Server Skills for Your Resume (With Examples & Tips)

Food servers create enjoyable dining experiences by focusing on customers’ needs while helping the restaurant run smoothly.

Show that you’re a strong candidate by including these top server skills on your resume.

Example of server resume with relevant skills

Here’s an example of a server resume with all the relevant hard and soft skills bolded:

Download Free Example

Best skills for servers

Whether you’re pursuing job opportunities in fine dining or fast food, wait staff jobs require the right balance of people skills and sales acumen.

Below are some of the best skills to show on your server resume.

Sales

Serving in a restaurant is a sales job. You’re in customer service, and employers want to hire servers who can upsell.

Show your sales skills like:

Building rapport
Understanding customer needs
Persuasion
Upselling and cross-selling
Maximizing the bill amount

Example of how to show sales skills on your resume

Consistently upsold appetizers, desserts, and premium beverages, increasing average check totals by 15% per shift

Product knowledge

Customers won’t order a dish if you don’t know how it tastes or what ingredients it has. Showing in-depth knowledge of relevant food and drink items tells employers that you can reliably deliver a positive customer experience.

Example of how to mention product knowledge

Maintained in-depth knowledge of menu items, daily specials, and wine pairings to provide personalized recommendations and enhance the guest dining experience

Physical stamina

Working in the service industry means being on your feet for long periods. As a server, you need to:

Balance plates of food and drinks
Yake orders at different tables
Work at the cash register
Clean up after customers

Example of how to demonstrate stamina

Assisted in serving up to 200 guests per shift in a high-paced environment, staying on foot for 8+ hours while maintaining excellent customer service and efficiency

Memory

A key part of being a server is having a strong memory. Servers need to memorize the menu, table numbers, and customers’ faces and orders.

Accurately remembering a customer’s face and details about a food order helps prevent food allergy issues, keeps the restaurant running smoothly, and brightens a customer’s day.

Example of how to highlight good memory

Memorized and accurately recalled orders for up to 15 tables at a time, including allergies and other customizations, ensuring prompt and correct service delivery

Cleanliness and good personal hygiene

To be a successful food server, you need to look presentable and neat while working.

Example of how to mention cleanliness and good personal hygiene

Follow strict cleanliness and hygiene standards, maintain a professional appearance, and keep a sanitary workspace to uphold restaurant health and safety protocols

Alcohol and wine pairing knowledge

Customers at upscale restaurants often ask for a server’s opinion on alcohol and wine pairings to improve their meals.

If you’re knowledgeable about wine pairings, highlight this talent on your resume to catch the eye of hiring managers.

Example of how to highlight alcohol and wine pairing knowledge

Provided expert recommendations on wine pairings and alcoholic beverages, using strong product knowledge to improve the dining experience and increase sales

Knowledge of point-of-sale-systems and restaurant equipment

As a food server, you regularly ring up customers on a cash register and use point-of-sale (POS) systems. If you have previous experience using POS systems, mention this skill on your server resume.

Some of the most common POS systems are:

Square
Toast
Clover
Lightspeed

Example of how to highlight knowledge of point-of-sale-systems and restaurant equipment

Familiar with Square and Lightspeed to accurately process orders, payments, and reservations, ensuring smooth transactions during high-volume shifts
Proficient in using and maintaining restaurant equipment, including espresso machines, soda dispensers, and kitchen tools, to support efficient service delivery

Customer service skills

Servers interact with customers, so showcase your customer service skills on your server resume.

Employers seek servers who speak respectfully to customers and create a welcoming environment. If you provide excellent customer service, customers will revisit the restaurant and recommend it to others.

Example of how to highlight customer service skills

Delivered exceptional customer service by promptly addressing guest needs, resolving concerns with professionalism, and ensuring a positive dining experience that led to a 90% customer satisfaction rate

Interpersonal skills

Strong interpersonal skills are vital for servers. These skills can illustrate a solid work ethic and the ability to build positive interactions with customers and staff.

