Waitress CV example

How to write a CV for a waitress

Now you’ve chosen an interview-winning format, it’s time to explain how to write a CV that’ll stand out from the crowd. The following sections cover what information to include, such as your contact details, personal statement, employment background and more. Plus, we’ll answer some of your most commonly asked FAQs towards the end. What’s on the menu?

• Adding contact details to your waitress CV
• How to write a personal statement for your waitress CV
• Adding experience section to your waitress CV
• Skills worth having on your waitress CV
• Outlining education on a waitress CV

Adding contact details to your waitress CV

One of the biggest mistakes we see is one of the easiest to avoid – forgetting to add your most up-to-date contact details at the top of your CV. While it might sound inconsequential, it’ll prevent the employer from contacting you about the next steps. Place your information near the header in a slightly larger or bolder font for maximum visibility.

Run through:

• Name – full name and surname
• Location – including county and postcode
• Phone number – the best one to reach you on
• Email address – keep it professional

Example of contact section for a waiter CV

OR

How to write a personal statement for your waitress CV

Want to grab the employer’s attention? Create a powerful personal statement summarising your top accomplishments, skills, and qualifications. Although tempting to cram in as much information as possible, you only have three to four sentences to get your main points across. We suggest using the tried and tested formula below for maximum impact.

Sentence one introduces who you are, including years of experience and career focus. Sentence two is where the magic happens – draw the reader in with a showstopping statistic. Finally, sentences three and four spotlight your unique skills and areas of expertise. For example, you might have previously worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant or hotel.

By statistic, we mean a fact or figure that proves your capabilities. You might have won several awards, managed multiple people, or earned an exceptional customer feedback score. Whatever the achievement, be as specific as possible to wow the hiring manager.

The below statements are brilliant examples of what you should aim for. In one, the waiter opens by highlighting their 12 years of experience. There’s an emphasis on customer service before showcasing their ability to perform well in ‘peak hours’ – a key requirement for many waiter roles. In the other, the candidate has told the recruiter she’s got excellent customer service skills, knows how to analyse and solve problems, and can handle a busy restaurant and kitchen.

Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:

• Write in the third person to sound more professional
• Stick to the word count – between 50 to 100 words is ideal
• Only include the most relevant and impressive information
• Sprinkle in a few keywords – you can find these hard and soft skills in the job advertisement
• Don’t tell the employer what you want – save career ambitions for the cover letter

Example of personal statement for a waitress CV

OR

Create my CV

Adding experience section to your waitress CV

The work history section is one of the most fascinating for employers because it reveals more about you as a professional. The ultimate goal is to convince the reader you’re the best person for the job by underlining your core strengths, achievements, and skills.

Start from your current or most recent role and note up to six responsibilities for each. Add more detail for relevant positions that reflect the job advertisement. Here’s what to include:

• Job title
• Employment start and end dates
• Company name
• Company location
• List of key tasks
• Workplace achievements

Like the personal statement, use figures to cement your credentials. The example below shows how to do this. By using numbers to back up claims, such as the 12% increase in positive customer ratings, the candidate shows just how successful they are.

On top of this, remember the devil is in the detail. Rather than listing three roles as “waiter”, the candidate has specified “back waiter”, “waiter”, and “front waiter”. They’re displaying how they take the role seriously as well as showing their journey up the career ladder.

Clear responsibilities are also crucial. Our best advice? Provide precise information, from employers to service dates, so there’s no ambiguity. The waiter in the example showcased specific duties from each role, highlighting their versatility and progression from more basic tasks to taking on reservations and staffing responsibilities.

Finally, uplift the tone with plenty of positive adjectives and action verbs. For instance, you might be “friendly”, “communicative”, and “dependable”. Action verbs are powerful alternatives to “responsible for”. Our favourites for waiters and waitresses include “upsold”, “supervised”, and “resolved”.

Example of work experience for a waiter CV

Skills worth having on your waitress CV

The skills you include on your waitress CV will make it clear that you can work in various dining establishments and handle customers, other members of staff, and technical issues like stock control. The easiest way to present these talents is via a built-out CV skills section. We advise noting up to 12 in total, split equally between hard skills and soft skills.

So, what’s the difference? Hard skills are technical and learnt on the job or through education. Examples include “cash and card payment handling”, “familiarity with ordering software”, and “food preparation knowledge”. In contrast, soft skills are transferable and personality-based – think “ability to build rapport”, “active listening”, and “hard-working”.

Notice how there’s a full range of hard and soft skills mentioned, from point-of-sale system operation to an outgoing, positive attitude. Balancing both gives the employer a well-rounded view of your abilities. Above all else, don’t sleep on soft skills. As a waiter, you’re the face of your employer’s business. They want to know you’re knowledgeable, friendly, and in control.

Need some more ideas? Check out the following lists:

Outlining education on a waitress CV

Education underpins experience and gives you a competitive edge when you’re up against equally skilled candidates. You can talk about school, college and university courses, professional training, and memberships to governing bodies. Basically, anything that confirms you’ve got the brains and fundamental tools to meet expectations!

There are a few rules to keep in mind here. Firstly, only emphasise your most relevant qualifications. For example, you don’t have to individually list GCSEs if you’ve completed an undergraduate degree. Next, avoid bad grades or incomplete courses because they don’t look particularly impressive. You’re not obligated to provide this information unless asked.

While most waitressing jobs don’t require qualifications, the candidate in the example stands out because they hold a Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision. This means they could be a head waiter or waitress one day. So, while education isn’t essential, it definitely boosts your prospects and makes you a more attractive option to employers.

When listing your education, here’s what to include:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Subject title
• Qualification level – e.g. Level 3 Certificate or GCSE
• Qualification result

Example of education for a waiter CV