Best Busser Resume Examples for 2024 (Template & Guide)

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Busser Resume: Choose a Format

Choosing a resume format is the first step in creating a resume for a busser. The right format can put your qualifications in the best light and make it easy for hiring managers to see your qualifications at a glance.

There are three formats to choose from: chronological, functional or combination. Each format works a little differently, so let’s break it down.

Chronological resumes for bussers

A chronological resume format lists your work experience in reverse order, starting with your most recent position. This format is an excellent choice if you have steady experience as a busser or in other restaurant roles, as it highlights your career progression and reliability.

Chronological resumes are familiar to hiring managers and are compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS). However, if you have gaps in your employment or limited experience in the field, another format may work better for you.

Functional resumes for bussers

The functional resume format focuses on your skills and strengths rather than specific job titles and dates. This format works well if you’re new to the restaurant industry. It lets you highlight relevant abilities like teamwork, multitasking, and customer service.

Be cautious, though — some hiring managers may prefer more detail about your work history, and this format is incompatible with most application tracking systems (ATS).

Combination resumes for bussers

A combination resume format merges elements of both chronological and functional formats, showcasing your skills at the top while also providing a timeline of your work experience. This format is ideal for bussers with at least some experience in the food service industry who want to emphasize specific skills alongside their work history.

However, this format can make your resume longer than ideal. A resume for a busser should be one page at maximum. Staying focused on the most relevant information is crucial if you choose a combination format.

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Choosing a resume format

Selecting the right resume format for a busser role can make a big difference in how your resume is received. If you aren’t sure which one is best for you, a chronological resume is often the safest choice. It is popular with employers and is ATS-friendly, which can help your resume get past the initial screening process.

A chronological resume can work well even if you don’t have previous experience as a busser. You can customize a chronological resume by highlighting transferable skills from your prior jobs, even if they were in a different industry. Start with your most recent job and list duties that show off your teamwork, efficiency, and attention to detail.

For example, if you’ve worked in retail or another customer service position, emphasize tasks related to the busser role, such as handling customer requests, maintaining a clean workspace, or managing high-volume environments. Tailoring your job descriptions this way shows hiring managers that you have the foundational skills for the job, even if the title doesn’t directly match.

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How to Write a Busser Resume

Writing a busser resume is all about emphasizing your strengths in a customer-facing role. This step-by-step resume writing guide will walk you through writing each section. Start by creating a resume outline that includes the following sections:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary or Objective Statement
• Work History
• Skills
• Education

We’ll help you make the most of each section and suggest some optional sections to help you stand out and land a job interview!

Contact Information

Start by providing your name and contact information. It should be easy to spot at the top of your resume. Include your full name, city and state, phone number, and email address. Your email address should be professional, ideally featuring your first and last name. Avoid nicknames or outdated domains.

Your contact information section will look something like this:

Jamie Garcia
Boise, ID
(555) 123-4567
jamie.garcia@email.com

Remember to check for typos. After all, you want potential employers to be able to contact you easily.

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Summary or objective

Next, you will write a short introduction to your resume that provides a brief overview of your qualifications and interest in the job. Two ways to write this introduction are a resume summary or an objective statement.

A resume summary is ideal if you have experience as a busser or in other service roles. It briefly highlights your skills and what you bring to the role. For example, a summary for a busser’s resume might say:

Experienced busser with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Skilled at efficiently clearing tables, assisting servers, and maintaining a welcoming environment. Proven ability to thrive in busy restaurant settings while delivering quality service.

An objective statement, on the other hand, is best suited for those with little to no experience as a busser. It focuses on your career goals, transferable skills and genuine interest in the job. For example, an objective statement for a busser’s resume might say:

Reliable and enthusiastic professional seeking a busser position to apply strong organizational and teamwork skills in a restaurant setting. Eager to support a positive dining experience through excellent service and attention to detail.

Whichever option you choose, tailor the statement for each job application. Use keywords from the job description to help your resume pass through ATS and show hiring managers you are a good fit for the job.

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Work history

Your work history is where you show hiring managers what you bring to the table. This section is all about demonstrating your experience and the impact you made in previous roles. Start by listing your prior jobs in reverse chronological order. For each job, include your job title, the employer’s name, location and dates of employment.

Then, write three to five bulleted sentences describing your responsibilities and accomplishments under each job entry. Don’t just list your duties at each job; think about your impact at each job.

Focus on action verbs and measurable achievements to make your work history stand out. Action verbs like “supported,” “maintained” and “coordinated” give each task energy and show your hands-on approach.

Even more impactful, though, is using numbers to validate your accomplishments. For instance, mentioning that you “cleared 30+ tables per shift” or “reduced turnover time by 5 minutes” instantly shows the reader what you bring to the job. Little details like this help your resume show what you’ve accomplished rather than just listing tasks.

Here’s an example of a job entry for a busser resume:

Busser
Brighton Grill, Denver, CO
March 2022 – Present

• Supported waitstaff by efficiently clearing and resetting 25-30 tables per shift, helping maintain a smooth dining flow.
• Maintained a high standard of cleanliness across dining areas, refilling water, restocking utensils, and promptly addressing spills.
• Assisted in reducing wait times by coordinating with servers and kitchen staff, improving table turnover by 15%.

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Skills

Next, you will create a skills section highlighting your qualifications as a busser. Include hard skills like table clearing, food safety, and kitchen organization to show employers you have the technical knowledge they seek. Also, include your soft skills like communication and teamwork to show hiring managers you can work well with others.

