A waiter is a customer service professional who works in bars, restaurants, hotels, eateries or drinking establishments where they take and fulfill orders and requests from customers and ensure their general satisfaction. They may also occasionally help in the kitchen for the establishment’s efficient operation.
We have something for you if you have been considering taking up a waiter’s job. Our article covers the roles and responsibilities of these professionals and the accompanying requirements, i.e., skills, education, experience, and job-specific knowledge. We have also included resume examples and a complete FAQ section to help you draft the best resume for your job application. Let’s find out more about this position.
Waiter Job Description
As customer service professionals, waitpersons offer guests and patrons excellent customer service and dining experiences. They work in bars, restaurants, hotels, and eateries where they take orders, serve tables and prepare bills at the end of every meal. They also recommend menus and new cuisines to help patrons make the right dining decisions.
This job requires excellent customer service and communication skills, the ability to anticipate and respond to customer needs, patience, the ability to stand for long durations, and high levels of flexibility. Servers must also possess excellent interpersonal skills, given that their job involves interaction with different people.
Waiter Roles and Responsibilities
- Ensuring the satisfaction of patrons, guests, or revelers by offering excellent wait service
- Anticipating and fulfilling customer needs
- Noting customer orders with high levels of accuracy and fulfilling them
- Answering questions about the establishment’s menu and granting any additional reasonable requests
- Making menu recommendations and informing patrons of any specials
- Welcoming and escorting new customers to their tables
- Participating in general dining preparation by setting up glasses, linens, and silverware
- Upholding the establishment’s and health department’s policies and regulations
- Clearing tables and carrying dirty utensils to the kitchen for cleaning purposes
- Billing customers and collecting payments
- Ensuring that guests receive top-notch customer service
- Attending daily meetings with fellow employees to review and recap different issues such as menu changes, specials, and reports
- Ensuring that the establishment is presentable and clean through thoughtful table arrangement and general cleaning
- Relaying order details to kitchen employees
- Reporting any significant problems requiring the attention of the management
- Promoting new products and cuisines
- Performing due process before selling alcoholic beverages to customers, i.e., checking their IDs to ensure that they are of the right age
- Getting the food and drinks orders right to avoid upsetting the customer
- Noting down any complaints about the food and making follow-ups
- Collecting customer feedback to ascertain whether they were satisfied with their meals
- Giving change to tables when necessary
- Promoting the restaurant through word of mouth and referrals
Waiter Required Knowledge and Skills
- Working knowledge of different ordering information systems, e.g., Toast POS
- Knowledge of cash register operation
- Attentiveness to details
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to endure longer standing durations
- Basic math skills
- Active listening skills
- Strong organizational skills
- Ability to attend to multiple duties simultaneously without compromising on task quality
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
- High levels of patience
- Outstanding presentation skills
- Ability to work and thrive in team settings
- Flexibility
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Ability to think critically
- Excellent time management skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- A customer-centric attitude and mindset
- Physical stamina
Waiter Education and Experience
- A High School Diploma, GED, or their equivalent
- Relevant certifications such as safe food handling certifications
- Food safety training (not mandatory, but a plus)
- Proven work experience as a waiter/waitress or as an active customer service professional
- Experience working in food/drinking establishments
- Proven experience working in team settings
- Hands-on experience with ordering information systems, e.g., Revel POS
- Sufficient cash register experience
- Experience working with demanding customers
Waiter Salary
Like in most positions, a waiter’s salary depends on the years of experience, job designation, and the organization’s compensation packages. All in all, Glassdoor estimates that the average base pay for servers is roughly $34,000. Their additional payments can amount to $6,000+ yearly, bringing their total annual income to $40,000 or thereabout. However, senior waiters earn $50,000+ yearly, while lead servers make $41,000+ annually.
Waiter CV Example 1
Ivan Sergey
Physical address: 425 Karmann Drive, Black Hawk, Colorado (CO), 80345
Email address: sergeyivan15@gmail.com
Phone number: (670) 567- 9087
Personal Profile
Professional waiter with ten years of experience working in 10+ restaurants and bars. Excellent time manager capable of multitasking and thriving in fast-paced settings. Customer service expert with outstanding collaboration and teamworking skills.
