Top 12 Restaurant Server Skills to Put on Your Resume

In the fast-paced and dynamic environment of the restaurant industry, a server's resume must stand out by showcasing a unique blend of skills that promise exceptional customer service and operational efficiency. Highlighting the top 12 restaurant server skills on your resume can significantly elevate your chances of landing your desired position by demonstrating your ability to thrive in customer-oriented and high-pressure situations.

Restaurant Server Skills

1. POS Systems
2. OpenTable
3. Customer Service
4. Upselling Techniques
5. Time Management
6. Multitasking
7. Conflict Resolution
8. Teamwork
9. Reservation Management
10. Menu Knowledge
11. Wine Pairing
12. Cash Handling

1. POS Systems

A POS (Point of Sale) system for a restaurant server is a digital platform that facilitates order taking, payment processing, and sales tracking directly at the point of service.

Why It's Important

POS systems streamline order entry, payments, and reporting. Faster service, fewer errors, cleaner books—everything moves smoother when the tech hums.

How to Improve POS Systems Skills

To sharpen POS performance on the floor, focus on:

1. Tableside tools: Use handhelds for orders and payments right at the table to cut trips and mistakes.

2. Smart layouts: Configure quick buttons, modifiers, and seat mapping so common actions take fewer taps.

3. Online order sync: Pipe takeout and delivery orders straight into the kitchen to prevent double-entry and lost tickets.

4. Training and refreshers: Short, hands-on sessions and cheat sheets keep speed high and voids low.

5. Data you can act on: Review sales trends, menu mix, and server metrics to improve pacing, staffing, and specials.

Dial these in and both guest experience and back-of-house flow level up.

How to Display POS Systems Skills on Your Resume

2. OpenTable

OpenTable is an online reservation platform that allows guests to book tables, helping servers manage seating, pacing, and turn times more cleanly.

Why It's Important

It trims wait times, keeps sections balanced, and preserves a pleasant flow. Guests feel cared for. Servers stay in rhythm.

How to Improve OpenTable Skills

1. Connect with POS: Sync table status and coursing so hosts and servers see the same live picture.

2. Server-focused training: Quick modules and job aids on holds, tags, and quotes. Short and practical.

3. Guest notes: Record preferences, allergies, and occasions so service starts personal, not generic.

4. Mobile readiness: Ensure devices are charged, permissions set, and floor plan views are current.

5. Feedback loop: Let staff flag issues and suggest tweaks after each shift; fix friction fast.

How to Display OpenTable Skills on Your Resume

3. Customer Service

Customer service, in the context of a restaurant server, means meeting guest needs with speed, warmth, and accuracy—so meals feel seamless and memorable.

Why It's Important

Great service drives repeat visits, glowing reviews, and bigger checks. Reputation follows.

How to Improve Customer Service Skills

1. Open strong: Greet quickly with eye contact and a real smile.

2. Know the menu: Ingredients, allergens, modifications, and best-sellers—answer without hesitating.

3. Listen, then confirm: Paraphrase orders and preferences to lock in accuracy.

4. Check back with purpose: Timely touchpoints, not interruptions.

5. Resolve with grace: Own issues, fix fast, follow up. Guests remember how problems are handled.

6. Close warmly: Thank them, invite them back, and mean it.

How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume

4. Upselling Techniques

Upselling techniques involve suggesting premium items, add-ons, or pairings that fit the guest’s tastes—elevating their experience while growing check average.

Why It's Important

Thoughtful suggestions increase revenue and delight guests with discoveries they might have missed.

How to Improve Upselling Techniques Skills

1. Master the menu: Flavor notes, textures, and prep details help you tailor recommendations.

2. Read the table: Ask a couple of smart questions, listen for cues, and align your pitch.

3. Lead with value: Spotlight specials, chef favorites, and unique items—explain the why.

4. Complement, don’t cram: Pair sides, sauces, or beverages that enhance what they already chose.

5. Paint the picture: Use sensory language sparingly but vividly.

6. Mind timing: Offer starters early, sides with mains, desserts once the table settles.

7. Stay genuine: Recommendations should feel like service, not a sales script.

Upselling works best when it feels like care, not pressure.

How to Display Upselling Techniques Skills on Your Resume

5. Time Management

Time management means juggling orders, running food, resets, and guest needs without dropping a beat.

Why It's Important

Better pacing means happier guests, faster turns, and fewer bottlenecks at expo and bar.

How to Improve Time Management Skills

1. Prioritize ruthlessly: Use an urgency–importance mindset. Hot food beats side chats, always.

2. Keep tools tight: Pen, pad, handheld—on you and ready. Clean stations save minutes.

3. Communicate clearly: Short, specific calls to the kitchen and teammates prevent rework.

4. Batch runs: Combine trips—drop checks, clear plates, refill waters in one pass.

5. Protect focus: If you’re slammed, say so. Finish the critical few before taking on more.

How to Display Time Management Skills on Your Resume

6. Multitasking

Multitasking is the art of handling multiple tables, courses, and conversations at once without sacrificing accuracy or warmth.

Why It's Important

It keeps service smooth during the rush, cuts wait times, and reduces errors when the board lights up.