Interpersonal skills are one of the most sought-after skills because they show employers that you’re friendly and a good fit for the team.

Here are some examples of strong people skills:

Positive attitude
Emotional intelligence
Conversational skills
A sense of humor
Reliability
Approachability

Example of how to highlight interpersonal skills

Built strong rapport with guests and team members through effective communication and a friendly demeanor, fostering a collaborative work environment and repeat customer loyalty

Organizational skills

If you’ve worked in a restaurant before, you know tables fill up quickly during the lunch and dinner rush. Highlight organizational skills on your resume so employers know you can keep up.

Example of how to demonstrate organizational skills

Accurately recorded customer orders, including detailed modifications and preferences, to ensure precise preparation by kitchen staff
Communicated promptly with guests about menu changes or items that were unavailable to manage expectations effectively
Delivered food and beverages to the correct tables efficiently, maintaining smooth service flow in a busy restaurant environment

Problem-solving skills

If you handle feedback well, respond quickly to issues, and stay calm, mention these qualities on your resume. Showing that you’re a strong problem solver can also open the door to management roles.

Example of how to highlight problem-solving skills

Identified and resolved customer complaints quickly and effectively, ensuring satisfaction and retaining repeat business in a high-pressure dining environment

Flexibility

Serving is a fast-moving job, and employers prefer applicants who can show flexibility to meet the demands of a busy restaurant.

Stand out by showing that you’re open to changing circumstances and responsibilities.

Example of how to mention flexibility

Adjusted seamlessly to different roles within the restaurant, including hosting, bussing, and assisting in the kitchen, to ensure excellent service during busy periods or staff shortages

Teamwork

Teamwork matters because chefs and managers rely on you to relay accurate information about each table and connect with customers.

Employers also want to see if you’re open to:

Assisting servers with taking their customers’ payments at the cash register
Collaborating with coworkers to ensure tables are served efficiently during peak hours
Communicating with kitchen staff to address special requests or dietary restrictions
Assisting teammates by running food, bussing tables, or refilling drinks when needed
Coordinating with hosts and bartenders to manage seating and drink orders smoothly
Training new servers to help them adapt to the workflow and maintain service quality

So if your work history includes working with a team, bring that up on your resume.

Example of how to highlight teamwork

Collaborated with team members to manage large party reservations, ensuring smooth coordination between servers, kitchen staff, and management for timely service and customer satisfaction

Time management skills

As a server, you need time management skills to prioritize your customers and check on them appropriately.

If you finish tasks on time, you’ll improve a restaurant’s workflow and help staff stay on top of orders, so this skill can help you stand out as a applicant.

Example of how to highlight time-management

Efficiently managed serving multiple tables during peak hours while ensuring each guest received prompt and attentive service

Communication skills

Servers need strong communication skills. Explain the menu clearly to customers, provide recommendations, and speak with multiple tables.

Example of how to highlight communication skills

Utilized non-verbal cues such as body language and eye contact to anticipate guest needs and resolve issues discreetly
Provided bilingual service in Spanish and English, assisting diverse clientele and improving guest satisfaction
Collaborated with kitchen staff through clear and concise communication to ensure accurate and timely food delivery

Foreign language skills are another great way to get noticed by employers. Employers appreciate staff who can make small talk with customers in their native language and help translate a restaurant menu.

Find more relevant skills for your server resume

Looking for more niche skills? Enter your target server job title below to pull up a list of relevant skills you can use your job application.

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Additional skills-related resources

Here are more skills-related resources to guide you as you write a server resume:

9 Years of Experience

4 Articles Written

Leora Joy Jones is a multidisciplinary creative who writes career content for job seekers. She is passionate about empowering people to invest in personal development. From recent graduates to career changers to DIY freelancers, she aims to cheerlead her readers to make informed choices.

Born in the USA and raised in South Africa, Leora now lives and works in Taiwan. She has a BFA in Fine Arts, an MA in Art Curation, and over 10 years experience writing and editing words on many topics. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Career consulting Resume writing and editing Creative strategy Research and fact-checking