1. Examples
  2. Server
Ashley WhiteRobert Lyons
Written by Ashley White, Robert Lyons

Server cover letter example

Applying for your next restaurant job? Serve up a well-written cover letter to go with your resume. We’ll show you how to write a great server cover letter with this guide and example.
4.3
Average rating
people’ve already rated it
Server  cover letter example
Edit This Cover Letter

Like the perfect meal, a good cover letter should have flavor and balance. When applying to be a server, you want a cover letter that’s appetizing to potential employers. 

With a captivating server cover letter, you can show a restaurant manager why you’re the right person to join their team.

Server full text-only cover letter example

Adaptable full server cover letter example

03/01/22

Dear Mr. Sixsmith,

Growing up in the shadow of my parents’ Italian restaurant has taught me that a visit to a restaurant is about the service as well as the food. The food might be amazing, but if served late or with a surly attitude, the customer experience is vastly diminished.

I am in my second year of a hospitality management degree and am looking for a server role in a top-tier establishment. Having perfected my skills at two smaller restaurants, the experience of working where the expectations are sky high would be useful for my studies and my personal experience. I was the youngest server at both my previous employers – I am a quick learner (awarded server of the month four times a year on average).

My passion for hospitality has given me a curiosity about customer satisfaction. As a server, I am constantly seeking to understand how different customer needs can be exceeded and how each table demands an individual approach. Servers need a sixth sense to understand how to provide the best possible dining experience. I am a keen student of restaurant ambiance and having been a customer at your restaurant many times I would be keen to discuss just how I might fit in with your outstanding team of servers.

With six years of experience serving between 120-140 covers per 8-hour shift, my ability to manage the workflow between back and front ends of the restaurant helps me to ensure a smooth service for customers whilst eliminating miscommunications with colleagues. I consistently scored 95%+ on menu knowledge and my wine sales were consistently the highest amongst my colleagues.

I would value the opportunity of an interview or a trial shift to demonstrate what a great addition I would be to your team.

Sincerely,

Tamara Halter

Copied!

Sections of a server cover letter

Servers can make a good impression on guests with a smile and a friendly attitude. Similarly, you can impress a hiring manager with an expertly crafted cover letter. 

Follow this standard structure to show off your skills and experience in the service industry.

  1. Cover letter header. Use a professional header with your name, contact information, and the date.
  2. Greeting. Think of the greeting as your first interaction with a new table. Aim to make a connection by addressing the hiring manager, using their full name if you know it.
  3. Introduction. Get the recruiter’s attention with some unique details about yourself. Explain why you’d make a great addition to the front-of-house team.
  4. Body. In the body, discuss your previous restaurant experience and your relevant skills, like customer service.
  5. Conclusion. Close your letter by restating your qualifications and encouraging the hiring manager to contact you for an interview.
  6. Signature. Sign off with a professional salutation and your full name.

Keep your cover letter to one page and focus on your core qualifications. Hook the recruiter by explaining how your experience and skills will make you an essential part of the restaurant’s wait staff.

For some additional help, check out our comprehensive guide on how to write a cover letter.

Once you’ve created your header and addressed the hiring manager, it’s time to wow them with your introduction.

Introduction of a server cover letter

In the first few seconds of communication with a customer, you can make them feel excited to be dining in the restaurant. The same goes for your cover letter introduction. Whet the hiring manager’s appetite by giving them a taste of how you can benefit their establishment as a server.

There are several ways to create an attention-grabbing introduction, but an interesting anecdote, relevant fact, or impressive achievement can all do the trick.

Do

Dear Rebecca Langdon,

With over four years of experience providing exceptional service in fast-paced environments, I’m thrilled to apply for the server position at the Golden Fork Bistro. In my previous position, I consistently ranked as one of the top servers in guest satisfaction. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my customer service skills to your establishment.

Don't

Hi there,

My name is Tiffany, and I saw this job posted online, so I’m applying. I have worked in restaurants for four years, and I’m sure I can learn the ropes quickly.

The goal of this section is to provide enough information to make the recruiter interested in reading the rest of your cover letter. 

Your introduction can also help you showcase your personality and stand out from other candidates.

Adaptable cover letter introduction example

Dear Mr. Sixsmith,

Growing up in the shadow of my parents’ Italian restaurant has taught me that a visit to a restaurant is about the service as well as the food. The food might be amazing, but if served late or with a surly attitude, the customer experience is vastly diminished.

Copied!

