Resume Writing Tips for Head Server

Introduction

A head server plays a pivotal role in restaurant operations by coordinating front-of-house staff, ensuring excellent guest service, and maintaining smooth workflows. The resume you present is your first opportunity to communicate your leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, and experience in managing a busy dining environment. Given that many restaurants receive dozens or hundreds of applications for a single head server role, a polished, targeted resume helps you rise above the competition by highlighting what truly matters: your impact, your skills, and your fit for the role.

1. Resume Summary

Your resume summary is the elevator pitch at the top of your resume. It should quickly and clearly communicate your value proposition as a head server. Focus on experience level, leadership qualities, and key strengths relevant to managing front-of-house operations. Use strong action verbs and quantify your performance where possible.

Example: “Experienced head server with over 5 years managing high-volume, fine-dining restaurants. Proven ability to lead teams of 15+ servers, improve guest satisfaction scores by 20%, and streamline service operations to increase table turnover by 15%. Skilled in training, conflict resolution, and inventory management.”

2. Key Skills

Highlighting the right skills is crucial for both ATS optimization and impressing human recruiters. As a head server, your skillset spans customer service, team leadership, and operational knowledge. Include a mix of soft skills and technical competencies relevant to the role.

• Team Leadership & Staff Training
• Customer Service Excellence
• Conflict Resolution & Problem-Solving
• Inventory & Supply Management
• POS & Order Management Systems
• Time Management & Scheduling
• Health, Safety & Sanitation Compliance
• Menu Knowledge & Upselling Techniques
• Cash Handling & Payment Processing
• Communication & Multitasking

3. Achievements vs. Responsibilities

While listing job responsibilities shows what you were expected to do, achievements demonstrate how well you did it. Hiring managers are interested in the results you produced — from increased customer satisfaction to improved operational efficiency. Use metrics to quantify these outcomes and highlight your contribution.

For example, instead of writing “Managed service staff,” write “Led a team of 12 servers to reduce customer wait times by 25% during peak hours, enhancing guest satisfaction scores by 18%.”

4. Tailor to Job Description

One-size-fits-all resumes seldom succeed. Read each job description carefully and reflect the keywords and qualifications mentioned in your resume. ATS scans look specifically for matching phrases, so tailoring your phrasing improves your chances of getting noticed. Adapt your summary, skills, and bullet points to align with the particular emphasis of the role, whether it’s fine dining, banquet management, or fast-paced casual service.

5. Tools and Technologies

• Point of Sale (POS) Systems: Toast, Square, Aloha
• Inventory Management Software: Upserve, BevSpot
• Reservation Platforms: OpenTable, Resy
• Scheduling Software: HotSchedules, Deputy
• Customer Feedback Tools: Yelp for Business, Tattle
• Communication Apps: Slack, WhatsApp
• Payment Processing: Square Reader, Clover
• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word)
• Basic Accounting Software: QuickBooks
• Food Safety Compliance Apps

6. Metrics to Highlight

• Percentage increase in guest satisfaction ratings
• Reduction in customer wait or service times
• Improvement in table turnover rate
• Team size managed or trained
• Cost savings from inventory or waste reduction

7. Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is typically required
• Culinary or hospitality certifications such as ServSafe
• Additional leadership or management courses (optional but beneficial)

8. Formatting

• Use a clean, easy-to-read font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, size 10-12 pt
• Keep consistent headings, bullet points, and margins for professional appearance

9. Concise Content

Employers often skim resumes. Use concise bullet points that start with strong action verbs and eliminate unnecessary words. Stick to two pages max, focusing on the most recent and relevant experience.

10. Bonus Tips

• Include keywords from the job posting to pass ATS filters
• Proofread multiple times to avoid typos and grammatical errors

Examples

• “Trained and supervised a team of 15 servers, leading to a 30crease in order errors and a 22% increase in repeat customer visits.”
• “Implemented an inventory tracking system that reduced supply waste by 18%, saving the restaurant $5,000 annually.”

Conclusion

Crafting an effective head server resume goes beyond listing your work history; it requires demonstrating your leadership, analytical skills, and the meaningful impact you have made in previous roles. By focusing on achievements, quantifying your successes, tailoring your resume to each job, and presenting a crisp, clear format, you position yourself as a proactive, capable candidate ready to lead front-of-house operations. A strategic resume paves the way to exciting career advancement in the hospitality industry.