restaurant receptionist job description for resume

Receptionist Resume Sample for 2024 [Job Description, Skills & Tips]

A receptionist does much more than welcome, greet, and direct a company’s guests or clients. 

The job includes maintaining the security and telecommunications systems, providing information to customers by answering or redirecting their inquiries, and offering administrative support within the company, among others. 

As such, it’s not surprising at all if you’re stuck trying to put all that effectively on your receptionist resume. 

Fortunately, though, with the right guidance, writing an impactful receptionist resume can be easy, and we’re here to help!

Read our article to learn all you need to know about writing a receptionist resume! Here’s exactly what we’ll cover: 

• Receptionist Resume Example (Better Than 9 Out of 10 Examples)

8-Step Guide to Write Your Receptionist Resume

• 20+ In-Demand Skills to Put on Your Receptionist Resume

So let’s get to it! 

Receptionist Resume Example (to Inspire You)

Not sure where to start with your resume? Reviewing a receptionist resume example is a good start!

The resume example above does everything right, including: 

• Follows the chronological format. As the most popular format among recruiters worldwide, the chronological resume format is the way to go.
• Has a memorable resume profile. To show the recruiter they’re relevant as an applicant, the candidate has written a captivating resume summary. 
• Includes professional contact details. In addition to the must-have contact details, the receptionist resume example above also lists the applicant’s LinkedIn and Skype handles.
• Lists quantifiable achievements. The candidate has built a work experience section that focuses on achievements to stand out from other applicants. 
• Has a short education section. With plenty of work experience to show for, the receptionist resume example keeps their education section short. 
• Includes relevant skills. The candidate doesn’t list every skill under the sun, but only the ones that are relevant to the position. 
• Uses optional resume sections the right way. By adding their certificates and languages, the candidate has even better chances at standing out from the competition.
• Is based on a well-designed resume template . To avoid the hassle of building their resume from scratch, the receptionist resume example above was built using a plug-and-play template.   

Inspired by the receptionist resume example above?

Now it’s time to write yours! Below, we’ll walk you through the 8 essential steps for creating an effective receptionist resume, starting with:

#1. Choose the Right Format and Layout

When it comes to resumes, the structure is everything. 

You can be an amazing professional and you still won’t stand much chance if:

• Your resume sections are all out of order.
• Your resume is very hard to follow because of a messy structure.
• The resume looks unprofessional because you picked the wrong font . 

So, before you can start filling out the contents of your receptionist resume, you’ve got to first make sure its format and layout are just right.

When it comes to your resume format, the choice is quite easy. 

Out of the three resume formats ( chronological , functional (also known as skills-based), and combination ) you should go for the chronological resume format . It’s the most popular among recruiters everywhere in the world and successfully highlights your skills and achievements by putting your most recent work experience first. 

Here’s what it looks like: 

Now, when it comes to the layout, you’ll have to keep a few more things in mind:

• Keep your resume short. Unless you have 10+ years of experience, a 1-page resume is your best bet that recruiters will go through your entire resume. After all, they receive hundreds of applications daily—they don’t have time to read your resume if it’s the same length as a short novella. 
• Picking the right font size and style. Go for 11-12 pt font size for the body of your text and 13-14 pts for the section headers. As for the style, we recommend using a font that’s casual but professional, such as Ubuntu or Roboto. 
• Using section headers. Section headers are a good way to clearly separate your resume’s sections. 
• Saving your resume as a PDF file. Unless otherwise instructed in the job description, save your resume as a PDF . That way, you can be sure it will open as you intended it despite the device or OS that opens it. 

Or Skip Formatting and Layout Altogether By Using a Resume Template!

Imagine this:

You spend hours and hours tweaking your resume layout, only for it to look like a generic, black-and-white resume.

Not a good feeling, right?

Want to skip ahead of all the formatting hassle and jump right into filling in your contents? AND come out with a visually-appealing, short-n-snappy resume, all at the same time?

All you have to do is pick one of Novorésumé’s free, plug-and-play templates ! 

Our resume templates were made in collaboration with professional recruiters, which means they are easy to read and scan (and they’re ATS-friendly to boot!). 

And the best part? The templates look absolutely gorgeous (especially when compared to a standard black-and-white resume ): 

#2. Add More Than Your Traditional Contact Details 

The contact information section is the most straightforward part of writing a resume. 

Basically, all you have to do is list the following details:

• Professional title. 
• Phone number.
• Location (city and state/country).

Here’s how all that looks like on a receptionist resume: 

Receptionist

123-123-333

[email protected]

Scranton, PA

If you want to add some flavor to this section and you’re active on LinkedIn, you can include your profile’s URL link too. 

#3. Write a Compelling Resume Summary Summary/Objective

Put simply, your resume profile is a summary of you as a professional. 

The 2-3 sentence short paragraph goes at the top of your resume and aims to tell recruiters just enough to convince them to deep-dive into the rest of your resume.

