Research Summary. We analyzed 28,398 cook/server resumes to determine which ones land the most jobs. Below you'll find examples of resumes that can help you get an interview (and a job offer) from companies like McDonald's and Burger King. Here are the key facts about cook/server resumes to help you get the job:

  • The average cook/server resume is 168 words long
  • The average cook/server resume is 0.4 pages long based on 450 words per page.
  • Customer service is the most common skill found on a cook/server resume. It appears on 41.2% of resumes.
After learning about how to write a professional cook/server resume, you can make sure your resume checks all the boxes with our resume builder.

Resume

Cook/Server Resume Example

Choose From 10+ Customizable Cook/Server Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Cook/Server templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Cook/Server resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

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Cook/Server Resume Format And Sections

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1. Add Contact Information To Your Cook/server Resume

Your name should be the biggest text on the page and be at or near the top of the document.

Your address doesn't need to include your street name or house number - listing your city and state works just fine.

Your email address should be professional, but not your current work email address. It's not a good look to use your work email for personal projects (job-searching).

Your social media can be included if you have a fully-fledged LinkedIn page or another social media page that showcases your relevant skill set.

Cook/Server Resume Contact Information Example #1

Hank Rutherford Hill

St. Arlen, Texas | 333-111-2222 | hank.hill@gmail.com

Do you want to know more?
How To Write The Perfect Resume Header
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2. Add Your Relevant Education To The Resume

Your resume's education section should include:

  • The name of your school
  • The date you graduated (Month, Year or Year are both appropriate)
  • The name of your degree
If you graduated more than 15 years ago, you should consider dropping your graduation date to avoid age discrimination.

Optional subsections for your education section include:

  • Academic awards (Dean's List, Latin honors, etc. )
  • GPA (if you're a recent graduate and your GPA was 3.5+)
  • Extra certifications
  • Academic projects (thesis, dissertation, etc.)

Other tips to consider when writing your education section include:

  • If you're a recent graduate, you might opt to place your education section above your experience section
  • The more work experience you get, the shorter your education section should be
  • List your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent and high-ranking degrees first
  • If you haven't graduated yet, you can include "Expected graduation date" to the entry for that school

Cook/Server Resume Relevant Education Example #1

High School Diploma 2017 - 2019

Cook/Server Resume Relevant Education Example #2

High School Diploma 2017 - 2019

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3. Next, Create A Cook/Server Skills Section On Your Resume

Your resume's skills section should include the most important keywords from the job description, as long as you actually have those skills. If you haven't started your job search yet, you can look over resumes to get an idea of what skills are the most important.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your resume's skills section:

  • Include 6-12 skills, in bullet point form
  • List mostly hard skills; soft skills are hard to test
  • Emphasize the skills that are most important for the job
Hard skills are generally more important to hiring managers because they relate to on-the-job knowledge and specific experience with a certain technology or process.

Soft skills are also valuable, as they're highly transferable and make you a great person to work alongside, but they're impossible to prove on a resume.

Example Of Cook/Server Skills For Resume

  • Customer Service Skills

    Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

  • Kitchen Equipment Skills

    Kitchen Equipment refers to all those essential items which are crucial for the task of cooking.

  • POS Skills

    POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

  • Drink Orders Skills

    Drink orders are made by a bartender working in a bar wherein he/she mixes up a drink that the customers want. There is a lot of different cocktail terminology a customer can ask the bartenders. The most commonly used are neat, it is a drink without any ice on it, but they can still add some by saying on the rocks. Also, you call a straight-up, a white or dark spirited drink poured in a cocktail glass.

  • Food Products Skills

    Food products are the types of various food items that are created and processed to be sold as a product. These products are consumed by humans for nourishment and are mostly processed and created in a huge factory. Tinned goods, milk, meat, etc are the most common food products, and they are not limited to any specific kind except tobacco, beers, and alcohol as they are not considered food products.

Top Skills for a Cook/Server

Source: Zippia.com
  • Customer Service, 41.2%
  • Customer Orders, 8.3%
  • Safety Standards, 6.2%
  • Food Preparation, 5.4%
  • Other Skills, 38.9%
Not sure which skills are really important?
3 Big Tips For Listing Skills On Your Resume
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4. List Your Cook/server Experience

The most important part of any resume is the experience section. Recruiters and hiring managers expect to see your experience listed in reverse chronological order, meaning that you should begin with your most recent experience and then work backwards.

