Writing a cover letter is as fun as a diet of bread and water. But, if you want to get a good server job at a proper establishment, it’s necessary to write one.
But don’t worry. I’ll teach you how to write a server cover letter faster than you can prepare a restaurant for a rush hour period.
Top Insights:
Server or hospitality achievements work best when they are quantified.
Showing motivation and enthusiasm is a great way to score points in the eyes of the restaurant manager.
A cover letter should never exceed one page, no matter how many skills and achievements you have.
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your cover letter.” Patrick
I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan
My previous cover letter was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George
The applicant has several years of experience, and this cover letter focuses on professional accomplishments.
It’s short, professional, and shows enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Restaurant Server Cover Letter Example #3—With Bullet Points
What makes it work:
This letter is a good fit for servers with a ton of experience.
The letter uses bullet points to increase its readability. It references specific points from the job posting and shows accomplishments.
It mentions a ton of skills valuable to the server position.
How to Write a Tantalizing Server Cover Letter
A tantalizing server cover letter coming right up! Getting the best serving jobs requires more than a smile and the ability to carry three plates on one arm. And you want the best serving jobs out there.
Since servers in the US are way too often underpaid and need to rely on customer tips for their salaries, you don’t want to end up in a run-down diner that won’t pay you enough to buy your own food. But in just a few minutes, I’ll show you all you need to write a cover letter for a server position that will make the competition look like burnt chicken.
1. Analyze the Job Ad First
Let’s start looking for a job. Oh, here is an interesting one:
We are seeking a friendly, motivated, and service-oriented individual to join our team as a Server at Sunny Side Diner. The ideal candidate will be passionate about delivering excellent customer service, ensuring that every guest has a memorable dining experience. As a server, you will play a key role in creating a positive environment by engaging with customers, taking accurate orders, and delivering food and beverages in a timely and professional manner.
Key Responsibilities:
Greet guests warmly and provide them with a menu, answer any questions about menu items, and make recommendations when appropriate.
Accurately take food and beverage orders and communicate them to the kitchen staff.
Ensure that food is served promptly and according to the diner’s standards.
Provide attentive and friendly service to ensure a positive dining experience for all guests.
Handle guest inquiries and concerns promptly and courteously.
Assist in the preparation and organization of the dining area, including cleaning and setting tables.
Process payments and handle cash transactions with accuracy.
And it looks like the job piqued the interest of Jacob, who immediately grabbed his food server resume and was seconds away from sending it… But he realized that he was missing one important thing—That’s right, a server cover letter. And unfortunately, Jacob didn’t know how to write a great cover letter. That’s why his first draft was as good as pancakes fried in fish oil:
Jacob knew that a cover letter like that was more of a hindrance than if he didn’t include one at all. But he also knew that cover letters are still necessary for a successful job search. Lucky for him, he found ResumeLab, read up on our guides, and then hopped into our builder to remake his unappetizing cover letter into a work of art. Here are the tips he followed:
2. Provide the Contact Information
People sometimes put their contact details on their resumes but forget to do the same on the cover letter. Your server cover letter header must match your resume header 100%. Below it, list the city and date and then the contact details of the hiring manager.
Here’s what Jacob’s cover letter header looks like:
Why is this cover letter header good?
It contains all the necessary contact details.
It is directed to the restaurant manager responsible for the hiring process.
It opens with a correct salutation, using the hiring manager’s name.
If you can’t find the name of the person responsible for hiring in the job ad or LinkedIn, you can just address the cover letter to the restaurant manager or the restaurant owner.
Do recruiters really read cover letters, and why are they important?
It depends. A generic CV that is two pages long and lacks key information (such as achievements and motivation) is unlikely to be read. The cover letter should be personalized and tailored to the specific role you are applying for.
3. Start the Cover Letter Well
Just like bringing appetizers to the table, starting the cover letter properly makes the reader hungry for what’s to come next.
Some of my favorite ways to start a cover letter are:
Mention a mutual contact or a personal connection to the restaurant. This immediately establishes rapport.
Reference the specific job you’re applying for and briefly highlight why you’re a great fit.
Lead with a strong, relevant accomplishment that directly ties into the position.
Convey genuine excitement about the opportunity and the company. A passionate tone can be very persuasive and set you apart from more generic introductions.