Depending on your work experience level, you can write a resume profile as:

• A resume summary . If you are experienced in the field use a resume summary to sum up your title and years of experience, as well as your top skills and achievements.
• A resume objective . If you don’t have a lot to show for in terms of work experience, then you should go for a resume objective . To ace, it, mention any degree names or experience related to the field, the skills that you can offer the company, and your interest in working there. 

Here’s what a receptionist resume summary looks like:

Detail-oriented receptionist with 4 years of experience in customer service. Efficient in performing the administrative and front-desk tasks of large-scale offices. Fluent in Spanish and proficient in MS Office Suite. 

And here’s a receptionist resume objective:

Motivated communications graduate looking to apply their people and organizational skills as a receptionist at Company Z. Worked as Resident Assistant for 3 years and has hands-on experience on front desk duties, helping students solve problems, and dealing with administrational tasks.

#4. Make Your Work Experience Count 

Consider your work experience section as the backbone of your receptionist resume - it’s what recruiters will be checking to see whether you’ve got what it takes to excel at the job.  

To make this section count, first, make sure to format it the right way. Here’s what that involves: 

• Start with your current/most recent position and go backward in time. Keep your work entries relevant - the paper delivery job from your teens won’t help land you a receptionist job. 
• Begin each work entry with your professional title. Underneath, add the company's name and location, the period you worked there, and 3-5 of achievements and responsibilities in bullet points. 
• List fewer bullet points (1-2 for each work entry) as you go back in time. Your job from 10 years ago doesn’t need to be as comprehensively described as your last one.

After you’ve handled the formatting, you’ve got to make sure your professional experience shines through brighter than other candidates’. 

As hard as it may sound, we have some very effective tips to make that happen, including: 

• Focus on achievements over responsibilities whenever it’s possible. After all, recruiters know what the responsibilities of a receptionist are pretty well - it’s your achievements that can really help you stand out. 
• Quantify your achievements whenever you can. For example, instead of saying “handled incoming and outgoing calls effectively,” say “handled 100+ incoming and outgoing calls on a daily basis.”
• You can use the following formula to quantify your achievements : “accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z.” 

Here’s how a well-written work achievement would look like in a receptionist resume:

• Consulted regarding a redesign of the office scheduling system, increasing accuracy by 38%.
• Achieved 95% customer satisfaction score based on feedback forms.
• Handled successfully 100+ phone calls daily with no complaints during the last 2 years.

And here’s a less convincing achievement:

• Answered questions.
• Provided good customer service.
• Made phone calls.

The first example is achievement-oriented and the recruiter reading it knows how, exactly, you excelled at your last role.

The second example, though, is not as much. The recruiter knows that you worked as a receptionist… and that’s about it. They have no idea if you excelled at the role or not.

If you do have to list responsibilities and tasks on your Receptionist resume, make sure you’re using dynamic action words and strong verbs !

#5. Include Your Education 

The next step in creating your receptionist resume is to list your educational background.

Start by following this format:

• Add your latest and highest degree first. 
• Start off with the degree name, then the institution’s name, and the dates attended. 
• Don’t add your high-school education if you hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. 

Here’s how the education section should look like in a receptionist resume:

BA in Communication 

Penn State University, PA

Now, if you don’t have any work experience at all, you can use your educational history to help you stand out.

In such a case, you can make this section more elaborate by mentioning:

• Academic merits and achievements
• Relevant coursework taken
• Extracurricular activities  

BA in World Literature

• Graduated Summa Cum Laude
• Graduated first of the class in Communications
• Resident Advisor for 3 years

#6. Include Industry-Related Skills

You can definitely tell a good receptionist by the skills they possess. 

And that’s exactly why the skills section is another receptionist resume must-have. 

Of course, this includes a balance between soft skills (e.g. communication skills , time-management, multi-tasking), and hard skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, Supply Management). 

Keep in mind, however, that the key here is to list the right skills and not every single skill that you possess.

Sure, knowing Adobe Illustrator is great, but it won’t help much with your job as a receptionist. 

So, first, go through our list below and include the must-have receptionist skills in your resume (the ones that you do possess, that is).

Then, go through the job ad you’re applying for and see if you missed an important skill or two. Make sure that the skills you’ve listed match the ones required for the role (as long as you actually possess them, of course).

20+ Receptionist Soft and Hard Skills to Put on a Receptionist Resume

Receptionist soft skills.

• Verbal and written communication
• Professionalism
• Customer focus
• Organization and planning
• Handling pressure and tolerating stress
• Attention to detail
• Reliability
• Multitasking
• Conflict resolution
• Problem-solving
• Prioritizing
• Time Management

Receptionist Hard Skills

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Administrative skills
• Supply management
• Typing skills (include WPM)
• Information management software
• Use of office equipment (fax machines, copiers, etc)
• Multi-line phone systems

#7. 5 Additional Sections to Take Advantage Of

At this stage, if your resume is already a full one-pager, you can just skip this section altogether.

