CV Writing for Servers
As a Server, your CV is a reflection of your ability to provide excellent customer service, manage multiple tasks, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment. It should highlight your experience, skills, and the unique value you bring to the hospitality industry. An impactful CV will demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and your ability to contribute to a positive dining experience.
Whether you're targeting roles in fine dining, casual restaurants, or catering services, these guidelines will help make your CV more appealing to employers.
Highlight Your Experience: Detail your experience in the food service industry, including the types of establishments and the roles you've held. Mention any experience in specialty areas like wine service or catering.
Showcase Your Customer Service Skills: Provide examples of how you've gone above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. This could include handling special dietary requests or resolving customer complaints.
Quantify Your Performance: Use numbers to illustrate your impact, such as "Served an average of 50 customers per shift with a 98% customer satisfaction rating" or "Increased beverage sales by 20% through upselling techniques".
Emphasize Your Multitasking and Time Management Skills: Show how you've successfully juggled multiple tasks at once, like managing several tables during peak hours or coordinating with kitchen staff to ensure timely food delivery.
Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Food and Beverage: Mention any training or certifications in food handling, wine pairing, or mixology. Detail your familiarity with various cuisines or dietary restrictions.
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William Flores
Florida
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(214) 593-7277
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william@flores.com
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linkedin.com/in/william-flores
Highly skilled Server with extensive experience in enhancing restaurant operations and customer satisfaction. Recognized for implementing efficient order management systems, leading to a 30% increase in service speed, and contributing to a 20% rise in overall revenue through strategic upselling. With a proven track record in team leadership, menu development, and handling special dietary requests, I am eager to leverage my skills to contribute to the success of my next restaurant team.
Server• 01/2024 – Present
Ingenious Marketing Group
Implemented a new system for order management that increased efficiency by 30%, leading to faster service times and improved customer satisfaction ratings.
Trained and mentored 5 new servers, fostering a team-oriented environment that boosted overall staff morale and productivity.
Recognized for consistently achieving the highest sales of add-on items and specials, contributing to a 20% increase in overall restaurant revenue.
Waitstaff Supervisor• 03/2023 – 12/2023
Bartender• 11/2021 – 03/2023
SKILLS
Exceptional customer service
Efficient order management
Staff training and mentorship
Team collaboration and coordination
High-volume service management
Special dietary needs accommodation
Attention to detail
Menu development and promotion
High sales achievement
Problem-solving and complaint resolution
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
2016-2020
CERTIFICATIONS
Food Handler Certification
04/2024
ServSafe (National Restaurant Association)
Certified Restaurant Server
04/2023
American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) Certified
04/2022
Health Communications, Inc.
CV Structure & Format for Servers
Crafting a server's CV requires a strategic approach to structure and formatting. It's not just about showcasing your skills and experiences, but also about reflecting your ability to provide excellent customer service and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment. A well-structured CV can highlight your most relevant attributes and achievements, increasing your chances of landing an interview.
Let's delve into how to organize your CV to best showcase your career as a server.
Essential CV Sections for Servers
Every server's CV should include these core sections to provide a clear, comprehensive snapshot of their professional journey and capabilities:
1. Personal Statement: A brief summary that encapsulates your qualifications, customer service skills, and career objectives.
2. Work Experience: Detail your professional history in the hospitality industry, emphasizing responsibilities and achievements in each role.
3. Education: List your academic background, focusing on any hospitality-related courses or training.
4. Skills: Showcase specific server skills, including customer service, multitasking, and knowledge of food and beverage.
5. Certifications: Highlight any relevant certifications, such as food safety or alcohol service training.
Optional Sections
To further tailor your CV and distinguish yourself, consider adding these optional sections, which can offer more insight into your professional persona:
1. Volunteer Work: Any volunteer experience in hospitality or customer service can underline your dedication to the field.
2. Language Skills: Being multilingual can be a significant asset in the hospitality industry, especially in diverse or tourist-heavy areas.
