How to Describe Your Serving Job on a Resume: A Guide to Landing Your Next Role
Landing that perfect job starts with a compelling resume. For those with serving experience, effectively showcasing those skills can be the difference between an interview and another rejection. This guide provides actionable steps to describe your serving job on your resume in a way that highlights your accomplishments and makes you stand out from the competition.
Keywords are Key: Before we dive into specific examples, let's identify some crucial keywords recruiters look for when reviewing resumes for hospitality roles. These vary slightly depending on the specific job you're applying for, but generally include:
- Customer service: This is paramount in serving. Highlight instances where you went above and beyond.
- Communication: Excellent communication skills are essential for taking orders, handling complaints, and interacting with diverse clientele.
- Teamwork: Serving is rarely a solo act. Showcase your ability to collaborate effectively with kitchen staff, bartenders, and fellow servers.
- Sales: Upselling and suggestive selling are common in restaurants. Quantify your success in this area.
- Problem-solving: Unexpected situations arise frequently. Highlight how you resolved issues efficiently and professionally.
- Time management: Handling multiple tables and orders simultaneously requires exceptional time management skills.
- Cash handling: If applicable, mention experience with handling cash, credit card transactions, and balancing receipts accurately.
Beyond the Basics: Action Verbs and Quantifiable Results
Simply listing your duties won't cut it. Use strong action verbs to begin each bullet point and quantify your achievements whenever possible. Instead of: “Took customer orders,” try:
- “Accurately processed an average of 30 customer orders per shift with minimal errors.” (Quantifiable, shows accuracy)
- “Efficiently managed multiple tables simultaneously, ensuring timely food and beverage service and high customer satisfaction.” (Highlights time management and customer focus)
- “Proactively addressed customer concerns, resolving issues and improving customer experience, resulting in positive feedback and repeat business.” (Shows problem-solving and customer retention)
- “Increased average order value by 15% through effective upselling and suggestive selling techniques.” (Quantifiable, highlights sales skills)
- “Maintained a clean and organized workstation, adhering to all health and safety regulations.” (Shows attention to detail and responsibility)
- “Handled cash and credit card transactions accurately, balancing daily till with minimal discrepancies.” (Highlights financial responsibility)
Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description:
Always tailor your resume to each specific job. Read the job description carefully and identify the key skills and experience they're seeking. Then, adjust your bullet points to emphasize those specific qualities. If the job description emphasizes teamwork, highlight your collaborative accomplishments. If they need someone with strong problem-solving skills, showcase instances where you effectively resolved customer issues.
Examples of Serving Job Descriptions:
Here are a few examples of how to describe your serving experience on your resume, tailored to different aspects of the role:
Example 1: Focusing on Customer Service
- Consistently exceeded customer expectations, receiving numerous positive comments and reviews for exceptional service.
- Proactively identified and addressed customer needs, resolving complaints with professionalism and efficiency.
- Built rapport with regular customers, fostering a loyal clientele and increasing repeat business.
Example 2: Highlighting Teamwork and Efficiency
- Collaborated effectively with kitchen staff and fellow servers to ensure seamless service and efficient table turnover.
- Maintained a positive and supportive team environment, contributing to a high level of team morale.
- Demonstrated exceptional time management skills, managing multiple tables simultaneously with minimal delays.
Example 3: Emphasizing Sales and Upselling
- Consistently exceeded sales targets by effectively upselling appetizers, desserts, and beverages.
- Increased average order value by 10% through suggestive selling techniques and personalized recommendations.
- Proactively promoted daily specials and promotions, resulting in increased sales and revenue.
Remember, presenting your serving experience effectively involves using strong action verbs, quantifying your achievements, and tailoring your descriptions to match the specific requirements of each job. With careful attention to detail, you can craft a compelling resume that highlights your skills and increases your chances of landing your dream job.