Top 12 Waiter Skills to Put on Your Resume

Crafting a standout resume as a waiter means showing off a blend of people skills, speed, and precision. Call out the abilities that prove you can handle rushes, read a table’s needs, and keep orders spotless from start to finish. Put these waiter skills on your resume and you’ll signal you’re ready to deliver smooth, memorable service.

Waiter Skills

1. POS Systems
2. OpenTable
3. Customer Service
4. Time Management
5. Multitasking
6. Upselling Techniques
7. Conflict Resolution
8. Menu Knowledge
9. Wine Pairing
10. Table Management
11. Payment Processing
12. Food Safety

1. POS Systems

A POS (Point of Sale) system helps a waiter take orders, send them to the kitchen, split checks, process payments, and track modifiers without tripping over steps. Fewer errors, faster turns, happier guests.

Why It's Important

When POS flows cleanly, orders are accurate, timing improves, and payment is quick. That means better guest satisfaction and smoother shifts.

How to Improve POS Systems Skills

Make it quick, make it clear, make it reliable.

1. Learn shortcuts: Master buttons, modifiers, and seat numbers. Muscle memory beats menu diving.

2. Use mobile ordering: Tableside entry cuts waits and reduces forgotten add-ons.

3. Sync with the kitchen: Fire courses properly; use holds and coursing to pace the meal.

4. Customize menus: Keep specials, 86’d items, and allergens current so the system matches reality.

5. Know payment tools: Tap to Pay, chip (EMV), digital receipts, and tip workflows—no stumbles at the check drop.

6. Practice offline flows: Understand what to do if Wi‑Fi drops or printers hiccup.

7. Keep it secure: Follow PCI basics, verify card names, and protect guest data.

How to Display POS Systems Skills on Your Resume

2. OpenTable

OpenTable is a reservation and waitlist platform. Hosts use it up front, and servers feel the impact—seating flow, pacing, and guest notes that help you personalize service.

Why It's Important

It sharpens seat utilization, reduces bottlenecks, and gives you a heads-up on occasions, preferences, and timing.

How to Improve OpenTable Skills

Treat it like a living map of the dining room.

1. Watch real-time status: Track turns, holds, and late arrivals so your section stays balanced.

2. Use guest notes: Celebrate birthdays, accommodate allergies, remember seating preferences.

3. Manage the waitlist: Give honest wait times and update proactively to reduce table-side friction.

4. Communicate pacing: Coordinate with the host on large parties and coursing so the kitchen isn’t slammed.

5. Review after service: Scan feedback and revise notes—what worked, what needs tuning.

How to Display OpenTable Skills on Your Resume

3. Customer Service

Customer service is the art of reading the room, responding with warmth, and making every table feel looked after—from greeting to goodbye.

Why It's Important

Service drives repeat visits, strong tips, and glowing reviews. One attentive moment can flip an entire night.

How to Improve Customer Service Skills

Small moves, big payoff.

1. Listen first: Clarify preferences, allergies, timing goals. Don’t guess—ask.

2. Know the menu: Confident recommendations build trust fast.

3. Anticipate needs: Refill before asked, bring share plates, offer extra napkins, adjust pacing.

4. Own mistakes: Apologize, fix it, and follow up. Recovery wins loyalty.

5. Personalize: Use names when appropriate, note repeat favorites, celebrate milestones.

6. Check back smartly: A quick two-minute check for taste and temperature stops problems early.

How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume

4. Time Management

Time management means juggling tables, tickets, and tasks without letting a single plate wobble.

Why It's Important

It drives faster turns, fewer mistakes, calmer service, and higher sales per hour.

How to Improve Time Management Skills

Build rhythms that hold under pressure.

1. Batch tasks: Run “full hands in, full hands out.” Combine trips.

2. Route by priority: Hot food first, then drinks, then resets. Urgent beats easy.

3. Set micro-deadlines: Drinks in two minutes, first bites check within two minutes, payment within three of the ask.

4. Prep your station: Sidework squared away before doors open—polish, stock, label, backup pens, clean trays.

5. Communicate: Tell the kitchen about pacing, tell runners about allergies, tell teammates when you’re in the weeds.

6. Reflect post-shift: Spot bottlenecks and fix one thing tomorrow.

How to Display Time Management Skills on Your Resume

5. Multitasking

For a waiter, multitasking is controlled task-switching: take an order, drop a check, greet a new table, all while keeping accuracy sharp.

Why It's Important

It keeps service humming when the room spikes with activity and demands pile up.

How to Improve Multitasking Skills

Focus on flow, not frenzy.

1. Prioritize live fires: Anything that’s time-sensitive (hot food, guest greeting) jumps the line.

2. Use memory anchors: Seat numbers, shorthand, or a small notepad—whatever keeps orders crisp.

3. Standardize routines: Same setup, same checkback timing, same way you drop plates. Consistency cuts cognitive load.

4. Communicate cleanly: Short, clear calls to runners and the pass—no ambiguity.

5. Manage stress: Breathe, reset posture, control your pace. Calm is contagious.

6. Audit errors: Review misses and build tiny safeguards (double-verify modifiers, repeat specials aloud).

How to Display Multitasking Skills on Your Resume

6. Upselling Techniques

Upselling is guiding guests toward choices that elevate their meal—premium pours, shareable starters, sides that sing, a dessert finale.

Why It's Important

It lifts check averages and makes the experience feel curated rather than generic.

How to Improve Upselling Techniques Skills

Serve suggestions, not pressure.

