Post job

Explore jobs

Find specific jobs

Explore careers

Explore professions

Best companies

Explore companies

OverviewJobsResume

Skills

EducationDemographicsBest CompaniesJob OutlookCompareEntry Level jobs
zippia ai icon

Automatically apply for jobs with Zippi

Upload your resume to get started.

Head waitress skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical head waitress skills. We ranked the top skills for head waitresses based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 31.7% of head waitress resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a head waitress needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 head waitress skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

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.

Here's how head waitresses use customer service:
  • Exhibited flexibility, practiced regular customer service, and used effective communication skills to successfully lead staff and oversee operations.
  • Ensured all guests received an exceptional dining experience by providing excellent customer service and contributing to efficient restaurant operations.

2. Food Preparation

Here's how head waitresses use food preparation:
  • Maintained food preparation and safety standards.
  • Train workers in food preparation, in service, sanitation, as well as safety procedures.

3. Customer Complaints

Here's how head waitresses use customer complaints:
  • Recognized for efficiently and effectively handling customer complaints quickly and efficiently.
  • Enhanced communication skills by resolving customer complaints and creating a solution that was advantageous to both parties.

4. POS

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.

Here's how head waitresses use pos:
  • Trained new employees in all the duties of serving the patrons and how to operate our POS Ordering System.
  • Completed closing duties; assuring staff had fully restocked inventory, closing out nightly sales and POS system.

5. Food Orders

Here's how head waitresses use food orders:
  • Cash out customers*pick up food orders*supervise co-workers at end of shift*balance out register at end of shift or day
  • Took/served food orders, took phone orders, ran cash register, trained other employees

6. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how head waitresses use safety procedures:
  • Trained new employees on responsibilities and general safety procedures.
  • Trained new staff members on guest service expectations, safety procedures, proper food/drink handling techniques and restaurant protocols.

Choose from 10+ customizable head waitress resume templates

Build a professional head waitress resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your head waitress resume.

7. Credit Card Machines

Here's how head waitresses use credit card machines:
  • Close out and balance the credit card machine, and gather and record funds for the tip pool.
  • Managed cash register as well as credit card machine and kept record of each transaction.

8. Bartending

Here's how head waitresses use bartending:
  • Handled all aspects of bar service which included general bartending services, bar restocking and end of night balancing.
  • General waitress and bartending duties in a fast paced restaurant located in a busy resort town.

9. Food Service

The food service industry is a vast industry comprising of restaurants, caterers, cafeterias operating in institutions and any other business offering a meal not prepared at home. Foodservice operators require necessary utensils for preparing food for the consumers, foodservice distributors are the people who take care of this need for them.

Here's how head waitresses use food service:
  • Managed overall performance of food service and kitchen operations.
  • Accommodate guest needs and consistent communication with kitchen staff to ensure food service runs smoothly.

10. Customer Orders

Here's how head waitresses use customer orders:
  • Take customer orders* Organize supplies* Train incoming waiters/waitresses.
  • Prepare itemized receipts per customer orders and requests; processing cash and credit card payments.

11. Fine Dining

Here's how head waitresses use fine dining:
  • Decorate dining area on a daily basis for the customers to enjoy a fine dining experience.
  • Served upscale food with a French flair in an elegant, fine dining atmosphere.

12. New Servers

Here's how head waitresses use new servers:
  • Train servers according to company policies and mentor new servers to give fast yet concentrated service to guests.
  • Compiled Training Manual, Training New Servers, Shift Floor Plans, Checking Servers Side Work.

13. Drink Orders

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.

Here's how head waitresses use drink orders:
  • Crafted sandwiches, completed drink orders, bused tables, washed dishes, prepared tables, and kept the store clean.
  • Document food and drink orders from patrons, relaying requests to the chefs - noting any food allergies.

14. To-Go Orders

A to-go order refers to a food or beverage item served in a package, takeout container, or parcel which allows it to be taken away from a restaurant rather than eaten on the premises of the restaurant as a dine-in facility. A to-go order means your order from the restaurant but eat it at home and hence call it a takeout.

Here's how head waitresses use to-go orders:
  • Assisted host or hostess by answering phones, taking to-go orders, and by greeting, seating, and thanking guests.
  • Assist host/hostess with telephones to take reservations, to-go orders, and answer general inquiries.

15. Computer System

Here's how head waitresses use computer system:
  • Trained other waitress on the computer systems and procedures that were to be followed by the company.
  • Educated on computer system to place costumer orders and handled cash.
top-skills

What skills help Head Waitresses find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

List of head waitress skills to add to your resume

Head waitress skills

The most important skills for a head waitress resume and required skills for a head waitress to have include:

  • Customer Service
  • Food Preparation
  • Customer Complaints
  • POS
  • Food Orders
  • Safety Procedures
  • Credit Card Machines
  • Bartending
  • Food Service
  • Customer Orders
  • Fine Dining
  • New Servers
  • Drink Orders
  • To-Go Orders
  • Computer System
  • Guest Satisfaction
  • Bank Deposits
  • Allergies
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Service Quality
  • Customer Inquiries
  • Sales Taxes
  • Private Parties
  • Financial Transactions
  • Beverage Service
  • Bus Tables
  • Front End
  • Beverage Orders
  • Cash Drawers
  • Food Quality
  • Inventory Control
  • Quality Standards
  • Customer Relations
  • Seat Guests
  • Individual Servers
  • Phone Orders
  • Waiting Tables
  • Order Slips
  • VIP
  • Cooking Methods
  • Server Station
  • Cash Registers
  • Meal Costs
  • Menu Choices

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse food preparation and restaurant jobs