If, on the other hand, you’ve got some space left (e.g. if you don’t have a lot of work experience), you can make use of these extra sections to give your receptionist resume an edge:

• Awards and certifications. Are you certified in office management? Do you have any awards for excellent performance in any of your previous roles? These are definitely things you should include in your receptionist resume. 
• Languages. Whatever your position might be, knowing an extra language or two can always come in handy.
• Volunteer experience. Volunteering can be a great way to show you also care about giving back to the community. If you’re a recent graduate, volunteering experience can also show employers that you’re familiar with hard work.
• Internships. Got any past internship experience? Make sure to include that in your resume, along with your main tasks and achievements there. 
• Hobbies and interests . Show the recruiter who you are outside of work. Who knows, maybe it’ll help you establish rapport with your interviewer!

The thing about extra sections is that they work on two levels: if you’re lacking work experience, they can definitely help you land an entry-level job, whereas if you’re experienced in the field, they can set you apart from other applicants with similar work experience and skills. 

Here’ an example of how extra sections should look in a receptionist resume:

Examples of Extra Sections

Certifications.

• Microsoft Office Specialist - Issued by Microsoft
• Certified Business Officer - Issued by the Management and Strategy Institute

Volunteer Experience

Front Desk Assistant  Scranton Community Center 06/2010 - 10/2012

• Helped staff with daily clerical tasks and activities
• Got hands-on experience doing administrational work
• French (Fluent)
• German (Intermediate)

#8. Don’t Forget to Include a Cover Letter

Including a cover letter with your resume is an inseparable part of sending a job application.

As such, it’s safe to assume that it should be just as good as your receptionist resume. 

Keep in mind, though, that a cover letter shouldn’t just rephrase whatever you mentioned in your resume.

Rather, you should use it to:

• Summarize your most important skills, achievements, or experiences.
• Expand on any information you couldn’t talk about in detail in your receptionist resume.
• Mention what you know about the organization you’re applying for (and why you want to work there).

Here are our tips on creating a compelling receptionist cover letter:

• Tailor your cover letter to the specific job position you’re applying for. Instead of using a generic cover letter introduction, start your cover letter by introducing yourself and mentioning exactly why you want to work for that company.
• Use the body of your cover letter to talk about your skills, achievements, and qualifications in more detail. 
• Write a strong cover letter ending by including a strong call to action. 
• Make sure that your cover letter looks as compelling as your resume by using one of our cover letter templates . 
• Learn more about how to write a compelling cover letter by checking out our cover letter tips .

Not sure what a good receptionist cover letter looks like? Check out our top cover letter examples !

We hope you are feeling more confident about creating your receptionist resume and we are sure you will get hired in no time!

Related Resume Examples

• Customer Service Resume
• Event Planner Resume
• Bar and Restaurant Manager Resume
• Cashier Resume
• Waiter Resume
• Server Resume
• Barista Resume
• Bartender Resume

Key Takeaways 

Follow the steps we outlined above, and you’ll have yourself a job-winning receptionist resume in no time!

Before you leave to work on your resume, though, let’s recap the key learning points we covered above:

• Use a resume summary or objective to summarize your experiences and show the recruiter that you’re relevant for the role.
• Mention achievements over responsibilities when possible. This helps show the recruiter how you excelled in your previous role.
• Quantify your work experiences by using the XYZ formula.
• Use some of the optional resume sections to help you stand out. This includes languages, hobbies, extracurricular activities, and more.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• Receptionist Job Description:...

Receptionist Job Description: All Key Roles & Duties

7 min read · Updated on May 16, 2024

This Receptionist job description provides all the details you need to write a new resume

Whether you consider being a receptionist a job or a career, it's crucial to recognize the significant role you play in the company's operations. The chances are great – practically 100% – that you'll need a winning resume to even get your foot in the door. After all, the Receptionist role is an all-important client-focused, face-of-the-company position, and employers will want to know up-front that you have what it takes. 

Enter the Receptionist job description. It's not just a document but a guide that will lead you to write an effective resume. It contains information that is critically important to what you'll write in your new resume. In fact, as you read through all the key roles and duties, you'll need to extract relevant keywords to use in your resume to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.

Get ready to write your resume before you actually start writing

There's a bit of homework you have to complete before you can start writing your Receptionist resume and even before you start reviewing Receptionist job descriptions. 

You need to make a list of your skills and career achievements

You also need to choose the format you want to use for your resume 

There are three formats to choose from, including:

Reverse-chronological

Functional 

In most instances, you'll need to opt for the reverse chronological format because it's the one that will get past the applicant tracking system the company is using to weed out candidates. It'll also be the one the hiring manager wants to see. 

Another thing that makes the reverse-chronological resume the best option is how easy it is to put together – basically, all you're doing is filling in the blanks of a very well-defined structure.

Contact information

Title/Headline

Profile Paragraph

Core Competencies

Professional Experience

As you work through each section of your new resume, inject the skills and achievements you've listed from your career to tell a story of accomplishment and progression. 

Remember to use action verbs to make your resume more engaging. For instance, instead of saying 'Handled customer inquiries,' you could say 'Managed customer inquiries' to make your role sound more proactive. 

