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Waitstaff skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical waitstaff skills. We ranked the top skills for waitstaffs based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 22.8% of waitstaff resumes contained food service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a waitstaff needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 waitstaff skills for your resume and career

1. Food Service

The food service industry is a vast industry comprising of restaurants, caterers, cafeterias operating in institutions and any other business offering a meal not prepared at home. Foodservice operators require necessary utensils for preparing food for the consumers, foodservice distributors are the people who take care of this need for them.

Here's how waitstaffs use food service:

Collaborate with cook to prepare meals for patrons; stayed abreast on food service industry standards such as handling and health.
Provided prompt and friendly food service, including cash register use, ensuring customer comfort, and beverage preparation/service.

2. Beverage Orders

Beverage orders mean placing an order for any kind of beverage such as water, wine, beer, cold drinks, cocktails, juices, and so on. Taking the correct beverage order is crucial for the service providers of beverages as it is necessary for customer satisfaction. A beverage order involve the kind of drink, the quantity of drinks, and any specific modifications that the customer wants.

Here's how waitstaffs use beverage orders:

Received and placed all food and beverage orders for the extremely fast paced atmosphere.
Receive and deliver beverage orders.

3. Culinary

Here's how waitstaffs use culinary:

Cross trained in culinary operations and sanitation operations.
Offered meal suggestions based on diverse culinary repertoire and expert food knowledge.

4. Team Work

Here's how waitstaffs use team work:

Team work was always number one.

5. Meal Orders

Here's how waitstaffs use meal orders:

Assist with setting the dining room for breakfast and lunch, obtain meal orders from residents and serve them their meal.
Provided guests with refreshments, and meal orders as well as prepared and delivered room service orders.

6. Wine

Here's how waitstaffs use wine:

Prepared and served mixed drinks, beer, wine, and snack food to an average of 12 leagues a night.
Set up pars, do a weekly inventory and order all the beer, wine and liquor.

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7. Cleanliness

Here's how waitstaffs use cleanliness:

Expedited, delivered, and supervised meals of residents while maintaining quality of food and level of cleanliness.
Work as a team player to ensure cleanliness of dining area and kitchen to meet OSHA standards.

Select Skills To Add To Your Resume

Food Service

Beverage Orders

Culinary

Team Work

Meal Orders

Wine

8. Food Preparation

Here's how waitstaffs use food preparation:

Assisted with food preparation and display onto each table, ensuring the presentation is of the highest standards for our customers.
Presented menu to guest, suggesting dinner courses, appropriate wines and assorted beverages, and answered questions regarding food preparation.

9. Guest Satisfaction

Here's how waitstaffs use guest satisfaction:

Required to complete several side-work tasks while maintaining guest satisfaction.
Communicate with hosts, bus persons, kitchen staff, and bartender to ensure guest satisfaction.

10. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how waitstaffs use customer service:

Communicate effectively and productively with coworkers to supply customers with immaculate customer service and a remarkable experience.
Produced consistent, detail-oriented, satisfying customer service for diners in busy upscale restaurant.

11. Food Handling

Here's how waitstaffs use food handling:

Worked closely with management to ensure proper food handling/labeling.
Train new waiters and floor staff on guess service expectation, safely procedures, proper food handling and restaurant protocols.

12. Fine Dining

Here's how waitstaffs use fine dining:

Enabled fine dining service for events throughout southern New England, such as the Newport Mansions and RI State House.
Offer guests fine dining experience through old world hospitality and excellent service.

13. Bus Tables

Bus tables refers to the process of cleaning restaurant tables after the customer has finished and paid for the meal. This includes cleaning the table of any dirty dishes, wiping down the table and seats, and (sometimes) resetting the table for the next guests.

Here's how waitstaffs use bus tables:

Job Duties: taking food orders serving food to residents' room service bus tables wash dishes clean the dining room
Excelled in fast paced environments to serve meals to crowds and bus tables.

14. POS

POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

Here's how waitstaffs use pos:

Coat Check Hang and Tag Guest Belongings and take Payments (cash, credit) via POS System.
Worked POS system to input orders, finalize sales, and calculate meal usage.