Work Experience
06/2019- 08/2022, Silver Service Waiter, Colorado Springs Hotels, Boulder, Colorado
- Offered a warm welcome and fond farewell to 30+ guests daily
- Attended a 3-days training camp on silverware and electroplated nickel silverware maintenance
- Ensured superior customer service to patrons right from the door, contributing to the hotel’s 98% customer retention rate
- Anticipated guest needs and urgently responded to them, obtaining positive feedback from 98% of the customers
- Set up the restaurant to meet the hotel’s management designed standards, i.e., cover layout and table plan
- Named the best silver service waiter in 2021 for excellent customer service and silverware maintenance
- Generated accurate bills from the Point-of-Sale system and respectfully handed them to the patrons for settlement
04/2016- 05/2019, Waiter, Roadside Hotels, Black Hawk, Colorado
- Offered excellent wait service to 150+ customers daily, ensuring higher customer satisfaction standards
- Urged patrons to try beers, wines, and house cocktails, increasing beverage orders by 15%
- Obeyed all food handling safety procedures and regulations, resulting 0 contamination and stomach upset reports from my patrons
- Checked customers’ IDs for alcoholic beverages orders, confirming they were at least 21 years of age
- Achieved zero allergy-related incidences by following all allergy and dietary guidelines before serving patrons
- Offered wait services during highly-packed nights, i.e., Friday and Saturday
- Ensured high levels of hygiene by cleaning the dining areas and thoroughly sanitizing tables after patrons
- Worked closely with 20+ restaurant staff, including chefs, for efficient order management and customer service delivery
- Trained 10+ incoming staff on the restaurant’s policies, procedures, and practices
03/2012- 12/2015, Bartender, Travelers Resort, Westminster, Colorado
- Prepared 50+ different types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in a roadside resort
- Took over at 8 am daily from the night bartender, contributing to the 24-hour operation of the resort
- Collected $30,000+ monthly in gross sales, exceeding the previous bartender’s monthly sales by 10%+
- Worked 9+ hours daily preparing drinks and ensuring the satisfaction of the establishment’s patrons
- Demonstrated multitasking ability in a fast-paced environment with a 300+ daily customers record
- Observed 100% adherence to established sanitization procedures and food safety guidelines during the preparation and serving of drinks
- Facilitated proper decision-making among patrons through product knowledge communication
- Gained at least 20 return customers monthly through excellent customer service and high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages preparation
Education
- 05/2008- 06/2011, Associate’s Degree in Hotel and Hospitality Management, Front Range Community College, Westminster, Colorado
- 04/2005- 06/2007, Black Hawk Preparatory School, Black Hawk, Colorado
Skills
- Languages
- Russian
- English
- French
Technical Skills
- Food safety regulations
- Basic math
- Cash registers operation
- Dexterity
- Point-of-sales systems
- Alcohol consumption regulations
- Hot dish preparation
- Customer service
- Billing
- Table Preparation
- Culinary
- Menu design
- Accounting
- Marketing
- Human resources
Soft Skills
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Verbal and written communication
- Ability to work in team settings
- Conflict resolution
- High levels of professionalism
- Persistence
- Social perceptiveness
- Adaptability
- Interpersonal skills
- Stress tolerance and management
- Relationship building
Certifications
- 07/18, Certified Food Manager (CFM), International Food Service Executive Association
- 06/14, Certified Professional- Food Safety (CP-FS), National Environmental Health Association
Waiter CV Example 2
Ressie Ashanti
Physical address: 425 Hickory Drive, Lyons, Colorado (CO), 89650
Email address: ashantiressy78@gmail.com
Phone number: (890) 786- 4563
Personal Profile
Certified food and beverage executive with 9+ years of customer service experience working in restaurants, resorts, and bars. Avid team worker with working knowledge of ordering information systems and cash register operation, ready to contribute towards the satisfaction of patrons. Customer service expert ready and able to work under pressure for the general betterment and profitability of the establishment.
Work Experience
05/2019- 08/2022, Waiter, Deluxe Eateries, Denver, Colorado
- Regularly interacted with clients, gaining extensive verbal communication and conflict management skills needed to thrive in the hospitality industry
- Participated in food-related products promotion and sales campaigns in collaboration with five sponsors
- Memorized and communicated at 5+ specials daily to customers, allowing them to explore new dishes
- Organized designated rooms for at least two big monthly parties in liaison with other staff members
- Named the best waiter of the year in 2021 for excellent customer service and outstanding turnover time
- Greeted, welcomed, and directed customers to 10 general and 5 VIP tables
- Spent the first 2 minutes explaining to customers the preparation of different menu items for proper decision-making before taking their orders
- Promoted the eatery by participating in 5+ sponsored community engagements yearly
- Occasionally took up cashier roles, collecting up to $300,000 in cash and credit card payments
- Helped the five chefs with kitchen duties when necessary
- Maintained 98%+ customer service rating for three years
- Cleaned and reset tables within 1-2 minutes to reduce customer wait time
04/2016- 03/2019, Bartender, Orlando Beachside Resort, Orlando
- Trained 10+ establishment workers on the rules, policies, and practices of the beachside bar for optimum productivity and excellent customer service
- Kept the bar cleaned, organized, and tidy at all times for improved customer satisfaction
- Actively participated in conflict resolution, reducing the number of bar fights by 30%
- Stocked and tracked supplies and inventories to ensure the successful preparation of 50+ beverages for the clientele
- Developed excellent customer relations with 100+ customers, cementing their loyalty to the establishment
- Gained satisfaction, appreciation, and return service from customers through excellent hospitality management
- Built and maintained fantastic relationships with 10+ distributors for fast and efficient delivery of supplies
03/2013- 02/2016, Hotel Room Attendant, Wayside Hotels, Lyons, Colorado
- Cleaned and serviced 15 guest rooms for a pleasant and comfortable guest experience
- Made beds and changed linens daily to maintain high levels of cleanliness and customer satisfaction
- Anticipated and addressed service needs, achieving a 98%+ positive customer rating from the guests
- Followed a well-detailed guest room checklist for cleaning and sanitizing guest rooms
- Worked closely with 10+ hotel room attendants to achieve common goals
- Welcomed and acknowledged 10+ guests in accordance with the hotel’s policies daily
Education
- 04/2008- 05/2012, Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
- 05/2005- 08/2007, Lyons Senior High School, Lyons, Colorado
Skills
- Languages
- English
- Swedish
- Croatian
Technical Skills
- Culinary
- Menu design and preparation
- Human resources
- Basic Math
- Customer service
- Point-of-sales service
- Client relationship management
- Cash register operation
- Dexterity
- Marketing
- Food safety regulations
Soft Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Collaboration
- Interpersonal
- Flexibility
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability
- Empathy
- Critical thinking
- Active listening
- Time management
- Leadership
- Persuasion
Certifications
- 06/2019, Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE) Certification, American Hotel, and Lodging Educational Institute
