Whether you’re here because your restaurant business is booming, you’re opening up a new location, or you simply need another set of hands, you’re in the right place!
Restaurant servers, also called waiters or waitresses, are the face of a restaurant or bar. Their job is to attend to patrons and provide high-quality, friendly service to ensure a pleasant experience. Finding the perfect server can seem like a tall order. You want someone who’s well-organized, personable, trustworthy, and hard-working, but they also need to be closely attuned to the needs of your customers.
Sound difficult? It’s not as hard as it may seem! In this guide, we’ll clue you in on everything you need to know to create the perfect restaurant server job description, starting off with three sample job description templates, so you be receiving amazing server resumes before you know it.
Download and edit in Microsoft Word.
Edit in Google Docs (choose "File" and "Make a copy").
Download and edit in Microsoft Word.
Edit in Google Docs (choose "File" and "Make a copy").
Download and edit in Microsoft Word.
Edit in Google Docs (choose "File" and "Make a copy").
When looking for a server, you’re probably on the hunt for someone that’s friendly, customer-oriented, and great with people. After all, they’ll be the face of your company. But in the same way your future server will represent you, your job descriptions will represent your restaurant to your future employee. So what does that mean for you?
Basically, you want to have a job description that’s just as engaging as your future server! That means you can’t be vague or generic, and you also can’t wax poetic for two or three pages. Easier said than done, right?
We’ve seen way too many job descriptions that just list the responsibilities with no info on the restaurant, and some that literally just say “Restaurant Server wanted” without any clear contact info! It might feel difficult to strike the line between just enough and completely overboard, so here are some tips on how to find that perfect balance.
Here’s a golden tip on how you can start to structure your restaurant server job description: are you focusing on why you're actually hiring for the position? For example, does your cafe need better quality staff? Is your restaurant or catering business growing and becoming more than your staff can currently handle?
Make it clear upfront why you need a new server to allow potential candidates to assess if this job could be a great fit for them.
Equally important is writing your job description in a way that reflects the values and qualities you want to see in your future hires. If you’re looking for a restaurant server, you’ll be looking for someone who’s got excellent customer service skills, a sharp memory, and is a team player. How does your job description convey that?
If you spend a few extra minutes to really infuse your company’s unique perspective and tone of voice, you’ll be well on your way to writing a server job description that connects with your audience.
The first draft of your job description rarely hits all the right notes; it’s editing that really takes your job description to the next level.
Once you’ve included the minimum requirements like your about us section, requirements, and qualifications (more on that later), make sure that only what’s essential is there. A good rule of thumb is to keep it to around 500 words (after all, concise writing keeps the reader’s attention and sticks in their brain longer).
After you’ve cut out the fluff, check it for grammar and spelling. Also, keep an eye on the overall flow and tone: does each paragraph stick to one main idea? Does the whole server job description read smoothly? If it doesn’t, make changes until it sounds natural.
Finally, have a second pair of eyes check the text (ideally someone within the food service industry). Once that’s done, check for any formatting issues and then publish it online. Let the server resumes start rolling in!
Feel like you know what needs to go into your job description, but no idea how to structure it or get started? Follow our tried-and-true outline, and you’ll be done in a jiffy!
Job details: First off, provide a quick intro about your restaurant or bar. Don’t give too many details, but provide just enough to entice readers to give the job a chance. Try to answer questions like why you’re hiring, who they’ll be working with, and when are you looking for a server to start.
What you’ll be doing/Roles/Responsibilities/Requirements: While many server tasks are common within the field, it’s still important to list the most important ones your future server will be doing on a daily basis. Alternatively, use this section to highlight what’s unique about the role.
We’d recommend using bullet points (like we did below) so it’s easier for readers to quickly skim through this section.
Qualifications: Candidates use this section to determine if they have a shot at getting the server position. While it’s important to list the necessary qualifications, avoid the urge to include every possible hard or soft skill the ideal candidate should have.
Many skills can be learned on the job, so only include what’s absolutely necessary to have from the get-go.
Benefits: It’s important to reward and recognize the hard work of your employees, but don’t make promises you can’t keep. Be honest about the benefits you offer, like insurance or PTO, and include a salary range so potential candidates can quickly determine if it’s a good match for their needs. Add any other benefits that will make you stand out from the competition, too, like gym memberships or paid company trips.
About the company: Last but not least, include a “behind the curtains” peek into your organization. Don’t give them your entire history, though. Simply explain a bit about who you are and what’s important to you, like your values, mission, and vision.
Most servers will need to juggle many hats as they perform various tasks at a restaurant, cafe, or bar. While servers won’t hold every role listed below in one given day, you can use the below examples to include some potential roles for your restaurant server job description.
Customer Service
Salesperson
Conflict Resolver/Problem Solver
Administration/Bookkeeping
Food & Wine Expert