1. Know pairings: Match appetizers with cocktails, mains with wine, coffee with dessert. Offer two thoughtful options.

2. Lead with benefit: “The ribeye is fantastic medium-rare; the peppercorn sauce takes it over the top.”

3. Use scarcity sparingly: Limited specials? Mention early and honestly.

4. Personalize: Dietary notes and flavor preferences steer your recommendation.

5. Time it right: Suggest add-ons at order time; pitch dessert right after mains are cleared.

6. Keep it light: If they say no, smile and move on.

How to Display Upselling Techniques Skills on Your Resume

7. Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution means turning a complaint into a save—quickly, calmly, and fairly.

Why It's Important

Handled well, issues become loyalty moments. Handled poorly, they echo online and hurt the room.

How to Improve Conflict Resolution Skills

Steady hands, clear heads.

1. Listen and validate: Acknowledge the problem without defensiveness.

2. Apologize sincerely: Short, genuine, and specific.

3. Offer solutions: Replace dishes, adjust the bill, expedite remakes, loop in a manager when needed.

4. Follow up: Check back after the fix to ensure it landed.

5. Document patterns: Share recurring issues with the team so they don’t repeat.

How to Display Conflict Resolution Skills on Your Resume

8. Menu Knowledge

Menu knowledge is full command of ingredients, prep methods, portion sizes, flavor profiles, allergens, and what’s 86’d right now.

Why It's Important

It builds credibility, speeds ordering, avoids mistakes, and unlocks meaningful recommendations.

How to Improve Menu Knowledge Skills

Learn deep, then keep it fresh.

1. Taste when possible: Firsthand experience makes descriptions vivid and honest.

2. Master allergens: Know common allergens (including sesame where applicable) and cross-contact risks.

3. Use flash notes: Quick cards for specials, components, and modifications.

4. Talk to the kitchen: Ask about techniques, sourcing, and changes. Update notes daily.

5. Role-play: Practice explaining dishes to teammates—clear, enticing, accurate.

6. Track 86s and subs: The moment something runs out, adjust your spiel.

How to Display Menu Knowledge Skills on Your Resume

9. Wine Pairing

Wine pairing matches a bottle or glass to the dish so flavors lift each other rather than fight.

Why It's Important

Done right, it elevates the meal and nudges check averages with genuine value.

How to Improve Wine Pairing Skills

Think balance over rules.

1. Match intensity: Light with light, bold with bold. Delicate fish meets crisp white; rich steak welcomes structured red.

2. Use acidity: Acid cuts fat and salt; it brightens fried or creamy dishes.

3. Sweet vs. heat: A touch of sweetness tames spice.

4. Sauce decides: Pair to the sauce more than the protein when in doubt.

5. Mind umami: Umami-heavy dishes can make tannins feel harsh; consider softer reds or fuller whites.

6. Offer two choices: One safe, one adventurous—let the guest steer.

How to Display Wine Pairing Skills on Your Resume

10. Table Management

Table management is the choreography of seating, pacing, coursing, and turning without making guests feel rushed.

Why It's Important

It maximizes the room, trims wait times, and keeps the kitchen humming instead of surging.

How to Improve Table Management Skills

Make the floor plan your compass.

1. Know your map: Seat numbers, table sizes, traffic lanes—commit them to memory.

2. Stagger fire times: Avoid slamming the pass; course thoughtfully, especially on large parties.

3. Set clear expectations: Be honest about waits, pacing, and special requests.

4. Pre-bus early: Clear as you go to speed resets without hovering.

5. Coordinate with the host: Signal when your section can take more—or needs a breather.

6. Track turn targets: Casual vs. fine dining has different rhythms; aim for the right cadence.

How to Display Table Management Skills on Your Resume

11. Payment Processing

Payment processing is closing the check cleanly: splits, tips, tap/chip, receipts, and reconciles—no awkward pauses.

Why It's Important

Fast, accurate payments end the meal on a high note and keep tables turning.

How to Improve Payment Processing Skills

Smooth, secure, simple.

1. Offer options: Contactless tap, chip, swipe (if needed), QR pay, and split checks by item or amount.

2. Use tableside devices: Close checks at the table to cut trips and speed turns.

3. Know tip flows: Suggested tips, service charges, cash vs. card tips, and how they settle at end-of-day.

4. Protect data: Follow EMV and PCI basics; never leave cards unattended.

5. Confirm totals: Read back splits and gratuity before finalizing. Offer digital or printed receipts.

6. Handle issues fast: Declines, partial approvals, and refunds—know the steps so guests don’t feel stranded.

How to Display Payment Processing Skills on Your Resume

12. Food Safety

Food safety is handling, serving, and communicating in ways that keep guests healthy—clean hands, clean tools, no cross-contact, correct temps, accurate allergen guidance.

Why It's Important

It protects guests, the team, and the restaurant’s reputation while meeting local regulations.

How to Improve Food Safety Skills

Zero shortcuts. Ever.

1. Wash and sanitize: Hands before service, after bussing, after handling money—use proper technique and timing.

2. Prevent cross-contact: Separate utensils and plates for allergy orders; announce allergies clearly to the kitchen and runners.

3. Watch temperatures: Hot stays hot, cold stays cold; don’t let items linger in the danger zone.

4. Know allergens: Be ready to identify common allergens (including sesame where applicable) and confirm safe substitutions.

5. Store and label: Date labels, proper covers, no raw-over-ready-to-eat stacking.

6. Stay trained: Keep certifications current and follow house SOPs without drift.

How to Display Food Safety Skills on Your Resume