Related reading: How to Make a Resume: Beginner's Writing Guide with Examples

Receptionist top skills & proficiencies

Sometimes, it can be challenging to come up with a list of skills because people simply don't like to brag about what they know. Other times, job seekers question whether something they know how to do qualifies as a skill because it's so simple a thing. 

To get your brain juices flowing and to help you see that even the most minor task can fit into your Receptionist resume as a skill, here's a list you can use for inspiration. 

Customer Service

Overachieving Attitude

Verbal and Written Communication

Professional

Problem-Solving Skills

Accuracy and Attention to Detail

Interpersonal Skills

Telephone Skills

Microsoft Office Skills

Professionalism

Customer Focus

Organization

Handle Pressure

Supply Management

Skills equal keywords

You have to go one step further from simply listing your skills on your resume. Now, you can start to review Receptionist job descriptions to make sure your skills align with what companies are looking for. The keywords in the Receptionist job description are a direct reflection of the skills the company is seeking in its new Receptionist. Use these keywords to show that you have what it takes to excel in the role. 

By reviewing job description examples – like the one below – you'll be able to identify what technical skills (specific, job-related skills like operating a switchboard) and soft skills (personal attributes like communication and adaptability) matter most to an employer in your target field. 

When crafting your resume, aim to include as much relevant information from the Receptionist job description as possible. This will show the hiring manager that you understand the role and have the necessary skills and experience to succeed as a Receptionist. 

Receptionist job description

Let's take a look at what a normal Receptionist job description looks like. The first thing you'll likely see is a job summary that gives an overview of the daily activities you'll perform as a Receptionist.

Job summary

Greet vendors, customers, job applicants, and other visitors and arrange for transportation services when needed. Direct visitors by maintaining employee and department directories. May operate a switchboard to route incoming calls and place outgoing calls. Maintain security by following procedures, monitoring logbooks, and issuing visitor badges.

Responsibilities

After the job summary, you'll find a list of bullet points that break down specific duties individually. This is a great place to extract keywords for your Receptionist resume.

Greet clients as soon as they arrive and connect them with the appropriate party

Answer the phone in a timely manner and direct calls to the correct offices

Create and manage both digital and hardcopy filing systems for all partners

Make travel arrangements and schedule meetings based on all partners' itineraries

Deal with bookings by phone, e-mail, letter, fax, or face-to-face

Complete procedures when Guests arrive and leave

Prepare bills and take payments

Take and pass on messages to Guests

Deal with special requests from Guests

Answer questions about what the hotel offers and the surrounding area

Deal with complaints or problems

Answer telephone calls and take messages or forward calls

Schedule and confirm appointments and maintain event calendars

Check visitors in and direct or escort them to specific destinations

Inform other employees of visitors' arrivals or cancellations

Enter customer data and send correspondence

Copy, file, and maintain paper or electronic documents and records

Handle incoming and outgoing mail

Qualifications

The final thing you'll see in a Receptionist job description is a list of qualifications that describe everything from the level of education you need to the number of years of experience. Here's what a qualifications list could look like:

More than five years of experience as a Receptionist or Front Office Representative

High school diploma/GED

Bilingual preferred

Adaptable and flexible with an excellent ability to multitask

Self-motivated with strong communication skills

Knowledge of customer service best practices

Computer savvy with experience in data entry, word processing, and managing files

How to use the Receptionist job description

As you work through each section of your reverse-chronological resume, you'll insert items from your list of skills and achievements that mirror what the Receptionist job description defines as necessary for job success. This is called tailoring your resume to the job.

At the end of the day, the hiring manager cares less about everything you've done during your career and more about achievements that prove you'll be an asset to their team – achievements being what's important. 

Let's say that you “issued guest badges” at a company in the past. That's great because it's specifically mentioned in the new job description. You can improve upon that relevant keyword by quantifying your experience and turning it into an achievement. 

Reduced security incidents by 12% by following company protocols to issue guest badges. 

Now, the new company will see that you can do what they want you to and that you understand how to follow protocols to improve things. You're a winner!

It's time to apply for jobs

Once your resume is ready and perfectly tailored to the Receptionist job description, it's time to send it out. Here are a few tips to keep your Receptionist job search organized and manageable.

Network with like-minded individuals

Follow up after you apply for a job

Get ready for interviews

Maintain a positive mindset

You got this!

Searching for a new job can be frustrating, especially if it starts to take a long time. Don't give up. Keep reviewing Receptionist job descriptions to make sure that you've got the right keywords in your resume. You'll land an interview before you know it. 

Having a third party review your resume can be extremely helpful and even boost your confidence. TopResume offers a free resume review and will happily give yours a once-over to make sure it's hitting the mark.

Recommended reading: 

Your path to a great resume starts here.

17 Resume Tips to Get Seen and Hired Faster

Unconventional Ways to Stay on a Recruiter's Radar

Related Articles:

Machine Operator Skills: Add to Improve Your Resume!

Host/Hostess Skills: Add to Improve Your Resume!

Spring Cleaning Your Resume: Tips for Keeping it Concise

See how your resume stacks up.

