--- title: "Server Resume Skills: What to Put On It" description: "List the skills the job uses: accurate orders, menu knowledge, POS, payments, customer service, teamwork, stamina. Example resume lines built on BLS duties." url: https://www.tipmaxapp.com/us/answers/what-to-put-on-a-server-resume language: en publisher: TipMax (Entermaurs Incorporated) date_published: 2026-09-23 last_verified: 2026-09-23 --- # What skills should I put on a server resume? **Short answer:** **List the skills the job actually uses: taking orders accurately, menu knowledge, the POS, handling payments, customer service, working with the kitchen, and staying fast on your feet.** The Bureau of Labor Statistics names communication, customer service, attention to detail, stamina, and strength as important server qualities. Back each skill with one specific line from your work, and put your availability near the top. ## Example resume lines Each row takes a duty or quality from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and turns it into a resume line. The lines are illustrative; write your own true ones. | BLS duty or quality | Example resume line | | --- | --- | | Take food and drink orders; detail oriented | Took orders for a 5-table section on weekend dinners, reading back modifiers and allergy notes | | Explain specials and answer menu questions | Learned a 40-item menu and nightly specials; answered guest questions on ingredients and pairings | | Relay orders through a point-of-sale system | Entered orders and split checks in the POS (name the system you used) | | Prepare checks, take payment, return change | Closed out checks and balanced a cash drawer at end of shift | | Customer service; communication | Handled guest complaints by fixing the issue first and looping in the manager | | Set up dining areas, stock service areas | Ran opening and closing side work: stocking, roll-ups, resetting tables | | Physical stamina and strength | Worked 8-hour doubles on my feet; carried full trays | **Not tax or legal advice.** This is resume advice. Don’t list a skill or tool you haven’t used. ## Plain English ### A skills section that works - Order accuracy and modifiers - Menu and specials knowledge (add wine or cocktails if you know them) - POS systems you’ve used, by name - Cash handling and check splitting - Allergen awareness - Upselling appetizers, drinks, and desserts - Working with the kitchen and bar during a rush - Opening and closing side work ### What goes near the top BLS says part-time work is common for servers and schedules may include early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. A hiring manager wants to know fast whether you fit the schedule, so put your availability right under your name. ### No serving experience? Use the same qualities from other work. Retail: cash handling, customer questions, standing all shift. Fast food or coffee: speed, ticket accuracy, a rush. Call center: calm with upset customers. BLS says servers typically need no related work experience, so your job is to show the qualities, not the title. See [How do I get a serving job with no experience?](https://www.tipmaxapp.com/us/answers/how-to-get-a-serving-job-with-no-experience) ### Certificates BLS says some states, counties, and cities require alcohol-service training for servers, and some states require food-safety training. If you’ve completed one, list it with the date. Don’t list one you haven’t finished. ### Numbers Specific beats vague. Section size, covers on a busy night, or a sales contest you won are all good lines, if they’re true and you can explain them. Don’t make up numbers; a manager may ask. ## Common mistakes - A skills list of adjectives (“hardworking, friendly”) with no examples. - Leaving off availability. - Listing a POS or certificate you haven’t actually used or finished. - A two-page resume for a serving job. ## Official sources - [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Waiters and Waitresses (duties, important qualities, work schedules, training)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/waiters-and-waitresses.htm) ## Last verified September 23, 2026. Checked the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook page for waiters and waitresses (last modified August 27, 2026). The resume lines and layout are our advice, not from a government source. ## Related - [Server interview questions and answers](https://www.tipmaxapp.com/us/answers/server-interview-questions-and-answers) - [How do I get a serving job with no experience?](https://www.tipmaxapp.com/us/answers/how-to-get-a-serving-job-with-no-experience) - [How do I upsell as a server?](https://www.tipmaxapp.com/answers/how-to-upsell-as-a-server) - [How do I learn a wine list?](https://www.tipmaxapp.com/answers/how-to-learn-a-wine-list-as-a-server) ## How TipMax helps with this If you log sales with each shift, you’ll have your own numbers to point to on a resume or in an interview. TipMax is an iPhone app for servers and bartenders that tracks tips and tip-outs and turns a restaurant menu into study flashcards. - Log sales and steps with each shift. - See your top shifts, best days, and which job actually pays. - Log cash and card tips per shift in seconds. Download TipMax free: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tipmax-study-track-earn/id6744850146 --- TipMax Answers explains public government guidance on pay and workplace rules in plain English for tipped workers. It is **not legal, tax, or accounting advice**. Rules change and local rules can add to them. Confirm with the agency linked on this page or a qualified professional. TipMax the app helps you track tips and pay; it doesn’t enforce wage law or decide disputes.