Server skills

Essential skills

• Customer service — Employers check this through examples of how you welcomed guests, answered questions and handled requests.
• Food and drink service — Employers check your experience taking orders, serving meals and following service procedures.
• Order accuracy — Employers ask how you confirm orders and communicate special requests or changes.
• Cleanliness and hygiene — Employers check your knowledge of safe food handling, cleaning routines and workplace hygiene.
• Teamwork — Employers look for examples of working smoothly with kitchen staff and other servers.

Technical and specialised skills

• Point-of-sale (POS) systems — Employers may ask which systems you have used or assess how quickly you learn a new one.
• Menu knowledge — Employers check whether you can explain dishes, ingredients, portion options and common dietary needs.
• Food safety — Employers may ask about safe handling, allergen awareness and how you prevent cross-contamination.
• Payment handling — Employers check your experience processing cash, cards, bills and payments accurately.
• Service standards — Employers ask how you follow steps for taking orders, carrying dishes, setting tables or closing sections.

Soft skills

• Clear communication — Employers assess how clearly and politely you speak during the interview or a practical exercise.
• Attention to detail — Employers look for examples of catching order errors, remembering preferences or checking table settings.
• Time management — Employers ask how you prioritise tasks during busy service.
• Composure under pressure — Employers may ask you to describe how you handled a difficult or fast-paced shift.
• Problem-solving — Employers check how you respond to complaints, delays or mistakes.
• Adaptability — Employers ask how you adjust to changing priorities, different guests or new procedures.

How to show these skills on your resume

• Served guests in a busy dining area, confirmed orders and coordinated requests with kitchen staff.
• Used a POS system to enter orders, process payments and resolve billing questions.
• Maintained clean tables and service areas while following food-safety and hygiene procedures.

How to build them

• Practise taking orders, confirming details and repeating special requests clearly.
• Learn the menu, including ingredients, common allergens and suitable alternatives.
• Ask to train on POS systems and practise handling different payment types.
• Follow food-safety and hygiene guidance, and ask your supervisor about workplace procedures.
• Build teamwork and communication by checking in with colleagues and sharing updates during service.
• After each shift, reflect on what went well and choose one skill to practise next time.