3. Awards and Honors: Any recognition received for your work as a server can demonstrate excellence and dedication.
4. Additional Training: Courses or seminars that keep you updated on hospitality trends and best practices.
Getting Your CV Structure Right
For servers, an effectively structured CV can reflect the order and efficiency required in the role. Keep these tips in mind to refine your CV’s structure:
Logical Flow: Begin with a compelling personal statement, then proceed to your work experience, ensuring a logical progression through the sections of your CV.
Highlight Key Achievements Early: Make significant accomplishments stand out by placing them prominently within each section, especially in your work experience.
Use Reverse Chronological Order: List your roles starting with the most recent to immediately show employers your current level of responsibility and expertise.
Keep It Professional and Concise: Opt for a straightforward, professional layout and concise language that reflects the fast-paced nature of the server role.
Personal Statements for Servers
In the Server profession, your personal statement is your opportunity to make a lasting first impression. It should effectively showcase your unique skills, your passion for customer service, and your career aspirations. It's a chance to highlight your professional strengths, your ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and your commitment to providing excellent service. Let's examine the differences between strong and weak personal statements for Servers.
Server Personal Statement Examples
Strong Statement
"Highly skilled Server with over 5 years of experience in the hospitality industry, providing exceptional customer service in high-volume restaurants. Proven ability to handle stressful situations with a calm demeanor and to resolve customer complaints efficiently and professionally. Passionate about creating memorable dining experiences for guests. Seeking to leverage my expertise in customer service and knowledge of food and beverages in a challenging and rewarding environment."
Weak Statement
"I am a Server with experience in taking orders and serving food. I like working with people and am looking for a new job where I can use my skills. I have a good understanding of food and beverages and have helped with customer complaints."
Strong Statement
"Dedicated and energetic Server with a strong track record in customer satisfaction and upselling specialty items. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of diverse cuisines, I excel at recommending dishes and pairing wines to enhance the dining experience. Eager to bring my exceptional service skills and culinary knowledge to a high-end restaurant setting."
Weak Statement
"Experienced in various server tasks, including taking orders and serving meals. Familiar with different types of food and drinks. Looking for a role where I can use my server skills and improve customer service."
How to Write a Statement that Stands Out
Clearly highlight your skills and experiences, focusing on tangible achievements and instances where you've gone above and beyond. Tailor your statement to the job description, demonstrating how your service skills and knowledge of the hospitality industry meet the specific needs of the role.CV Career History / Work Experience
The experience section of your Server CV is pivotal in showcasing your professional journey and achievements. This is where you can illustrate your expertise and accomplishments in a compelling manner that grabs the attention of potential employers. Providing detailed, quantifiable examples of your past responsibilities and achievements can significantly enhance your appeal. Below are examples to guide you in distinguishing between impactful and less effective experience descriptions.
Server Career Experience Examples
Strong
"Highly skilled Server with over 5 years of experience in the hospitality industry, providing exceptional customer service in high-volume restaurants. Proven ability to handle stressful situations with a calm demeanor and to resolve customer complaints efficiently and professionally. Passionate about creating memorable dining experiences for guests. Seeking to leverage my expertise in customer service and knowledge of food and beverages in a challenging and rewarding environment."
Weak
"I am a Server with experience in taking orders and serving food. I like working with people and am looking for a new job where I can use my skills. I have a good understanding of food and beverages and have helped with customer complaints."
Strong
"Dedicated and energetic Server with a strong track record in customer satisfaction and upselling specialty items. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of diverse cuisines, I excel at recommending dishes and pairing wines to enhance the dining experience. Eager to bring my exceptional service skills and culinary knowledge to a high-end restaurant setting."
Weak
"Experienced in various server tasks, including taking orders and serving meals. Familiar with different types of food and drinks. Looking for a role where I can use my server skills and improve customer service."