How to Improve Multitasking Skills

1. Rank the queue: Hit time-sensitive tasks first—hot food and drink orders before resets.

2. Map your path: Plan your loop through the floor so every lap does more than one job.

3. Sharpen memory: Practice recall tricks—seat numbers, keyword notes, quick order summaries.

4. Signal clearly: Short, consistent communication with hosts, bar, and line prevents snags.

5. Stay steady: Use a quick breathing reset between tables; calm beats frantic every time.

How to Display Multitasking Skills on Your Resume

7. Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution means addressing guest complaints or team friction quickly, fairly, and with professionalism—so the dining room stays welcoming.

Why It's Important

Handled well, problems become loyalty moments. Handled poorly, they linger.

How to Improve Conflict Resolution Skills

1. Listen fully: Let the guest finish. Clarify the core issue in their words.

2. Lead with empathy: Acknowledge impact, not just facts. People want to feel heard.

3. Apologize sincerely: If the ball was dropped, own it and set expectations for the fix.

4. Offer clear options: Replace, re-fire, comp, or alternative—match remedy to situation.

5. Close the loop: Check back after the fix. Make sure the table is truly restored.

How to Display Conflict Resolution Skills on Your Resume

8. Teamwork

Teamwork means servers, hosts, bar, and kitchen operating as one crew—hands off each other’s plates when needed and keep the line moving.

Why It's Important

Coordinated teams deliver faster, cleaner service and prevent small problems from snowballing.

How to Improve Teamwork Skills

1. Communicate openly: Quick huddles, clear handoffs, and consistent calls reduce confusion.

2. Define roles: Know who’s running food, who’s watching the door, who’s on refires.

3. Regular check-ins: Short pre-shift and post-shift meetings surface issues early.

4. Feedback culture: Give and receive constructive notes without defensiveness.

5. Build trust: Occasional team-building and cross-training make coverage seamless.

How to Display Teamwork Skills on Your Resume

9. Reservation Management

Reservation management involves scheduling, tracking, and coordinating bookings to balance sections, smooth pacing, and maximize covers without overpromising.

Why It's Important

Well-run books lead to fewer waits, fuller seats, and happier guests.

How to Improve Reservation Management Skills

1. Use a reliable system: A modern reservation platform with table mapping and waitlist tools cuts guesswork.

2. Communicate changes fast: No-shows, add-ons, and walk-ins should be flagged immediately to the team.

3. Optimize the floor: Adjust turn estimates by party size and course count; keep sections balanced.

4. Personalize: Note preferences and occasions to elevate service from the first hello.

5. Train consistently: Keep staff aligned on holds, quotes, pacing, and overbook thresholds.

How to Display Reservation Management Skills on Your Resume

10. Menu Knowledge

Menu knowledge means understanding ingredients, prep methods, allergens, and modifications so you can guide guests confidently.

Why It's Important

Accurate answers build trust, prevent mistakes, and help guests find what they’ll love.

How to Improve Menu Knowledge Skills

1. Study smart: Use flashcards or quick quizzes for ingredients, allergens, and key talking points.

2. Taste when possible: Staff tastings—or samples with permission—unlock better descriptions.

3. Ask the kitchen: Clarify techniques, sourcing, and specials directly with chefs.

4. Stay current: Track daily specials and 86’d items via internal boards or comms.

5. Role-play: Practice describing dishes and fielding common questions with teammates.

6. Learn from feedback: Note guests’ hits and misses to refine future recommendations.

7. Keep growing: Short hospitality courses on cuisine basics or beverage service add polish.

How to Display Menu Knowledge Skills on Your Resume

11. Wine Pairing

Wine pairing is choosing a wine that complements a dish so flavors lift each other rather than clash.

Why It's Important

Done well, it elevates the meal and often nudges guests toward higher-value selections.

How to Improve Wine Pairing Skills

1. Learn the styles: Reds, whites, rosé, sparkling, dessert—know body, tannin, acidity, and sweetness.

2. Match weight: Light dishes with light wines; hearty fare with fuller-bodied bottles.

3. Use acidity wisely: Bright wines cut through rich, fatty foods.

4. Balance heat with sweet: A touch of sweetness can soften spicy dishes.

5. Complement or contrast: Mirror flavors (buttery with oaky) or contrast (salty with sparkling) for interest.

6. Taste and note: Regular tastings with simple notes build a mental pairing library.

7. Ask preferences: Start where the guest’s palate lives and adjust from there.

8. Stay curious: Seasonal lists change; keep up with new by-the-glass options.

How to Display Wine Pairing Skills on Your Resume

12. Cash Handling

Cash handling means accurately taking payments, making change, reconciling at shift end, and safeguarding funds.

Why It's Important

Precision protects guest trust and the restaurant’s bottom line. Errors linger; accuracy pays.

How to Improve Cash Handling Skills

1. Stay organized: Separate tips, large bills, and change so counts go quickly.

2. Count in view: Verify cash received and change given where the guest can see.

3. Secure immediately: Drop large bills promptly; avoid carrying excess cash.

4. Accuracy beats speed: A two-second double-check prevents costly mistakes.

5. Get certified: Take reputable cash-handling or hospitality safety courses (e.g., industry certifications like ServSafe).

6. Use POS audits: Lean on end-of-shift reports and cash logs to reconcile cleanly.

How to Display Cash Handling Skills on Your Resume