Waiter/Waitress Resume and Cover Letter Examples

Waitress serving dessert to customer

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Are you applying for a job as a waiter or waitress? For some restaurant positions, you will apply by completing an online application, or you may be required to apply in person. For others, you may be required to submit a resume and cover letter for consideration, including your waiter or waitressing skills.

When you write a cover letter for a waitstaff job, it's important to highlight the skills you have that match the job requirements listed in the job posting. Your resume should include your most relevant work experience, typically in reverse chronological order.

Here's information on what to include in your resume, tips for writing resumes and cover letters that will get your application noticed, examples, and templates to download.

What to Include in Your Resume and Cover Letter

Highlight your customer service skills. Restaurant managers are eager to hire front-of-house staff who understand the importance of providing exemplary customer service to guests.

Emphasize your dedication to creating positive guest experiences, your proactiveness in identifying diners’ needs, and your tact in responding to difficult customers.

Remember the importance of soft skills. Not only must waitstaff have exemplary customer service skills, but they must also demonstrate soft skills such as dependability, timeliness, flexibility in being available for different shifts, and a solid work ethic.

Match your skills to the job. Review this list of skills required for waitstaff jobs before you get started, then take the time to match your qualifications to the job. This way, your application materials will show the employer that you're a qualified candidate for the position.

Include all relevant experience. Provide descriptions of your previous restaurant jobs, accompanied by bulleted statements about your achievements and significant contributions in each role. Also mention any restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems or other computer technologies you are familiar with.

Detail your education and certifications. In the “Education” section of your resume, list any college degrees you hold or are currently pursuing. You should also mention any SafeServ, MAST, or other industry-specific certifications you have earned.

Tips for Writing Effective Resumes and Cover Letters

Tailor each resume to the job. Both your resume and your cover letter should be revised to speak to the specific requirements of different employers. Read the job posting carefully, and then make sure your resume emphasizes the qualifications most valued by the employer.

A good way to do this is to include keywords in your resume from the job listing. Highlight the important words in the job listing (including qualifications, skills, etc.) and include them in your resume to demonstrate that you are a desirable candidate for the position.

Include examples. Review these resume and cover letter templates to learn what information you should include, how to present your most relevant experiences, and how to make your application stand out from the competition. You can then use them as a basis for your own documents, personalizing them to reflect your own training and experience.

Consider the format. There is no single “perfect” format for a resume. Although most employers expect to receive resumes where one’s experience is presented in reverse-chronological order, you may find that a different format would work better for you, depending on the position you are applying for, your work history, or your level of experience.

Proofread and Edit. Your resume and cover letter need to be letter-perfect. Take the time to thoroughly edit your resume, correcting any spelling or grammar errors (or have a competent friend do this for you if you feel unsure about your grammatical skills). The formatting also needs to be consistent, with the same style of bullet points used throughout and the same size font for all of your section headings. 

Waiter Resume Example

This is an example of a resume for a waiter position. Download the resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word) or see below for more examples.

Waiter resume examples

Waiter Resume Example (Text Version)

Matthew Applicant
789 Billings Blvd
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 123-4567
matthew.applicant@email.com

WAITER
Serving diners with enthusiasm and efficiency
Can handle a high volume of customers in fast-paced environments, ranging from casual to fine dining.

Key skills include:

  • Friendly, outgoing, and personable
  • Multitasking
  • TouchBistro, Toast, and Upserve experience
  • Quick learner

PROFESSIONAL & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

BETH’S BISTRO, Paw Paw, MI
WAITER (July 2020—Present)
Provide service for patrons at a fine-dining establishment.

Notable accomplishments:

  • Consistently record highest sales-per-shift average among staff.
  • Regularly asked to train new employees.

AUSTIN’S STEAKHOUSE, Mattawan, MI
WAITER (August 2019—June 2020)
Took orders, served meals, set and cleared tables, and dealt with the exchange of money at a fast-paced restaurant.

TOLL’S PANCAKE GRIDDLE, Paw Paw, MI
HOST (June 2018—July 2019)
Scheduled reservations and helped manage seating in a popular and busy restaurant.

PAW PAW NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Mattawan, MI
VOLUNTEER TUTOR (September 2019—Present)
Tutor and mentor second and third grade students in reading.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Texas Twp., MI
Associate of Arts degree, expected 2023

PAW PAW CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, Paw Paw, MI
Diploma, 2020

Waiter Cover Letter Example

This is an example of a cover letter for a waiter position. Download the waiter cover letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word) or see below for more examples.

Cover letter sample for a waiter

Waiter Email Letter Example (Text Version)

Damian Finkle
123 Elm Street
Albany, NY 12224
555-555-1234
damian.finkle@college.edu

May 16, 2022

John Lee
Shift Manager
Michael’s Restaurant
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321

Dear Mr. Lee,

Please accept my enthusiastic application for the waiter position you recently advertised on Monster.com. You state that Michael’s Restaurant requires a waiter with experience in the food industry, strong customer service skills, and the ability to work under pressure. I believe I fulfill all of these requirements and am an excellent candidate for the position.

I have an extensive background in the food industry. I worked for two years at a fast-food restaurant. During this time, I gained experience in nearly every aspect of food service. I took orders and served customers their meals, handled the cash register, and performed daily inventory checks. As a waiter for Michael’s Restaurant, I could assist not only in taking orders and serving customers but also in a variety of other capacities in which you might need assistance.

At Riley’s Fast Food Joint, I also interacted with dozens of customers each day; I always made sure to provide clear and thorough answers to questions about our meal options and the cost of items. I know I could bring this friendly, helpful customer service to a position as a waiter at Michael’s Restaurant.

My experience in the food industry and in customer service, and my ability to thrive under pressure make me an excellent candidate for your waiter position.

I have enclosed my resume and will call within the next week to see if we might arrange a time to speak together. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Signature (hard copy letter)

Damian Finkle

How to Send an Email Application

When you're applying for a job via email, include your name and the title of the job for which you're applying in the subject line of the message. For example:

Damian Finkle - Waitstaff Position

How to Get Your Resume Noticed

HIGHLIGHT YOUR CREDENTIALS: Emphasize your customer service and waitstaff experience, restaurant industry certifications, and your knowledge of restaurant computer technologies.

SHOWCASE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Quantifying your achievements in previous jobs with numbers or percentages will help make your resume stand out from those of the other job applicants.

TAILOR YOUR RESUME TO THE JOB: Customize your resume for each job to which you are applying so that it focuses on presenting the specific qualifications the employer is seeking.