Restaurant Resume Examples, Templates, Skills to Use & More

Restaurant workers pull out all the stops to manage, cook, serve, and clean in busy dining establishments. 

They may handle scheduling, food prep, waiting tables, or a dozen other restaurant duties. 

A resume for restaurant jobs should prove food service skills with eye-opening achievements.

What does it take to get hired?

You need to show good food-service history in a clean, quick way.

Do that, and you’ll get attention like cedar-planked salmon in a world of corn chips.

In this guide:

• A restaurant resume sample better than most.
• How to make a yummy restaurant job description for resumes.
• How to write a resume for restaurant jobs employers love.
• Why you can’t just list restaurant skills (and what to do instead).

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Browsing for specific restaurant jobs? See our guides:

• Bar Manager Resume Examples
• Server Resume Examples
• Bartender Resume Examples
• Chef Resume Examples
• Food Service Resume Examples
• Barista Resume Examples
• Restaurant Manager Resume Examples
• Waiter Waitress Resume Examples
• Fast Food Resume Examples
• Sous Chef Resume Examples
• Resume Examples for Teens
• Hospitality Resume Examples
• Budtender Resume Examples
• Starbucks Resume Examples
• Resume for a Career Change Examples
• Resume with no Experience Examples

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples.

Restaurant Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

Here’s how to write a restaurant resume that makes them ask for seconds:

1. Select the Right Restaurant Resume Format

Does this sound familiar?

You spend hours writing a restaurant resume, but then—

Nobody calls.

Why does that happen?

It’s probably the format of your resume.

See these tips:

Restaurant Resume Format

• Use reverse-chronological resume formatting.
• Choose one font for your resume like 10–12pt Cambria or Helvetica.
• Include some white space and 1-inch margins.
• A resume should be one page long for restaurant jobs.
• Write these sections in your resume: Header, Objective, Work Experience, Education, and Skills.

Expert Hint: Save your restaurant resume in PDF format. ATS hiring software can translate them, and they look appetizing no matter what screen they wind up on.

2. Improve Your Restaurant Resume Objective or Summary

Here’s the bad news:

The restaurant manager has seven million things to do.

He doesn’t have time to read your restaurant resume.

Unless—

You’re worth it.

How can you show that?

With a tantalizing resume profile (in the form of a career objective, career summary, or summary of qualifications).

Add:

1. One adjective (efficient, friendly)
2. Job title (manager, chef)
3. Years of experience (3+, 6+)
4. Who and how you’ll help (provide excellent customer service)
5. Best restaurant achievements (Cut turnover 20%)

See these restaurant resume examples:

Restaurant Manager Resume Examples [Summary]

Wow.

The second of those restaurant resume examples leaves you feeling empty.

The first is like a smoked Scottish salmon rillette. The skills and metrics sell it.

Next—

For an entry-level resume for restaurant jobs, find something in your work history that fits.

Restaurant Resume Objective—Example

The second of those resume for restaurant jobs examples is like an empty plate.

Expert Hint: Place your restaurant resume objective or summary underneath your header. But write it at the end. That makes it so much easier to write it well.

3. Write an On-Deck Restaurant Job Description and Skills Section

Reality time:

They’ll only hire one person for this job.

It can be you.

But you’ll need the right job description for your resume for restaurant jobs.

So—

1. Find keywords for your resume in the job ad.
2. Add numbers to make your achievements sing.

These restaurant resume examples show the recipe:

The job ad wants these restaurant skills: (1) managing waitstaff (2) building relationships (3) bookkeeping (4) training.

Restaurant Manager Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

See that?

The first of those restaurant skills resume samples serves up skills with measurements.

The second lists skills—but the wrong ones. And we took out all the numbers. Bland!

What about a resume for entry-level jobs?

Dig into your work history.

These restaurant resume examples show how:

The job ad wants these restaurant skills: (1) serving (2) friendliness (3) efficiency (4) communication.

Entry-Level Restaurant Server Resume Sample [Experience]

5-star.

The first of those restaurant resume examples has the secret sauce. (Hint: it’s the numbers and achievements.)

But what skills to put on a resume?

Use the ones from the ad online.

You can use these to get started:

Key Skills for a Restaurant Resume

Expert Hint: Don’t overegg your restaurant resume with too many skills. Anyone can write up a long skills list. The key ingredient is accomplishments-as-proof.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

4. Turn Boring Education to a Reason to Hire You

Does education matter in a resume for restaurant jobs?

Absolutely.

The schooling section of your resume is vital.

Can you tell why this restaurant resume example nails it?

Restaurant Resume Template—Education

That shows leadership and physical fitness. Both essential in restaurant resumes.

Expert Hint: Don’t just list any old restaurant skills in your resume. Just like with your job description, use the online posting as your menu. Look for the right keywords in it.

5. Put “Bonus” Sections in Your Restaurant Resume

Check please.

Well, wait.

You’re not done writing your resume for restaurant jobs just yet.

Choose from these “bonus” sections:

• Associations (Like the AMA or NRA)
• Certifications (Like CPR or ServSafe)
• Volunteer work
• Classes
• Additional activities
• Conferences
• Professional awards (Like Employee of the Month)
• Interests
• Fitness
• Clubs

These restaurant resume examples show how:

Restaurant Resume—Extra Sections

Magnifique.

The first of those restaurant resume examples could be Bobby Flay. It’s all in the details.

Expert Hint: Write a cover letter. Focus on the job, and not how great you are. In your restaurant cover letter talk about how much you’d love to work at the restaurant, and why you are the perfect fit.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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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.

Haven't written your cover letter yet? See:

• Restaurant Manager Cover Letter Examples
• Server Cover Letter Examples

Key Points

For a 5-star restaurant resume:

• Use the restaurant resume template up top. It gives you the recipe to get more interviews.
• Put restaurant accomplishments in your objective, job experience, education, and “bonus” sections.
• Add restaurant keywords and responsibilities to your bullet points. Get them by reading the job ad carefully.
• Write a restaurant cover letter. Make it all about the job and a little about you.

Got questions on how to write great resumes for restaurant jobs? Not sure how to show restaurant on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!