Five Important Words to Include on your Restaurant Resume
Why You Need a Resume as a Restaurant Server
Applying for a restaurant position in the front of the house as a server, busser, host, or bartender usually requires the submission of a resume and job application, followed by a brief interview with the restaurant manager. As you complete the first step of this process—drafting and polishing your restaurant resume—keep these five key terms in mind. Addressing these topics can help managers understand the depth of your experience and your level of commitment to the business.
Your Restaurant Resume: Include these Key Terms
Make sure to include these power words in your resume to stand out from other candidates:
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Quality Assurance
As a server or bartender, you’ll stand as the final line of defense between the kitchen and the customer. If a steak is undercooked or a plate looks messy, you’re the last person who sees it before it heads out the kitchen door. So your job isn’t just about delivering food and drinks to a table in a timely fashion; it’s also about providing one last review and assuring the quality of your employer’s product. Let the restaurant manager know that you take this responsibility seriously.
Customer Satisfaction
An unhappy restaurant customer is a problem for everyone, not just the owner of the business. If you take customer complaints to heart and you do everything you can to resolve them diplomatically and prevent them in the first place, your employers will want to know this. Make it clear that you take the success of this business as seriously as your managers do, and that you’re willing to go the extra mile to make guests feel welcome and cared for.
Problem Resolution
The restaurant business is complex and fast paced, and on any given night, there are dozens of things that can and often do go wrong. This happens even in well-run establishments, and the most valuable employees are those who act quickly to resolve problems as they arise. If the oven breaks down on a busy Saturday, a popular item is suddenly discontinued, a meal is delayed, or an order is misunderstood, great employees are those who stay calm and work hard to hard to set things right. Weak employees are those who panic, make foolish decisions, or don’t act at all. Make sure your employers know which category you fall into.
Food Cost
Experienced employees know how to reduce bottom line costs for their employers by cutting waste and reducing mistakes and incorrect orders. Let your employers know that you recognize the big picture, you understand how the restaurant business works, and you’re ready to help them avoid unnecessary losses.
Upselling Items
In addition to cutting costs, you’ll also need to keep an eye on increasing revenues and helping your employers make money. Servers and bartenders can do this by diplomatically upselling items and making suggestions to customers. If you’re willing to act as a salesperson, not just a server, employers will appreciate your investment in the success of the business.
Drafting & Polishing Your Restaurant Resume
You’ll need a stand-out resume to separate yourself from the competition and find a place for yourself in the restaurant business. And as you draft and edit your resume, get help. Take advantage of LiveCareer’s resume builder to create a resume in a few quick and easy steps. Make sure your information is professionally laid out, and then make sure each section highlights your most important and relevant skill sets.