- 03/2014, Food Safety Manager Certification, National Registry of Food Safety
Waiter Resume Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
1. Which Technical Skills Should I Include in My Waiter Resume?
Hiring managers expect you to include some task-specific skills in your resume. We urge you to look at the wording of the job listing to find out what these skills are. Here are a few examples worth considering: food safety regulations, alcohol consumption regulation, hospitality management, sales, menu knowledge and preparation, excellent bartending skills, money handling skills, cash register operation ability, order input and follow-up skills, excellent customer service skills, and table preparation skills.
Additional technical skills include basic math/ numerical skills, point-of-sales skills, dining room setup skills, and the ability to train junior staff. You should also prove that you can apply these skills in real-life situations in your work experience section.
2. Which Certifications Should I Pursue and Include in My Resume?
Here are some of the standard certifications for waiters:
- Certified Professional- Food Safety (CP-FS)- This certification is designed for those concerned with preparation, serving, and general food handling, such as waiters. It covers regulatory requirements, food microbiology, and HACCP principles. The CP-FS certification is offered by the National Environmental Health Association and must be renewed after two years.
- Certified Food and Beverage Executive- The Certified Food and Beverage Executive by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute is one of the best certifications available for hospitality workers. It proves education, experience, and expertise and should be renewed every five years.
- Certified Restaurant Server– Like the second certification, this American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute accreditation is available for servers. It covers practical skills, sound judgment, sanitization standards, and effective cost control.
- Certified Customer Service Specialist (CSS)– Your job as a waiter greatly depends on the customer service you extend to patrons. The CSS certification validates teamwork, sales, marketing, ethics, safety, communication, telephone etiquette, email techniques, and problem-solving skills.
Other certifications worth considering include Certified Food Manager (CFM) by the International Food Service Executives Association, Food Safety Manager Certification by the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, and SERV safe Food Protection Manager Certification. Apart from food safety management certifications, it would help if you also settled for a few customer service-related certifications.
3. Which Keywords Should I Include in My Resume?
The right keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and capture the hiring manager’s attention. Therefore, take some time to carefully review the company’s job posting and identify the exact skills the company needs in its employees. Examples include food & beverage, fine dining, hospitality, hospitality management, catering, social media, table preparation, waiting tables, customer service, restaurant management, food service, memorization, customer service, scheduling, rapport building, and food handling.
Additional technical skills include multitasking, orders, beverage sales, grilling, catering experience, cooking, cash handling, cash register, sanitization, and bartending.
4. Which Action Verbs Should I Use in My Resume?
Your work experience section should have several action verbs to express what you did in your former workplace, thus helping you highlight your achievements. Some standard action verbs for a waiter’s resume include: coordinate, assist, answer, carry, engage, train, serve, recommend, provide, greet, memorize, order, ensure, greet, upsell, solve and reduce.
Other action verbs that highlight your previous tasks or workplace contributions include reciting, preparing, monitoring, executing, lifting, and engaging. Given that you will report your experience, these action verbs should be in the past tense.
5. How Can I Write a Good Waiter Resume?
It would be best if you had a few tips at the back of your mind when writing your resume, regardless of the position. First, quantify your experiences and achievements. The hiring manager/ interviewer will want to know how many patrons you can serve in a specific duration, the restaurant-specific technologies you can use, and the amount of revenue you can generate in a given duration- sufficient reasons why quantifying your experiences is mandatory.
Secondly, show your commitment to excellent customer service provision in your work experience section, which is the cornerstone for success as a waiter. Your job resume must convince the hiring manager/interviewer that you can handle customers well, regardless of the situation.
Lastly, align your resume with the job description by customizing it to highlight the experiences and skills captured in the job posting. It is the best way to show that you can exceed or meet the hiring organization’s expectations.