15. Drink Orders

Drink orders are made by a bartender working in a bar wherein he/she mixes up a drink that the customers want. There is a lot of different cocktail terminology a customer can ask the bartenders. The most commonly used are neat, it is a drink without any ice on it, but they can still add some by saying on the rocks. Also, you call a straight-up, a white or dark spirited drink poured in a cocktail glass.

Here's how waitstaffs use drink orders:

Manage drink orders via servers or directly from guests; oversee large reservations.
Like a restaurant Take food and drink orders Clean the dining room Do dishes

5 Waitstaff Resume Examples

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Teresa Young Waitstaff Contact Information New York, NY (420) 555-8920 tyoung@example.com Skills • Customer Orders • Extensive Knowledge • Customer Service • Service Staff • Procedures • Quality Standards • Large Parties • Communication • Food Service • Positive Attitude Employment History Waitstaff 2011 - Present Darden Restaurants New York, NY • Provide customer service through introduction of myself and restaurant. • Developed repeat business by establishing long lasting relationships with guests. • Completed data entry of current and new inventory unto database computer system. • Provided customer Service to customers * Took customer's orders * Served meals according to orders placed * Maintained the dining facility • Provided food and beverage service were customer service experience was a top priority. Shift Leader And Server 2001 - 2011 Darden Restaurants New York, NY • Identified and made sales referrals, cross-sell services and provide excellent customer service. • Displayed excellent knowledge of all menu items and wines, beer, and cocktails to suit every menu item. • Learn menu items and be able to describe them appropriately to guests. • Provided detailed information of menu items. • Managed scheduling of breaks, provide daily employee sales, and analyze restaurant sales. Dining Room Server 2000 - 2001 Hilton Worldwide Holdings Philadelphia, PA • Task: Setting up and taking down for banquet functions, serving parties and giving outstanding costumer service • Greet guests in their rooms with a smile and a positive attitude. • Ensured guest satisfaction and exhibit strong team work Shared daily specials and promotions Compute shift sales and deposits • Maintained an adequate supplies of items such as clean linens, silverware, glassware, dishes, or trays. • Take food and beverage orders using suggestive selling while romancing the menus and helping with their selections. Education High School Diploma 2000 - 2000


Rose Flores Waitstaff Contact Info Indianapolis, IN (320) 555-2450 rflores@example.com Skills Food ServiceMeal ServiceKitchen EquipmentHotel ServicesGuest Check-InsSpecial EventsNew MembersRetirement CommunityThorough KnowledgePOS Employment History Waitstaff 2018 - Present Darden Restaurants Indianapolis, IN • Obtain food and beverage orders and provide guest with excellent quality service for the duration of their visit. • Certified Trainer: Teaching and training new employees on company policies, consultation for hiring and recruitment. • Provided customer service Served customers food Assisted in small kitchen operations Operated cash register Handled money and closing at end of night Waitstaff 2010 - 2018 O'Charley's Indianapolis, IN • Serve food and beverages, give guest attention, and clear communication with both other workers and guest. • Cleaned food preparation areas, cooking surfaces, and utensils. • Assisted customer with item selection and order placement via excellent customer service mannerisms. • Greet customers and direct them to their seat. Front Desk Attendant 2000 - 2010 YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN • Posted charges for rooms, such as telephone calls manually or by use of computer. • Learned Microsoft and excelled in customer service. • Used incentives and bonuses to encourage employee excellence in guest services and maintaining high occupancy rates. Education High School Diploma 2000 - 2000


Teresa Young Waitstaff New York, NY tyoung@example.com (420) 555-8920 Experience Waitstaff 2011 - Present Darden RestaurantsNew York, NY • Provide customer service through introduction of myself and restaurant. • Developed repeat business by establishing long lasting relationships with guests. • Completed data entry of current and new inventory unto database computer system. • Provided customer Service to customers * Took customer's orders * Served meals according to orders placed * Maintained the dining facility • Provided food and beverage service were customer service experience was a top priority. Shift Leader And Server 2001 - 2011 Darden RestaurantsNew York, NY • Identified and made sales referrals, cross-sell services and provide excellent customer service. • Displayed excellent knowledge of all menu items and wines, beer, and cocktails to suit every menu item. • Learn menu items and be able to describe them appropriately to guests. • Provided detailed information of menu items. • Managed scheduling of breaks, provide daily employee sales, and analyze restaurant sales. Dining Room Server 2000 - 2001 Hilton Worldwide HoldingsPhiladelphia, PA • Task: Setting up and taking down for banquet functions, serving parties and giving outstanding costumer service • Greet guests in their rooms with a smile and a positive attitude. • Ensured guest satisfaction and exhibit strong team work Shared daily specials and promotions Compute shift sales and deposits • Maintained an adequate supplies of items such as clean linens, silverware, glassware, dishes, or trays. • Take food and beverage orders using suggestive selling while romancing the menus and helping with their selections. Skills Customer Orders Extensive Knowledge Customer Service Service Staff Procedures Quality Standards Large Parties Communication Food Service Positive Attitude Education High School Diploma 2000 - 2000