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7 Restaurant Resume Examples That Worked in 2024

• Restaurant Resumes
• Restaurant Resume by Experience
• Restaurant Resumes by Role
• Describe Restaurant Experience on a Resume

As a restaurant worker, you provide the foundation of success for a restaurant to survive, thrive, and nurture communities. Whether an entry-level restaurant worker or a field veteran, you’re reliable, levelheaded, and an expert at communicating. 

You shouldn’t have to become an  expert resume writer , too.

Thankfully, you don’t have to be. We’ve reviewed countless resumes from restaurant workers worldwide and have thoroughly picked them apart to decipher what did and did not help applicants land job interviews. 

We took this information and  crafted seven restaurant resume samples to help you get your next restaurant job in 2024 . At the end of each resume, you’ll find helpful tips and tricks to ensure you stand out from the crowd.

Restaurant Resume Example

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

Why this resume works

• It can be difficult to think of valuable statistics. As a restaurant worker, list metrics for achieving or exceeding sales targets, where you boosted efficiency, customer reviews you received, employer reviews, the number of menu items you had command over, how much you increased revenue, health inspection ratings, reductions in staff turnover, the number of guests you cared for or the number of guests seated per night.
• Avoid vague statements, and customize it for each job to which you apply. For example, your summary might detail your 10+ years of experience, front-of-house experience, communication, customer service, and levelheadedness while also mentioning the target business by name.

Restaurant Worker Resume Example

• Also, it adds a measurable achievement of increasing the levels of repeat customers. Therefore, you need to show your long-term value to a potential employer before you can be hired.

Entry-Level Restaurant Resume Example

• Focus on demonstrating your job skills, rather than titles, as an entry-level worker. You can even include school projects, internships, or volunteer positions.
• This is a good time to add a  resume objective .
• Your resume objective not only fills up space but offers a valuable snapshot of your best self when you take the time to customize it.
• It’s also best suited for entry-level applicants or those who are changing careers. Don’t forget to customize your objective by mentioning the target business by name.
• If you omit a skills section, your entry-level restaurant resume may pass through automated scanners and into the trash before a hiring manager ever sees it.
• Fortunately, skills sections are really easy to include.
• We recommend listing six to ten skills specific to restaurant work. You can even specialize your skills section for each job you apply to by carefully reading  job descriptions  and picking up on their valuable skills.
• Important restaurant worker skills include customer service, communication, time management, organization, sales, and flexibility.

Restaurant Customer Service Resume Example

• In particular, including the cashier experience elevates the value you’re bringing to a business that thrives on customer satisfaction.

Restaurant Server Resume Example

• Your restaurant server resume should keep things short and to the point. If you have a lot of information to include, make sure you quantify your experience in numbers and break it up into concise bullet points. Bullet points should all be under 200 characters.
• Undoubtedly, being a hiring manager and reviewing so many resumes is stressful. That’s why they typically only spend six seconds reviewing each one. If you want to grab their attention, you’ll need to quantify most of your bullet points.
• Numbers naturally draw the eye, making employers spend more time on your resume. 

Restaurant Manager Resume Example  

• Formatting your resume  in reverse-chronological style demonstrates this best with its natural progression of work history from most recent to oldest.
• It’s important to avoid words that take away from your ability to work independently or actively. For example, starting a bullet point with the word “helped” is much less impactful than the word “spearheaded.”
• Your resume should include great action words like calculated, collaborated, negotiated, achieved, coordinated, crafted, supervised, built, cultivated, or outperformed.
• If you’re having trouble structuring the perfect sentences, that’s okay. It’s not easy! That’s why we built our  resume checker .

Fast Food Restaurant Resume Example

• Aim to have two to four work experience sections and three to six bullet points for each work experience on your fast food restaurant resume . With so little space, include metrics and active voice while avoiding unnecessary filler words.
• This will help demonstrate growth throughout your career.
• Additionally, only 20 percent of hiring managers say they read every single work experience. Keeping your most relevant experience toward the top will ensure employers see the most important information.
• Finally, recruiters’ automated systems (ATS) are formatted to look through resumes written in the standard (reverse-chronological) order.

Related resume guides

• Restaurant Manager
• Food Service Worker

How to Describe Restaurant Experience on a Resume

No matter your experience level, whether you’re looking for your first job or have been in the restaurant industry for years, our industry-specific  resume tips  will ensure you serve up the best application to hiring managers. 

Whether you’re looking for a restaurant management position, hoping to get your first job in the industry as a server, or somewhere in between, you won’t always have past job experience that seems directly applicable. The good news is that just about any project or seemingly irrelevant job can still demonstrate the skills and abilities you’ll need at the restaurant.

Listing retail experience can show positive customer service and sales skills. Working as a bank teller can speak to your expertise in handling money accurately. Talking about childcare can attest to creative thinking and problem-solving.

Discuss your success in the restaurant (or wherever you worked). The majority of job seekers are just going to regurgitate (isn’t that an awful word?) restaurant duties they performed day in and day out on the job. But what if you went beyond that? What if you took the time to show how you actually impacted the restaurant?

