While a restaurant crew member position is generally considered entry-level, it’s a great way to improve your skills and gain experience in the restaurant industry. Plus, it’s a vitally important part of the team and operation of the shift. 

Restaurant crew members help in both the kitchen and front of the house, ensuring customers are taken care of, food is prepared and served, payments are processed and the workplace and restaurant is kept clean, sanitized and organized. 

If you’re applying for a restaurant crew member position, knowing how to structure your resume and what you should list and call out, including education, skills and objectives, can help your resume get noticed and selected and an interview scheduled. 

How to structure your restaurant crew member resume

When formatting your resume for a restaurant crew member position, you should include:

1. A summary/career objective

2. Relevant work history, including the company, dates worked, and brief description of the duties performed

3. Relevant skills for the role

Most crew member positions don’t have an education requirement, so you likely don’t need to list that on your resume (unless the specific job description does list a formal education requirement, in which case you should include relevant education). 

When creating your resume, you’ll want to carefully read the job description to ensure you include all relevant keywords, skills and experience that shows you are the best candidate. By tailoring your objective and resume to the job description, it’s more likely it will make it through any applicant tracking system software and to the desk of the hiring manager.

Restaurant crew member job description

Crew members work in restaurant or dining establishments and assist kitchen staff, servers, bartenders, hosts/hostesses, and other staff to help ensure smooth operation of the shift and a positive dining experience for customers. 

For example, they may work in the kitchen prepping food, or in the front of the house taking orders, answering customer questions, seating or serving customers, or operating the cash register. They also may help with clearing off and cleaning tables and the dining room area, setting tables, and stocking supplies. 

Crew member roles can look different depending on the type of restaurant and company for which they work. However, generally, the job description for a restaurant crew member can include duties such as:

• Serve food or beverages to customers promptly. 

• Greet customers when they enter the establishment.

• Accurately take and input orders into a point-of-sale (POS) system.

• Ensure restaurant cleanliness by clearing tables, returning plates and silverware to the kitchen, sweeping and mopping floors, washing and sanitizing supplies, and servicing restrooms. 

• Handle any customer concerns or complaints professionally, and assist in resolving problems according to restaurant policy. 

• Prepare food for each shift throughout the day, including portioning, chopping, washing, etc. 

Restaurant crew member education

Many crew member roles don’t have an education requirement, though some restaurants prefer a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically, job-specific training takes place after you’re hired for the role and prior restaurant or cashier experience is more important than formal education requirements.

You may want to outline your education on your resume like the following:

Education

XYZ High School

City, State

High School Diploma

When listing your education, here are a few tips:

• Consider leaving off the years you attended or your graduation date. Typically, that’s not as important unless you’re still pursuing your degree. In that case, be clear your education is in progress. For example,

High School Diploma; anticipated completion May 2022

• List the order of your education with the highest level first. For example, if you have a Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma, list the Bachelor’s degree first, followed by your diploma. 

• If you have additional certifications or training other than mandatory alcohol training, list them in their section with the heading “Additional Certifications.” Include the organization that provided the certification, the title, and the date of completion or renewal. 

• Unless you’re a recent graduate or it’s a requirement for the role, you don’t need to include your high school education.

What to include on your resume for a restaurant crew member

Typically, a restaurant crew member’s resume will list the education or formal training you have that makes you most qualified for the role. 

Then, in the work experience section, you’ll want to include duties related to the job description, such as:

• Ensured quality service for up to X customers per shift.

• Provided menu training to other restaurant staff, including other crew members and servers.

• Resolved customer complaints and issues promptly to ensure satisfaction and reinforce positive dining experiences.

• Ensured inventory was stocked appropriately for each shift, and informed management when supplies were low.

• Maintained a clean and sanitized dining area, including tables, floors, condiment holders, menus, and other items.

• Assisted the bar, kitchen, and host staff to help ensure smooth operations of the restaurant during busy times, including prepping food, running food and drinks, seating guests, taking orders, and cleaning sections. 

The experience and skills you list should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for. Try to go beyond simply listing duties you’ve performed, and instead show both responsibilities and achievements with examples or numbers to support the statements. 

Restaurant crew member skills and traits for a resume

There are many skills and traits you could list on your resume for a crew member position. Here are a few to choose from to get you started:

• Foodservice and regulations knowledge

• Hard-working

• Punctual

• Positive attitude

• Customer-focused

• Customer service skills 

• Adaptable

• Reliable

• Responsible

• Accurate

• Flexible

• Creative

• Physical stamina 

• Knowledge of proper food safety and sanitizing protocols

Most training and skills needed to be successful as a restaurant crew member comes with on-the-job experience. When working as a crew member, you learn how to perform the tasks you’re responsible for while also following restaurant policies and procedures. 

If you have previous cashiering, serving, or other restaurant experience, be sure to list it on your resume. If you don’t, you can still highlight the experience and skills you may have that make you a great candidate for the position. Look at the experience (volunteer or employment) you have and determine which of the above skills were learned or improved upon, and list those on your resume.

Action verbs to include on a restaurant crew member resume

• Responded

• Listened

• Anticipated

• Served 

• Greeted

• Ordered

• Prepared

• Completed

• Organized

• Trained

• Utilized

• Calculated 

• Cleaned 

Should I include references in my restaurant crew member resume?

Your resume is a professional representation of your career qualifications and skills that make you an ideal candidate. As a general rule, avoid including references in your resume unless they are specifically asked for. This is information that tends to distract hiring managers from the information you want them to see, and it can take up valuable space on the page. 

If references are requested, you can include them on your resume or as a separate document. Be sure to list the name, job title, company, email address, and phone number for each reference. 

Restaurant crew member resume objectives

A career objective, also known as a resume objective or summary, is a brief statement toward the top of your resume that explains your professional goals and intentions for applying to a job. In 1 to 3 sentences, you should mention the job title, add a couple of key skills, and share what you’re hoping to achieve in the job.  

Correct Examples:

• Professional with X years of experience taking care of customers and providing exceptional customer service in the restaurant industry seeking a restaurant crew member position with XYZ restaurant.

• Highly-motivated individual looking for an entry-level restaurant crew member position with XYZ restaurant to enable the use of outgoing personality, multitasking skills, and customer service expertise.

• Detail-oriented and passionate worker looking for a position with XYZ restaurant to provide excellent customer service and maintain high standards of service and cleanliness in the establishment.

Incorrect Examples:

• A friendly and customer-service-focused person with a lot of restaurant experience. Interested in opening for a restaurant crew member position at XYZ restaurant. 

Listing skills and traits that make you an excellent candidate are important but try to be more specific and applicable to the job description. Additionally, quantify your years of experience instead of vague statements like “a lot” or “much.”

• Hardworking restaurant crew member with experience taking care of customers and helping other staff.

First, you may want to quantify your years of experience as a crew member or other restaurant staff member. Additionally, build upon the traits and skills and list those that are most important and relevant to this role. Use this space to grab the attention of the hiring manager so they read your resume. 

• Individual seeking a position as a crew member for XYZ restaurant. Willing to complete on-the-job training.

Not all crew member positions require prior experience, but you shouldn’t highlight your lack of experience in the objective. Instead, throughout your resume, list out other roles and responsibilities at past jobs, volunteer work, or other tasks you’ve done that could be relatable to working as a restaurant crew member.