Bussers are the backbone of the food and hospitality industry. As a busser, your job is to ensure the comfort and cleanliness of any restaurant or dining establishment. Working as a busser is also a great entry-level opportunity for students, first-time job seekers, or those who have been out of the workforce for a while. So how do you land a busser job and get that first paycheck right away?
You need a great busser resume that highlights your skills, work ethic, and any relevant experience. Your busser resume should show that you’re a motivated candidate who is responsible and works well as part of the larger team. Hiring managers and restaurant owners are busy, so it’s important that your busser resume clearly states why you’re the right candidate for the job. This guide and the adaptable resume example contained within will help you do just that.
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This resume guide and corresponding busser resume example will cover the following:
The very first step in writing your busser resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume should contain the following elements:
Your job application is your initial introduction to the restaurant owner or hiring manager and your resume is the best place to showcase the skills and attitude that make you right for the busser position.
Restaurant owners know that busser is one of the entry-level positions in the kitchen and makes a great part-time gig for students or those returning to the workforce. Therefore, most restaurants will be willing to train you in any kitchen-specific skills necessary for the job. Even if you’ve never worked as a busser before, your resume should convey a strong work ethic, a sense of responsibility, and good communication skills. These abilities called “soft skills” are valued by employers because they are hard to train if a candidate doesn’t have them already.
To make your busser resume stand out from other candidates, focus on these areas:
When it comes to choosing the right format for your busser resume, you have a few options depending on your experience. If you’ve worked in other hospitality jobs, you’ll want to stick with the reverse chronological format which showcases your previous roles in an employment history section. Your past jobs should be listed from most recent to oldest, going back about 10 years or as much experience as you have.
If you are a student or recent grad, you may opt for the functional resume format instead. This format showcases skills first and foremost so it can be a great way to communicate that you have the abilities needed for the busser role.
If you’re changing jobs or have been out of the workforce for a while, the hybrid resume format is likely the best choice for you. With this format, you showcase your skills right up front, while also offering a shorter employment history section where employers can see your previous roles.
Your name and contact information are arguably the most important details on your resume. Without them, even the most qualified candidate wouldn’t get the job simply because the hiring manager wouldn’t be able to contact them! Make sure to include these details right on the top of your resume in a section called the header. You can also add a touch of attractive formatting here to catch the hiring manager’s attention. Here’s what should be in your header:
Don’t include:
Should I include a photo on my resume?
If you are applying for jobs in the U.S., UK, or Canada, do not include a photo on your resume as it’s considered unnecessary and unprofessional. In other parts of the world, a photo is not only acceptable, it’s mandatory. Make sure to research the norms where you plan to work.
Jonathan Green
Busser
080-090-0000
j_green@email.com
Jonny Jon Green
Part time busser
090-080-0000
j_green_best_busser@email.com
When you go for a job interview, the first few minutes will be an introduction to yourself and a chance to establish a positive rapport with the hiring manager. The same is true of your resume summary. This section is the place to share your strongest skills, key qualifications, relevant experience, and anything else that the hiring manager should know right away. The goal is to encourage the hiring manager to continue reading the rest of your resume and ultimately contact you for an interview.
To accomplish this, create 2-3 lines that describe yourself and your goals. Make sure to use action verbs like Demonstrated, Completed, or Enhanced to showcase your motivation and the positive impact you’ve had on previous employers. Remember, your resume summary should be a concise portrait of why you’re the right candidate for the role, given the details provided in the job description. Make sure to update your summary with the name of each employer you apply to.
Get more summary inspiration from our adaptable:
Here are a few summary examples:
Reliable and motivated busser with one year of kitchen experience and the ability to quickly clean and reset tables during busy dinner service. Effectively cleared 35+ tables in a busy restaurant serving over 100 clients per night. Excellent communication skills and a willingness to learn and advance in the hospitality industry starting with a buser position at Dina’s Restaurant.
Motivated and hard-working student ready for first professional experience as a busser. Ability to learn quickly and work both independently and in a team. Previous academic experience volunteering in senior living home including serving patients and clearing tables. Ready to bring a positive attitude to a position at Dina’s Restaurant.