For example, did your strength as a collaborator help the restaurant manager reduce scheduling miscommunication? Did you earn higher tips than your coworkers because you consistently memorized dinner specials and took the time to personally recommend wine pairings to guests? Did you identify gaps in servers’ skills and revamp customer service training?

Remember, though, that you want to keep your bullet points to a sentence each, so if you have more to say, those details are best saved for your restaurant cover letter .

Lead your restaurant resume with active verbs, and be careful to write with an active voice through each bullet point. Active verbs like “collaborated,” “delivered,” “calculated,” “suggested,” “presented,” “exceeded,” and “operated” will help you tell your career story. And writing in an active voice means you get right to the point. You’ll know right off the bat which job description bullet point uses active voice and which one is passive: ◉ Pooled and distributed tips after shifts, encouraging management to use TipMetric for tracking, saving 7+ hours a week ◉ Tips were pooled and distributed after shifts and management was encouraged by me to use TipMetric for tracking, saving 7+ hours a week

Add dollars, percentages, and other units of measurement for serving up the best restaurant resume bullet points and writing a great cover letter . Did you: ◉ Impact the bottom line by upselling wines or cross-selling side dishes or desserts? ◉ Manage and encourage servers so that you decreased employee turnover rate? ◉ Consistently serve more tables or guests than your coworkers?

Restaurant Job Titles, A Comprehensive List of 2024

Whats Inside?

• List of Restaurant job titles:

Back-of-house restaurant positions

Front-of-house restaurant positions, restaurant job titles: skills for servers 2024.

Job titles are vital in the fast-paced world of restaurants because they help define responsibilities, career advancement, and team dynamics. Restaurant positions come in a wide range, each requiring experts to carry out certain tasks that are essential to the success of the company. These positions might be anything from waiter or cashier, which are entry-level positions, to restaurant management. The most popular and recently created job titles in the restaurant business will be examined in this article, along with a detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position. 

The most sought-after positions in the hospitality and catering sectors are those of barista, sommelier, restaurant manager, cook, waitress, bartender, concierge, hotel manager, doorman, and hotel receptionist, per a recent Resume.io survey . These jobs include management, front-of-house, and back-of-house employment in restaurants. 

Effective restaurant managers often have diverse experience as servers, bartenders, and supervisors, emphasizing the importance of practical knowledge in the industry. Recent trends show that the role of a restaurant manager now includes tasks like building client relationships, enhancing customer satisfaction, and driving business growth , underscoring the growing importance of customer service and relationship management skills.

As the restaurant landscape evolves , new job titles are emerging to meet changing demands. In 2024, roles like Culinary Innovator, Digital Marketing Specialist , Sustainability Manager, and Hospitality Technologist are gaining prominence, reflecting the industry's shift towards innovation and specialization. 

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List of Restaurant job titles: Management restaurant positions

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The restaurant's hierarchy of positions starts with the owner. Restaurant operators supervise daily operations, manage personnel, handle complaints from patrons, and strive to turn a profit.

Restaurant operators wear many hats when managing their businesses. Ensuring that patrons are content with their meals and that the restaurant makes a profit is their main objective. 

This entails keeping an eye on the wait staff. At the same time, they serve clients, supervise the kitchen workers as they prepare, cook, and present the food, and collaborate with the cleaning team to ensure that everything complies with food safety and health regulations. These are a few of the tasks they do:

• Creating training curricula
• Carrying out marketing strategies
•  Handling finances
• Ensuring the restaurant conforms to all health and safety regulations

Additionally, the owner could be involved in cultivating ties with vendors, suppliers, and even clients.

2) General Manager

The general manager is responsible for the daily management of the company and supervises every other restaurant employee on this list (obviously not including the owner).

In certain instances, the general manager might also be assigned some or all of the more senior duties that the owner would normally take care of, such as authorizing overtime and making payroll.

3) Assistant manager

The assistant manager is in charge of supporting the general manager in some areas related to the company, such as:

• Inventory management
• Customer service
• Workforce management
• Sustaining staff engagement
• Synchronizing front and back-of-house operations.

4) Food and beverage manager

The food and beverage manager usually has control over the entire process of preparing and serving the food and beverages.

The food and beverage manager may also be in charge of the following, depending on the other roles in your company:

• Creating the menu
•  Determining the cost of food and drink
• Overseeing the culinary crew
• Running the dining room
• Placing daily orders for food and beverages

5) Kitchen manager

A kitchen manager is responsible for all the activities taking place back in the house. They are usually responsible for ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the kitchen (as well as the kitchen personnel).

In many instances, the kitchen manager will also assist in front-of-the-house coordination to ensure that food and drink are provided following the company's high standards.

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6) Executive chef

The executive chef works in tandem with the kitchen manager, if applicable, to create menus, prepare meals, oversee the kitchen staff, and uphold safety and health regulations.

Restaurants will occasionally combine the duties of the assistant manager, food manager, and kitchen manager under the executive chef role.

