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.
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Jacob L. Miller
High School Student
Springfield, IL
Phone: (555) 987-6543
Email: jacob.miller@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacoblmiller_07
September 3, 2024
Andreas Whitaker
Restaurant Manager
Sunny Side Diner
42 Main Street
Springfield, IL 62704
Dear Mr. Whitaker,
I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the server position at Sunny Side Diner. As a hardworking and motivated high school student with a strong commitment to providing excellent customer service gained through my volunteering endeavors, I am eager to bring my skills and enthusiasm to your wonderful diner.
Through my experience as a volunteer at the Springfield Food Bank, I have developed strong customer service skills and learned the importance of creating a welcoming environment for all guests. In this role, I assisted in distributing over 500 meals to families in need and played a key role in organizing a fundraising event that raised $2,000 for the food bank. These experiences have honed my ability to communicate effectively, manage time efficiently, and solve problems as they arise—all qualities that are essential for a successful server.
In addition to my volunteer work, my involvement in extracurricular activities such as the Student Council and Drama Club has allowed me to develop strong teamwork and communication skills. Whether organizing school events or performing in plays, I have learned the value of collaboration and the importance of delivering a positive experience to others. I am confident that these skills, along with my ability to balance multiple responsibilities, as evidenced by maintaining a 3.5 GPA while participating in various extracurricular activities, will enable me to contribute to the high standards of service at Sunny Side Diner.
I am particularly excited about the opportunity to join Sunny Side Diner because of your reputation for providing a warm and inviting dining experience. I am eager to learn from your experienced team and am committed to working hard to ensure that every customer is satisfied.
When would be good to have a meeting or a call to discuss how I can apply my customer service skills to help cement Sunny Side as the best diner in town
Sincerely,
Jacob L. Miller
(555) 987-6543
jacob.miller@email.com
What makes it work:
Subject Line: Experienced Server—Emily Roberts Seeks Opportunity at Riverfront Grill
Dear Ms. Anderson,
I am excited to apply for the Server position at Riverfront Grill. With over two years of experience as a server in high-volume restaurants, I am confident in my ability to contribute to your team and provide exceptional service to your guests.
In my previous role at The Lakeside Bistro, I was responsible for managing a section of up to 15 tables during peak hours, consistently maintaining a 95% customer satisfaction rating. I developed a reputation for delivering prompt and friendly service, leading to a 20% increase in repeat customers within my section. Additionally, I was recognized as Employee of the Month twice for my efficiency, teamwork, and ability to upsell menu items, resulting in a 15% boost in average check size.
My experience has honed my ability to multitask, manage time effectively, and adapt to the fast-paced demands of a busy restaurant environment. I am particularly skilled in handling customer inquiries, resolving issues promptly, and ensuring a seamless dining experience from start to finish.
I am eager to bring my proven track record in customer satisfaction, upselling, and efficient service to Riverfront Grill. I would love to schedule a call to discuss how my experience and skills can contribute to your restaurant's continued success.
Best regards,
Emily Roberts
Food Server
(555) 987-6543
emily.roberts@email.com
linkedin.com/in/emilyroberts
What makes it work:
Samantha Davis
Lead Server
(555) 123-4567
samantha.davis@email.com
linkedin.com/in/samanthadavis_04
September 3, 2024
Restaurant Manager
Riverfront Grill
123 Main Street
Springfield, IL 62704
Dear Restaurant Manager,
I am thrilled to apply for the Lead Server position at Riverfront Grill. With over two years of experience in the restaurant industry, including my current role as a Lead Server at The Lakeside Bistro, I am passionate about delivering exceptional dining experiences and leading a team to success.
In your job advertisement, you mentioned that you’re looking for a Lead Server with a strong background in customer service and team leadership. My experience and accomplishments align closely with your needs:
I excel at creating a positive and productive work environment, ensuring that both customers and staff have a satisfying experience. My ability to manage high-pressure situations, combined with my strong organizational skills and attention to detail, makes me an ideal candidate for the Lead Server position at Riverfront Grill.
I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring my leadership skills and customer service expertise to Riverfront Grill. I would love to schedule a meeting to discuss how my background and achievements can contribute to your restaurant's continued success.
Kind regards,
Samantha Davis
(555) 123-4567
samantha.davis@email.com
linkedin.com/in/samanthadavis_04
What makes it work:
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.
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:
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:
Bad server cover letter sample
Dear Mr./Mrs.,
My name is Jacob Miller, and while I was dining at Sunny Side I noticed you’re looking for a server.
I have no serving experience, but I would like to try. I’m a high school student with great grades and a strong work ethic. I believe I would make a great addition to your team.
Please read the resume I sent as an attachment. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Jacob Miller
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:
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:
Jacob L. Miller
High School Student
Springfield, IL
Phone: (555) 987-6543
Email: jacob.miller@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacoblmiller_07
September 3, 2024
Andreas Whitaker
Restaurant Manager
Sunny Side Diner
42 Main Street
Springfield, IL 62704
Dear Mr. Whitaker,
Why is this cover letter header good?
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.
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:
Jacob decided to show his passion and motivation:
Server Cover Letter Introduction
I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the server position at Sunny Side Diner. As a hardworking and motivated high school student with a strong commitment to providing excellent customer service gained through my volunteering endeavors, I am eager to bring my skills and enthusiasm to your wonderful diner.
Why is this introduction good?
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.
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:
Here’s how Jacob did it:
Server Cover Letter Main Body
Through my experience as a volunteer at the Springfield Food Bank, I have developed strong customer service skills and learned the importance of creating a welcoming environment for all guests. In this role, I assisted in distributing over 500 meals to families in need and played a key role in organizing a fundraising event that raised $2,000 for the food bank. These experiences have honed my ability to communicate effectively, manage time efficiently, and solve problems as they arise—all qualities that are essential for a successful server.
In addition to my volunteer work, my involvement in extracurricular activities such as the Student Council and Drama Club has allowed me to develop strong teamwork and communication skills. Whether organizing school events or performing in plays, I have learned the value of collaboration and the importance of delivering a positive experience to others. I am confident that these skills, along with my ability to balance multiple responsibilities, as evidenced by maintaining a 3.5 GPA while participating in various extracurricular activities, will enable me to contribute to the high standards of service at Sunny Side Diner.
What makes these middle paragraphs effective?
Expert Hint: Want to increase your chances? Get certified as a restaurant server by the American Hotel and Lodging Association Educational Institute. The more relevant certifications on a job application you have, the better your chances.
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:
Food server cover letter—Promise
I am particularly excited about the opportunity to join Sunny Side Diner because of your reputation for providing a warm and inviting dining experience. I am eager to learn from your experienced team and am committed to working hard to ensure that every customer is satisfied.
What makes his proposition work?
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.
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:
Server cover letter ending
When would be good to have a meeting or a call to discuss how I can apply my customer service skills to help cement Sunny Side as the best diner in town?
Sincerely,
Jacob L. Miller
(555) 987-6543
jacob.miller@email.com
What makes this paragraph effective?
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:
But there’s still more. Now I’ll teach you the basics of cover letter formatting.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
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.
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:
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:
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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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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.
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