Your work history section is the place to show the employer any relevant experience either as a busser or in the service or hospitality industry. For each role, list your job title, employer name, dates worked, and location. Try to include at least three entries, starting with your most recent job and working backward through all relevant experience in the past 10 years.
Under each subheading, you should create 3-4 bullet points that describe your duties, skills, accomplishments, and any impressive numbers or statistics like the size of the restaurant or team you worked with. Avoid vague statements and instead focus on creating results-based bullet points. Here’s an example:
Instead of:
Try:
Busser at The Cheesecake Factory, Los Angeles
June 2019 - Present
Busser at Olive Garden, Burbank
March 2018 - May 2019
If you don’t have much experience to show, a busser job is a great first step into the workforce since most of the skills needed for this position can be learned on the job. When writing a busser resume with no experience, focus on personal qualities like a positive attitude, reliability, willingness to learn, and the ability to work quickly and independently. All of these attributes show a potential employer that you can easily transition into the role.
You can also show experience from other jobs in hospitality or customer service. For example, the ability to work efficiently as a grocery store clerk can serve you well as a busser. Or, an experience in hotel housekeeping can show that you’re committed to cleanliness and organization.
Remember to tailor your busser resume to the specific job you're applying for and adjust your experiences to show why you're the best candidate for the specific restaurant. Even without direct experience, showcasing your positive attributes and willingness to learn can make a strong impression on potential employers. Below you’ll find the employment history section from our busser resume sample.
Your resume skills are comprised of two main categories. Hard skills are job-specific abilities you’ve gained from relevant experience, while soft skills are your personal traits that can apply to virtually any industry.
For a busser, hard skills include your ability to clean and reset tables, wash dishes, or keep inventory stocked. Soft skills are your attention to detail, communication skills, and positive attitude. Both of these should be present on your busser resume. Make sure to refer to the job description to determine which skills are most important to the employer and include them. You should update the skills section for every job you apply to.
Here’s what the skills box looks like in our busser resume template.
While bussers aren’t required to have any specific level of education, the education section is still a staple of your resume and should be included. It will be structured similarly to your experience section and should include subheadings with the degree name, school name, dates attended, and location. If you are a student or recent grad, you can include any academic achievements in bullet points under the degree name.
Although there are no certification requirements to be a busser, any previous food service-related courses are great to mention in this section. Some examples include ServSafe, HACCP, CPR, or bartending courses. See our adaptable busser resume example below for more insight into the education section.
High School Diploma, John Marshall High School, Los Angeles
September 2014 - June 2018
When selecting the ideal resume layout and design for a busser position, simplicity and clarity should be your guiding principles. Begin by choosing a clean and easy-to-read font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Stick to a font size of 10-12 points to ensure readability, and use bold or italic formatting sparingly to emphasize section headings or key achievements.
When it comes to design elements, simplicity is key for a busser resume. Avoid using excessive colors, graphics, or elaborate formatting, as these can distract from the content of your resume. Instead, aim for a clean and professional appearance that reflects your attention to detail and reliability as a potential busser. Remember, the goal of your resume is to showcase your qualifications and convince employers that you're the right candidate for the job, so prioritize clarity and readability above all else.
To quickly create a simple and well-organized resume, check out these professionally designed resume templates.
Although the need for Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers is only expected to increase by 2% over the coming decade, turnover in hospitality jobs is high, so you shouldn’t have much difficulty finding open busser positions.
About 79,700 new jobs for food and beverage workers (including bussers) are projected over the next decade.
The average hourly wage for a busser is about $11 in the United States, according to Salary.com. However, pay in these positions can vary widely depending on location.
Profile
Enthusiastic and hardworking individual seeking a Busser position at a reputable restaurant. Committed to providing excellent customer service and maintaining a clean and welcoming dining environment.
Employment history
Busser at The Cheesecake Factory, Los Angeles
June 2019 - Present
Busser at Olive Garden, Burbank
March 2018 - May 2019
Skills
Education
High School Diploma, John Marshall High School, Los Angeles
September 2014 - June 2018
Working as a busser is a great way to earn some extra cash as a student or re-enter the workforce after some time away. If you’re looking for a job as a busser, you’ll need a clear and organized resume that highlights transferable skills and/or relevant experience. With the right attitude and a strong work ethic, you can quickly land a job as a busser.
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