Everything is dependent upon how the business is structured organizationally.

7) Sous chef

As kitchen restaurant positions go, the sous chef or assistant chef works directly under the executive chef to guarantee that every dish is made according to the exact specifications, punctually, and to the highest caliber possible.

They will typically also be in charge of overseeing other members of the kitchen crew to ensure that everyone is performing their duties appropriately.

8) Pastry chef

The pastry chef develops, makes, and serves every dessert the restaurant serves, working under the direction of the head chef and sous chef. The pastry chef in larger establishments will also have to oversee a group of assistants.

9) Line cook

The line cook's duties encompass a range of activities, including 

• Ingredient preparation
• Food preparation following the restaurant's recipe
• Dish plating
• Communication with other chefs and kitchen personnel, and timely and effective completion of all of these chores.

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10) Short-order cook

A short-order cook is a trained chef who prepares and serves meals quickly and according to order. It should just take a few minutes to finish one order. Short-order cooks frequently handle several orders from clients at once on a sizable cooking surface, like a flat-top griddle. A short-order cook's job is not like that of line cooks or other related vocations. While line cooks are usually solely in charge of one dish's component, short-order cooks routinely make the entire meal. 

11) Prep cook

A Prep Cook, or Preparatory Cook, is in charge of lending assistance to the culinary crew while they prepare meals and ingredients. In addition to slicing ingredients and labeling food products in storage closets, they also have to clean their workstation both before and after services.

12) Fast food cook

The fast food cook is in charge of quickly and effectively preparing, cooking, and serving a wide range of delectable culinary items. Here are a few of their responsibilities:

• Maintain cleanliness in the kitchen and abide by health and safety regulations. 
• Prepare and cook food items by established recipes and standards.
•  Make sure that all food items are cooked to the required temperature. 
• Receive, store, and rotate stock items in accordance with established procedures. 
• Verify that every component is top-notch and fresh
• Keep an eye on the food's preparation and presentation to make sure it adheres to the strictest guidelines
• Help in creating new menu items and dishes 
• Support new cooks' training

13) Dishwasher

The dishwasher has a range of duties that occasionally go beyond simply using the cleaning apparatus.

Making sure that every dish, flatware, and cup is clean, sterilized, and prepared for usage is their main duty. Cleaning up spills and messes in the kitchen and keeping clean dishes stocked for the cook and servers are common examples of secondary duties.

14) Stocker

A stocker is a worker employed by some restaurants who is in charge of unloading, organizing, and managing the company's inventory of food, drinks, and supplies.

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15) Sommelier

A sommelier is a wine specialist who curates wine lists to complement menu items. Sommeliers curate and revise wine lists, offer suggestions for food and wine pairings and suggest wines to patrons based on their preferences. Here are a few of their responsibilities:

• Working with the managers and chefs to create and update wine lists. 
• Offering suggestions for matching wines and foods. 
• Ensuring that the wine cellar is well supplied. 
• Explaining to visitors the range of wines that are offered.
•  Educating servers about the wines that are offered.
•  Bargaining with suppliers on prices. 
• Planning occasions for wine tastings. 
• Adhering to health and safety protocols.

A server's duties will frequently differ according to the kind of restaurant they work in, but typical duties include the following:

• Taking orders
• Setting up eating spaces
• Cleaning tables
• Delivering food and drinks to the table
• Processing payments
• Offering top-notch customer service

17) Host/Hostess

The host and hostess restaurant positions are in charge of managing reservations, taking phone calls, seating visitors at available tables, and welcoming them when they come.

In addition, if another host or hostess is working concurrently, they might be requested to do errands and light cleaning as needed.

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18) Bartender

The bartender's primary responsibility is receiving drink orders from consumers or servers and making or blending the drinks.

They are also in charge of maintaining the bar, which serves as their workspace, stocked with the tools they need to complete their tasks.

19) Barback

A Barback is a bartender's assistant. They make sure bartenders have everything they need to serve patrons. A barback's duties include replenishing supplies, stocking, and maintaining a tidy workspace.

20) Barista

A Barista is in charge of preparing and serving meals like sandwiches, muffins, and cookies, as well as drinks like coffee and tea. In addition to packaging coffee blends and making coffee and tea, they also serve clients, clean, and try to make sure they are happy.

A barista performs a variety of tasks, including:

• Making and serving hot and cold beverages, including specialized, artisan, and tea drinks.
• Cleaning service and seating areas; cleaning and disinfecting work spaces, utensils, and equipment
• Serving customers and taking orders
• ordering, receiving, and distributing stock supplies
• Explaining menu items to consumers and making product recommendations
• Accepting and processing payments from customers

21) Drive-thru operator

As restaurant positions go, drive-thru operators are usually employed by restaurants that serve fast food or that provide curbside and takeout service. Their duties include taking orders from customers, entering them into the POS system, processing payments, and making changes.

22) Cashier

Restaurants of all shapes and sizes can employ a cashier to receive payment from patrons, enter the bill into POS software, and, if needed, make the required change.