Don't just list your job duties below each job entry. Instead, make sure most of your bullet points discuss impressive achievements from your past positions. Whenever you can, use numbers to contextualize your accomplishments for the hiring manager reading your resume.

It's okay if you can't include exact percentages or dollar figures. There's a big difference even between saying "Managed a team of engineers" and "Managed a team of 6 engineers over a 9-month project."

Most importantly, make sure that the experience you include is relevant to the job you're applying for. Use the job description to ensure that each bullet point on your resume is appropriate and helpful.

Don't have any experience?
How To Show Your Experience On a Resume... Even When You Don't Have Any
Work History Example # 1
Cook/Server
Sage
  • Worked drive-thru and front counter.
  • Participated in McDonalds Corporate focus groups and partner exchanges.
  • Cleaned restaurant, prepared food, cleaned dishes w/ industrial dishwasher, stocked and replaced food/food items/dishes, etc.
  • Ensured customer satisfaction and quality service through communication and teamwork with the kitchen staff.
  • Prepped and served food under fast-pace environment and high standards of Chipotle.
Work History Example # 2
Ride Operator
The Walt Disney Company
  • Ensured all communication functions were working properly.
  • Maintained Ride, Safety of guest, Operated Ride, Communication with guest.
  • Worked as an operator of rides, control panels, communication tower and surveillance room.
Work History Example # 3
Cook/Server
McDonald's
  • Worked as a team with other employees to provide customers with the best quality food possible.
  • Maintained open and effective communication with shift supervisors to ensure smooth operations.
  • Trained new employees Guaranteed positive customer experiences and helped to resolved customer complaints.
  • Prepared breakfast and lunch foods including burgers, fries, wraps, salads, and pancakes.
  • Maintained a daily data log for inventory control purposes.
Work History Example # 4
Crew Trainer
Wendy's
  • Handled registers including drive-thru window orders & maintained efficient time management.
  • Cooked meals Prepped meals Washed dishes
  • Attended to the drive-thru window and provided customer service.
  • Operated more than one position at a time successfully.
  • Cooked fries, nuggets, and burgers.
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5. Highlight Your Cook/Server Certifications On Resume

Certifications can be a powerful tool to show employers that you know your stuff. If you have any of these certifications, make sure to put them on your cook/server resume:

  1. Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS)
  2. Certified Food Manager (CFM)
  3. Food Safety Manager Certification
  4. ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification
  5. Professional Credit Associate (PCA)
  6. EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA)
  7. Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
  8. Flagger (Instructor)
  9. Computer Service Technician (CST)
  10. Professional Credit Specialist (PCS)

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6. Finally, Add a Cook/Server Resume Summary Or Objective Statement

A resume summary statement is a 1-3 sentence spiel at the top of your resume that quickly summarizes who you are and what you have to offer. In this section, include your job title, years of experience (if it's 3+), and an impressive accomplishment, if you have space for it.

Remember to address skills and experiences that are emphasized in the job description.

Are you a recent grad?
Read our guide on how to write a resume summary statement

And If You’re Looking for a Job, Here Are the Five Top Employers Hiring Now:

  1. Jack in the Box Jobs (1,076)
  2. White Castle Jobs (592)
  3. Casey's Jobs (933)
  4. Bojangles Jobs (743)
  5. Little Caesars Jobs (1,495)

Common Cook/Server Resume Skills

  • Customer Service
  • Customer Orders
  • Safety Standards
  • Food Preparation
  • Kitchen Equipment
  • POS
  • Allergies
  • Drink Orders
  • Fryers
  • Mathematics
  • Food Products
  • Cooking Food
  • Customer Complaints
  • Quality Food
  • Stoves
  • Cash Drawers
  • Cooking Surfaces
  • Hot Food
  • Slicers
  • Deep Fat Fryers
  • Deep-Fat Fryers
  • Ice Cream
  • Quality Customer Service
  • Inventory Control
  • Display Cases
  • Broilers
  • Large-Volume Cooking Equipment
  • Customers Food
  • Food Order Slips
  • Restock Workstations
  • Phone Orders
  • Cash Registers
  • Specialty Foods
  • Credit Card Transactions
  • Front Counter
  • Automatic Debits
  • Package Batches

Cook/Server Jobs