Jacob decided to show his passion and motivation:
Why is this introduction good?
It states the exact position Jacob is targeting.
It shows a ton of enthusiasm and motivation.
It hints at Jacob’s volunteering job, showing that he might show some interesting transferable skills in the next portion of his server cover letter.
Interesting Fact: Server jobs are particularly popular among teenagers. About 30% of all teenagers employed in the U.S. work in the leisure and hospitality sector, which includes restaurants and food service.
4. Prove You Will Excel at Work
When writing a cover letter for restaurant server positions, after you introduce yourself, get into why they should hire you.
Look at the description of the job advertised. Out of the list of skills, duties, and job accomplishments, think about which ones are the most important to the employer and which ones set you apart from the crowd. Describe yourself as their perfect candidate, and back it up with your achievements in those things.
You can write this part in two ways:
With a few bullet points to isolate specific accomplishments.
With one or two more descriptive paragraphs.
Here’s how Jacob did it:
What makes these middle paragraphs effective?
It highlights important points and responsibilities from the job posting, such as bringing food or effective communication skills.
Jacob mentioned several quantified accomplishments to show the impact he made as a volunteer.
He explains what valuable skills he has and how they can benefit the diner.
The last paragraph of your server cover letter should explain exactly why you want to work there. Of course, you’ll be applying to many places, but it doesn’t take long to make every one of them feel special.
See how Jacob expressed his enthusiasm:
What makes his proposition work?
It mentions what makes the restaurant special.
It highlights a promise to the diner.
It’s written in a friendly tone and is very succinct.
Take a little time to find something distinctive about your employer, be it through their website or just by looking around. This will set your server cover letter apart from the copy-and-pasted rest.
6. Close the Server Cover Letter With a CTA
You’re almost there, right at the end of your cover letter. A good server doesn’t slouch in the last hour of their shift. If the reader got this far in your server cover letter, don’t leave anything to chance.
Be bold and ask for an interview or at least call, and justify it with your biggest strength or achievement in their most desired skill. It’s commonly known as a CTA, or a Call To Action.
See Jacob’s example:
What makes this paragraph effective?
It’s short and presents a specific skill Jacob is proud of.
It adds a layer of motivation, as Jacob wants to help the diner be the best in town.
It asks to schedule an interview and repeats the contact information, making it easy for a restaurant manager to make an immediate decision.
If Jacob were an experienced server, there would be one more trick he could use. A postscript is an additional mention of a specific accomplishment, that’s used to entice the reader and also provides a conversation hook for a future interview.
It may look something like this:
P.S. I’d love to share how I improved the tipping rate by 20% at Planet Pizza in 4 months.
But, like I said, Jacob isn’t a server with a ton of experience and accomplishments, so he shouldn’t use it. If you are an experienced server, then feel free to showcase something impressive here.
There is more to learn about writing cover letters. If you’re eager to expand your knowledge, see these articles:
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
How to Format a Cover Letter for Server Position
First thing first, look at your server resume. Your cover letter needs a matching layout. If you used one of our amazing resume templates, you’re set, but if you downloaded a template from the internet or made your own from scratch, you must copy it for your cover letter.
Here are the formatting rules to follow:
For the body text, use a professional font (the same you used on a resume) like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in sizes 10–12. Keep margins around 1 inch and ensure there is enough white space to make the cover letter easy to read.
Carefully proofread your cover letter for spelling and grammar errors. A polished cover letter without mistakes demonstrates attention to detail.
Formatting a cover letter is fairly straightforward, but if you find it challenging or time-consuming, you can always use an online resume builder to handle it for you.
If you want to learn more about cover letter layouts, read these guides:
With ResumeLab’s resume builder you’ll write your resume in a flash. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Just pick one of 21 resume templates and get started now.
Do you have any questions about server cover letters? Do you need further help with writing your cover letter for server positions? Drop a comment and use our cover letter builder a go. You’ll see how big of a change it’ll make!
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At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
Mariusz is a career expert with a background in quality control & economics. With work experience in FinTech and a passion for self-development, Mariusz brings a unique perspective to his role. He’s dedicated to providing the most effective advice on resume and cover letter writing techniques to help his readers secure the jobs of their dreams.