To help you get started, here are the top skills for a busser resume:

Top 5 hard skills for busser resumes

1. Table clearing: The ability to clear tables quickly and efficiently is essential for keeping the restaurant’s flow steady and reducing guests’ wait times.
2. Dish handling: This skill shows that you understand the importance of hygiene and the steps needed to prevent breakages or accidents, contributing to a clean and safe environment.
3. Dining area organization: Keeping dining areas tidy and organized ensures guests enjoy a pleasant atmosphere and that the area is visually appealing and ready for new customers.
4. Basic food safety: Preventing cross-contamination and handling food safely is crucial to creating a clean environment for guests and staff.
5. Basic beverage knowledge: Familiarity with common beverages allows you to support servers by refilling drinks or answering customer questions.

Top 5 soft skills for busser resumes

1. Teamwork: Working well with servers, hosts, and kitchen staff is essential for delivering an exceptional dining experience.
2. Communication: Effectively communicating with servers and kitchen staff helps you understand immediate needs and anticipate issues, like table availability or special requests.
3. Adaptability: A restaurant environment can be unpredictable. Adaptability shows that you can manage busy times, handle unexpected situations and take on extra tasks as needed, making you a reliable part of the team.
4. Customer service: Demonstrating customer service skills shows you prioritize a positive guest experience, from greeting customers to quickly clearing tables to ensuring minimal wait times.
5. Attention to detail: Attention to detail shows that you care about maintaining high standards and are attentive to customer needs and the restaurant’s overall presentation.

Here’s an example of a skills section for a busser’s resume:

Skills

• Table clearing
• Dish handling
• Dining area organization
• Teamwork
• Communication

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Education

Next, list your education, even if it’s just a high school diploma. Most busser roles don’t require advanced education, but including this section shows employers you meet their educational requirements. List your highest level of education, including the degree and the name and location of the school you attended.

Here’s how to list your education on a busser resume:

Education:
High School Diploma
Boise High School, Boise, ID

You don’t need to include your graduation date unless it is in the future. In that case, you would include your expected graduation month and year.

Additional sections

Once you have the basics covered, if you still have page space, consider including additional sections to set you apart from the competition. Optional sections can provide a fuller picture of your qualifications.

Here are some optional sections to consider for your busser resume:

• Certifications: Food safety or hospitality certifications can help you stand out as a candidate.
• Languages: If you speak multiple languages, that can be a significant advantage in a restaurant setting.
• Volunteer experience: If you served food or cleaned dining areas as a volunteer, that can show you have what it takes to succeed.

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10 Tips for Writing a Busser Resume

1. Highlight relevant skills for the job: For a busser role, focus on skills that directly relate to the position, such as teamwork, organization, and attention to detail. These are essential in a fast-paced dining environment. In your skills section, list hard skills (like food safety knowledge) and soft skills (like adaptability) that show you’re prepared to handle the job’s demands.
2. Start bullet points with action verbs: Action verbs bring energy and specificity to your responsibilities, making your resume more engaging. For example, instead of writing “responsible for clearing tables,” use action verbs like “cleared tables quickly and efficiently.” This wording immediately shows your proactive approach and helps hiring managers understand what you accomplished.
3. Include achievements that show your impact: Think beyond the basic tasks of a busser and consider how you’ve contributed to the team’s success. Did you help reduce wait times by clearing tables promptly? Did you receive positive feedback from customers or managers? Including even small achievements can show that you’re not just doing your job but actively contributing to a positive dining experience.
4. Quantify tasks when possible: Numbers help give context to your work. If you can, mention how many tables you cleared per shift, how many guests you served, or how much you helped reduce table turnover time. For instance, “cleared and reset 30+ tables per shift” shows your efficiency and work ethic.
5. Tailor your summary or objective for each job: If you include a summary or objective statement, make sure it’s specific to the job you’re applying for. For example, if the restaurant values customer service, you might write, “Dedicated busser with strong customer service skills eager to contribute to a high-quality dining experience.” A tailored statement helps you make a great first impression and sets the tone for the rest of your resume.
6. Keep the format clean and easy to read: Simple formatting is crucial for readability. Choose a professional font, keep bullet points and headings consistent, and avoid clutter. A clean layout lets your experience and skills shine without distractions, making it easy for hiring managers to review your qualifications at a glance.
7. Use keywords from the job posting: Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes, so incorporating relevant keywords from the job listing is essential. If the listing mentions skills like “teamwork,” “attention to detail,” or “food safety,” be sure to include them naturally in your resume. Keywords help ensure your resume makes it through the initial screening.
8. Highlight any food safety training: Basic food safety training is valuable for a busser as it shows you understand hygiene and cleanliness standards. If you’ve completed any formal training, such as a ServSafe certification, mention it in your skills or additional sections. This detail shows you’re prepared to maintain a clean and safe dining area.
9. Balance hard and soft skills in your skills section: A well-rounded skills section includes technical abilities and interpersonal strengths. Hard skills like table clearing and dining area organization are essential for a busser, but soft skills like communication and adaptability are equally important. Showing both skill types on your resume tells employers you’re capable of handling the technical demands of the job while also being a positive team player.
10. Proofread carefully to avoid errors: Small mistakes can make a big impression, so take the time to proofread your resume for typos, formatting issues, and inconsistencies. Consider asking a friend or family member to review it as well — a fresh pair of eyes can catch things you might miss. A polished resume shows you’re detail-oriented and serious about the position, which are great qualities for a busser.