills
6. Knowledge of restaurant machinery7. Languages
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#7. Include These Extra Sections
If, at this point, your server resume is already one page, you can call it a day - the resume is done!However, if you have some space left (e.g. if you’re lacking work experience), you can take advantage of these extra sections:– Certifications. Are you certified in food safety or customer service? Any type of certification that’s relevant to
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#7. Include These Extra Sections
serving will help you stand out from other applicants applying for the job.– Languages. Foreign languages are an asset for most jobs and especially so for those that are centered around people and customer service.– Volunteer experience. Did you volunteer in your community’s homeless shelter or help out in your family’s diner? Your volunteering can
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#7. Include These Extra Sections
show you are experienced (even if you haven’t worked in the past) and that you care about giving back to the community. Bonus points if your volunteering is related to serving or customer service.– Hobbies and interests. Show the restaurant or bar manager who you are outside of work - it may turn out you even share similar interests and help you establish rapport.
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#8. Attach a Server Cover Letter to Your Resume
Last but not least, you should write a cover letter and include it in your application package.A cover letter does the following two things:– Summarizes your most important skills and experiences and allows you to elaborate on them (e.g. how you achieved them, what you learned, or how they will be of help in this job).– Explains certain things a
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#8. Attach a Server Cover Letter to Your Resume
resume cannot (e.g. employment gaps, motivation to work in that position, etc).Here’s what you should do to write a cover letter that’s just as good as your server resume:– If you know the name of the manager in the bar or restaurant you’re applying to, address the cover letter directly to them, instead of using the overly popular and impersonal
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#8. Attach a Server Cover Letter to Your Resume
“Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.”– Start your cover letter by introducing yourself and mentioning your 2 top skills or achievements.– In the body of your cover letter talk in detail about your skills, experiences, and achievements. This part is also where you can explain anything you didn’t have the chance to in your resume.
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#8. Attach a Server Cover Letter to Your Resume
– End your cover letter with a call to action that will urge the manager to call you for an interview.– Avoid any mistakes by reading our article on the most common cover letter mistakes.