How to put restaurant server experience positively in resume to enter professional job market?
Asked by Sam M
I have been working for 4 years as a restaurant server, but I do have a four-year degree in Business Systems. I'm now wanting to go back to the job related to my degree and would like to use the server experience to positively reflect on my hardworking nature, ability to multi-task, and improved people skills. Anyone have such an experience?

Best Answer:
Yes, and I used to write resumes and find jobs for people for a living. Restaurant servers are the ambassadors of good customer service. Even if the food is good, people often won't give a second chance to a restaurant with bad ambassadors. Play up the customer service angle and your unique understanding that the bottom line rests with satisfied customers. Add that in to everything else you mentioned because all are absolutely true and are valuable in the workplace.
Former restaurant server and former employee of Michigan Works.
Answered by originalkippyj

Describe your server experience as being a "Dining Enhancement Engineer" on your resume.
Answered by gcason

yes, some terms you could expand on are: fast-paced, high pressure, extensive customer service, money transactions, multi-task, team work... i watiressed for years then had children while getting my college degree. i don't have more "professional" work experience for my next job search so i will have sell the "bust-ass, hard work" skills of a server instead.
Answered by mllrtme

I think a lot of it comes down to how you wordsmith the description. For example, "fashion accessories quality control inspector, primarily responsible for fault detection, assessment, rectification and management reporting" is a person who stands on the end of a conveyor in a shoe factory looking for rejects and recording how many there are. So, you might write up your experience as - High end Food and Beverage waiter focused on unique customer experience and retention and sustain a positive drive to ensure management objectives are exceeded. Skillsets further developed- rapidly assimilate information, anticipate customer concerns, drive multiskill environment and culture, maintain safe and hygienic work environment, extensive development of customer relations and interface communications, high level skills in dispute resolution and financial management. Hope some of this helps, good luck Jackson.
Answered by Trevor J