Melissa Cunningham Waitstaff Employment History Waitstaff 2019 - Present IHOPPhoenix, AZ • Maintained table settings by removing dishes and refilling drinks. • Served and prepared food for customers Provided excellent customer service Cashed customers out while they left • Deliver customers food, refill drinks, clear and prepare tables for next guest. • Describe menu and menu items, including daily specials. • Provided excellent customer service, addressed customer concerns, developed schedules for employees, assisted with and contributed to staff meetings. Banquet Waiter/Waitress 2015 - 2019 IHOPPhoenix, AZ • Bus Person Server Customer Service Front Desk Receptionist Computer Supporter • Greeted guests and made them feel comfortable,learn menu items and was able to describe them appropriately to guests. • greet customers took orders from phone cashiered offered drinks clean tables and work areas • Set up and breakdown all function rooms. Food Service/Cashier 2012 - 2015 McDonald'sHouston, TX • Worked there for over a year, and the job taught me great customer services acts • Cashier, Drive-thru, Training new employees • Front counter Is a one on one area. • Assisted customers take orders and maintained front counter clean and lobbies clean detailed, friendly with customers and greet customers. • Address customer complaints and resolving issues both in person and via phone. • Process payments, customer services multi-tasking Education High School Diploma 2012 - 2012 Contact Information Phoenix, AZ (310) 555-8382 mcunningham@example.com Skills Customer Complaints Positive Attitude Food Service Menu Items Special Requests Job Functions Memorize Orders Banquet Functions Multi Task Food Preparation


Anna Perkins Waitstaff Cincinnati, OH (250) 555-9004 aperkins@example.com Skills Lifeguard Drink Orders First-Aid Special Events Dishes Menu Items Meal Service Waiter New Servers Guest Service Employment History Waitstaff 2019 - Present Bob Evans FarmsCincinnati, OH • Greet, take, and place guest orders. • Operated Micros POS and handled money. • Lead waitress Lead cook Shift/Store Manager Customer service schedule making Food ordering for store, etc Bar Waiter/Waitress 2015 - 2019 TGI Friday'sRichmond, VA • Have knowledge of menu items and specials. • Attended regular meetings to incorporate new policies and menu items. Swim Instructor 2011 - 2015 YMCA of Greater IndianapolisNoblesville, IN • Water Safety Swim Instructor and Lifeguard. • Administered emergency first aid, wrapped injuries, treated minor chronic disabilities, or referred injured persons to physicians as needed. • Communicate well with people of different age groups. • Summer 2012, Summer 2011 Lifeguard, Swim and Boating Instructor, Torah Tutor, Counselor, Dance Teacher, Prayer leader Education High School Diploma 2011 - 2011

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List of waitstaff skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a waitstaff resume and required skills for a waitstaff to have include:

Food Service
Beverage Orders
Culinary
Team Work
Meal Orders
Wine
Cleanliness
Food Preparation
Guest Satisfaction
Customer Service
Food Handling
Fine Dining
Bus Tables
POS
Drink Orders
Room Service
Groceries

Food Orders
Alcoholic Beverages
Reset Tables
Upselling
Table Service
Retirement Community
Bartending
Computer System
Pleasurable
Excellent Guest
Allergies
Menu Selections
Clean Tables
Private Dining
Exceptional Guest
Excellent Dining
Guest Complaints

Pleasant Dining
Cash Drawers
Dishwashers
Customer Orders
Exceptional Dining
Enjoyable Dining
Quality Customer Service
Food Stations
Buffets
Menu Choices
VIP
Waiting Tables
Greeting Guests
Private Parties
FOH

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Waitstaff Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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