Server job description for a resume

The short answer

A server writing a resume should describe what they actually did — work like remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning — rather than copying a generic bullet list. The U.S. Department of Labor classifies the role as Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031.00). Its 22 published duties are the place to start, and the 14 most relevant are listed below. Service Orientation is the capability O*NET rates highest for the work.

What follows is the published duty list, not a set of bullets to copy. The difference matters: a line describing work you did not do is one interview question away from falling apart.

What a server does

Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.

O*NET occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031.00).

Server duties you can put on a resume

O*NET publishes 22 core duties for this occupation. These are the 14 its incumbents most often report performing, ranked by O*NET's published relevance rating — not a complete list of the job. Which ranking is a fact from the source; which of them you personally did is not something any dataset knows. Use the list as a memory aid, never as a list to paste.

1. Remove dishes and glasses from tables or counters, and take them to kitchen for cleaning.
2. Check with customers to ensure that they are enjoying their meals, and take action to correct any problems.
3. Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.
4. Take orders from patrons for food or beverages.
5. Stock service areas with supplies such as coffee, food, tableware, and linens.
6. Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
7. Fill salt, pepper, sugar, cream, condiment, and napkin containers.
8. Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
9. Inform customers of daily specials.
10. Perform cleaning duties, such as sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpet, tidying up server station, taking out trash, or checking and cleaning bathroom.
11. Collect payments from customers.
12. Assist host or hostess by answering phones to take reservations or to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.
13. Roll silverware, set up food stations, or set up dining areas to prepare for the next shift or for large parties.
14. Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.

Skills a server can list

O*NET rates these at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation.

Service Orientation

importance 3.88

Active Listening

importance 3.50

Speaking

importance 3.50

Social Perceptiveness

importance 3.38

Coordination

importance 3.12

Monitoring

importance 3.00

What not to claim

• A duty from the list above that you did not personally perform. It describes Waiters and Waitresses as an occupation, not your particular job — and interviewers for server roles ask about the specifics.
• Duties from the 8 published items not shown here, unless you genuinely did them. A longer list is not a better one.
• A percentage, a headcount or a volume you did not measure. "Improved satisfaction by 35%" is the single most copied line on resume-example sites, and almost nobody who pastes it can source it.
• Service Orientation at a level you have not worked at. O*NET rates it highest for this occupation, which makes it the most likely thing to be probed.
• A tool, system or certification you have not used or hold. This is the fastest claim to disprove.

Source and method

O*NET data are provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence.The duties and skills above are reproduced as published. The resume guidance, the prompts and any generated lines are RoleSprint's, and O*NET did not write them.

Related occupations

Same occupational family in the SOC classification, so the duties often overlap with work you have done.

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