23 ) Busser

 The Busser is responsible for preserving the glasses, preparing the tables, and positioning the silverware correctly. They support the wait staff in making sure every table is quickly set and cleared. 

A food runner's job is to transport the finished dishes from the kitchen to the servers or straight to the customer's table, making sure that everything is assembled correctly.

Restaurant job titles: Emerging job titles in the restaurant industry in 2024 include:

• Sustainability Manager: Focuses on encouraging sustainability, cutting waste, and applying eco-friendly procedures in restaurant operations.
• Guest Experience Manager : Specializes in delivering exceptional service, cultivating client loyalty, and crafting remarkable dining experiences.
• Digital Marketing Specialist: Oversees the restaurant's social media accounts, digital marketing initiatives, and web presence.
• Culinary Innovator: Creates original and imaginative food items by experimenting with flavors and methods.
• Hospitality Technologist : Manages and applies technological solutions to improve customer satisfaction and restaurant operations. 

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Restaurant job titles: How to Advance Your Current Server Title

1. develop your customer service skills.

Outstanding servers are aware of how important the clientele experience is. Develop your people skills to deal with a variety of client needs in a classy and professional manner. Your ability to provide exceptional dining experiences paves the way for professional growth and word-of-mouth recommendations, which are priceless in our field.

2. Increase Your Food and Beverage Knowledge

It is essential to have a thorough grasp of what your organization has to offer. Learn about the origins, preparation, and ideal combinations of each dish on the menu. Serving knowledgeable advice makes servers stand out and puts them in a good position to advance.

3. Foster Teamwork and Leadership Skills

Your capacity to lead and collaborate with a team gets more and more crucial as you aim to advance. Take the initiative to take on more duties and mentor new employees. When it comes time to fill a higher job, your leadership abilities won't be overlooked. 

4. Adopt Efficiency and Multitasking Mindsets

An advanced server can handle several tables and jobs at once without sacrificing service quality. Improve your productivity and planning abilities to manage stressful circumstances with ease.

5. Develop a Network of Professionals

In the hotel sector, networking can lead to new prospects. Join professional associations, go to industry events, and establish connections with mentors and colleagues. When looking for new professional opportunities or promotions, having a strong network can be quite beneficial.

6. Keep up With Industry Developments

The hospitality industry is dynamic, with new trends appearing regularly. Observe the most recent developments in technology, consumer tastes, and dining trends. Knowledgeable and flexible servers have a higher chance of being considered for higher-level positions. 

1. Excellence in Customer Service

The core of a server's job is providing excellent customer service. This collection of abilities includes the capacity to establish a rapport with customers, foresee their wants, and deliver a customized dining experience. It requires patience, attentive listening, and a sincere desire to make every customer feel important and cared for. Even during busy times, servers need to be skilled at accommodating unique requests, taking complaints calmly, and keeping a cheerful attitude. Reaching the pinnacle of customer service excellence results in happy clients and has a big impact on referrals.

2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills

For servers to ensure clear and concise interactions with both customers and team members, effective communication is crucial. This competence includes both verbal and nonverbal cues, the capability to communicate customer needs to the kitchen and bar staff effectively, and the ability to explain menu items intriguingly. To maintain a seamless service flow, interpersonal skills also include cooperating well with coworkers, assigning tasks, and offering assistance to one another. A high-performing eating restaurant must have a team-oriented attitude, which is fostered by strong communication.

3. Menu expertise and sales techniques

A server's capacity to suggest and upsell menu items can greatly boost sales at a restaurant. A thorough understanding of the menu, including ingredients, preparation techniques, and potential allergens, is necessary for this expertise. A server should be aware of the dietary needs and preferences of their customers while also making recommendations for food and drink pairings that improve the overall dining experience. Subtle, educational, and customer-focused sales techniques lead to memorable dining experiences and increased ticket averages.

4. Stamina and Physical Coordination

A server's physical workload is frequently underestimated. For servers to maneuver through busy dining rooms, carry several plates, and stand for extended periods, they must possess physical coordination and stamina. These skills are essential for keeping up a quick and effective service, reducing mishaps, and guaranteeing the security of employees and customers. To keep up with the physical demands of their job, servers need to be nimble and robust as dining areas become dynamic. 

5. Expertise in Technology

Servers need to be tech-savvy because of the hospitality industry's growing incorporation of technology. This skill set entails using mobile devices to take orders, managing digital reservations, and operating point-of-sale (POS) systems. Being technologically savvy also means keeping up with the latest developments in areas like online review sites and mobile payment methods. Using technology to its full potential enables servers to minimize mistakes, expedite processes, and serve customers on time—all critical in today's fast-paced dining setting. Servers may make sure they are prepared to deliver great service, adjust to the changing hospitality industry, and grow in their careers by developing these varied skill sets.

In a nutshell, this article explores a detailed list of restaurant job titles for 2024, including topics such as industry-emerging job titles, tactics for career advancement, and critical abilities for servers. People can focus on growth and success while navigating the varied terrain of restaurant professions by investigating these essential elements.

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