How to Make Your Career Experience Stand Out
Focus on quantifiable achievements and specific responsibilities that highlight your skills and impact. Tailor your experience to the Server role by emphasizing areas like customer service, team management, and salesmanship that directly contributed to the success of the restaurant.CV Skills & Proficiencies for Server CVs
The experience section of your Server CV is pivotal in showcasing your professional journey and achievements. This is where you can illustrate your expertise and accomplishments in a compelling manner that grabs the attention of potential employers. Providing detailed, quantifiable examples of your past responsibilities and achievements can significantly enhance your appeal. Below are examples to guide you in distinguishing between impactful and less effective experience descriptions.
CV Skill Examples for Servers
Technical Expertise:
Food & Beverage Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of various food and beverage items, including dietary restrictions and allergen information.
Order Management: Proficiency in using Point of Sale (POS) systems to accurately take and process orders.
Table Setting & Service: Skilled in setting tables according to etiquette standards and serving meals professionally.
Health & Safety Compliance: In-depth knowledge of health and safety regulations in the food service industry.Interpersonal & Collaboration Skills
Interpersonal Strengths and Collaborative Skills:
Customer Service Excellence: Ability to provide exceptional service, ensuring customer satisfaction and repeat business.
Teamwork & Coordination: Proven ability to work effectively with kitchen and front-of-house staff to ensure smooth operations.
Problem-Solving: Aptitude for quickly resolving customer complaints and service issues.
Adaptability: Flexibility in handling busy shifts, changing schedules, and diverse customer needs.Creating an Impactful Skills Section on Your CV
Align your technical expertise and interpersonal skills with the specific requirements of the Server role you're targeting. Where possible, quantify your achievements and illustrate your skills with real examples from your career. Tailoring your CV to reflect the specific needs of potential employers can significantly enhance your chances of landing the job.How to Tailor Your Server CV to a Specific Job
Tailoring your CV to the target job opportunity should be your single most important focus when creating a CV.
Tailor Your CV to a Job Description
Customize each resume to match the requirements of the job description.
Start Tailoring Your CV
Tailoring your CV for each Server role is not just a good idea—it's a necessity. By customizing your CV to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences, you align yourself directly with the employer's needs, significantly enhancing your candidacy and setting yourself apart as the perfect fit for their team.
Highlight Your Most Relevant Experiences
Identify and prioritize experiences that directly align with the job’s requirements. If the role emphasizes customer service, highlight your successes in this area. This specificity demonstrates your suitability and readiness for similar challenges in the new role.
Use Industry-Specific Keywords
Mirror the job posting's language in your CV to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and signal to hiring managers your exact fit for their specific needs. Including key terms like “table service” or “food safety” can directly link your experience with the job’s demands.
Emphasize Your Soft Skills
Ensure your CV reflects the soft skills sought in the job description. A mention of your excellent communication skills, teamwork, or problem-solving abilities can make a powerful impression, immediately showcasing your alignment with the role.
Highlight Relevant Certifications and Skills
Place the most job-relevant certifications and skills at the forefront of your CV. Highlighting specific food handling certifications or expertise in restaurant software first draws attention to your direct qualifications for the role.CV FAQs for Servers
How long should Servers make a CV?
The ideal length for a Server's CV is 1-2 pages, offering sufficient room to showcase your skills and experience without overloading with unnecessary details. Prioritize clarity and relevance by emphasizing your most notable achievements in the service industry—those that best illustrate your competence and success in roles similar to the ones you're aiming for.
What's the best format for an Server CV?
The best format for a Server CV is typically a combination format. This style highlights both your skills and your work history. Start with a strong summary of your server skills, such as customer service, time management, and knowledge of food and beverages. Then, list your work experience in reverse-chronological order, emphasizing responsibilities and achievements in each role. This format showcases your server-specific skills upfront, while also demonstrating your experience and career progression.
How does a Server CV differ from a resume?
To make your Server CV stand out, highlight your customer service skills, ability to work under pressure, and knowledge of food and beverages. Include specific examples of how you've improved customer satisfaction or handled difficult situations. Mention any relevant certifications, such as food safety or alcohol service. Tailor your CV to the job description, using similar language to resonate with hiring managers. Also, emphasize any experience with POS systems or restaurant software.