Server cover letter body

In the body of your cover letter for a server job, follow this template: 

  • Emphasize your relevant hospitality experience
  • Describe how you can use your skills to represent the establishment and provide great service
  • End with a strong conclusion that summarizes your qualifications
  • Include a call to action that inspires a recruiter to contact you

First body paragraph: your suitability for the role (skills & experience)

It’s time to dive into the work experience, skills, and training that make you an ideal server for a new restaurant. Emphasize the relevant attributes and qualifications you can bring to the table.

In the body, consider highlighting these skills and experiences:

  1. Discuss your ability to learn and retain menu information. Servers need to know a restaurant’s menu front and back. Explain how you use this knowledge to make informed recommendations and answer customers’ questions about ingredients, preparation, and other details.
  2. Explain your customer service philosophy. A hiring manager wants to know that you understand the importance of delivering excellent service. Describe your customer-focused mindset and provide specific examples of times you went above and beyond for guests.
  3. Describe your experience handling payments. Explain your familiarity with point-of-sale systems and your ability to handle different payment methods, including cash and credit cards.
  4. Draw attention to certifications you’ve earned. If you have relevant certifications in food safety or beverage training, mention them in your cover letter. These credentials show you’re knowledgeable about the industry and up-to-date on current trends.
  5. Emphasize your ability to work as part of a team. Everyone working in a restaurant—from dishwashers to servers to cooks—needs to work together to deliver top-notch experiences for guests. Share examples of how you’ve used your teamwork skills to improve efficiency or streamline communication.
Expert tip

Use the STAR method to organize your previous experiences into concise anecdotes that highlight how you provide excellent customer service. Following this method, you describe a situation, the task required, your action, and the positive result you achieved. Choose anecdotes that most closely mirror the situations you’ll face in this new restaurant.

Second body paragraph(s): alignment with the organization

In the second paragraph, discuss your potential contributions to the new restaurant. Tailor this paragraph to each establishment where you apply.

To customize your cover letter for a server position, research the restaurant to learn more about it. Browse its website, follow its social media accounts, and dine there in person if you can. Use this information to explain how you can meet the restaurant’s unique needs.

For example, if you’re applying to be a server at Olive Garden, you may use some of this information from the company’s website:

  • Over 900 restaurants in the United States
  • Dedicated to fighting hunger in the communities it serves
  • Restaurants are more than teams, they’re family
  • A spirit of Italian generosity

By including these details in your cover letter, you show a hiring manager that you understand the restaurant’s goals and values. This knowledge can make you a valuable part of the service team.

Adaptable cover letter middle part example

I am in my second year of a hospitality management degree and am looking for a server role in a top-tier establishment. Having perfected my skills at two smaller restaurants, the experience of working where the expectations are sky high would be useful for my studies and my personal experience. I was the youngest server at both my previous employers – I am a quick learner (awarded server of the month four times a year on average).

My passion for hospitality has given me a curiosity about customer satisfaction. As a server, I am constantly seeking to understand how different customer needs can be exceeded and how each table demands an individual approach. Servers need a sixth sense to understand how to provide the best possible dining experience. I am a keen student of restaurant ambiance and having been a customer at your restaurant many times I would be keen to discuss just how I might fit in with your outstanding team of servers.

With six years of experience serving between 120-140 covers per 8-hour shift, my ability to manage the workflow between back and front ends of the restaurant helps me to ensure a smooth service for customers whilst eliminating miscommunications with colleagues. I consistently scored 95%+ on menu knowledge and my wine sales were consistently the highest amongst my colleagues.

Copied!

Call to action & conclusion: end on a strong note

End your cover letter on a positive note to increase your chances of hearing back. Express your enthusiasm for the position and briefly restate your top qualifications for the server position.

In your closing paragraph, you should also create a call to action that invites the hiring manager to get in touch with you. Thank the employer for taking the time to review your application.

Finally, use an appropriate salutation, such as “sincerely” or “best,” and sign off with your name to close the letter.

Adaptable cover letter conclusion and sign-off example

I would value the opportunity of an interview or a trial shift to demonstrate what a great addition I would be to your team.

Sincerely,

Tamara Halter

Copied!

How to write a server cover letter with no experience

If you’ve never worked in a restaurant before, focus on your transferable skills and highlight your eagerness to work in the industry.

Follow these tips to write a great server cover letter with no experience:

  • Emphasize customer service skills. While you may not have serving experience, consider other jobs where you’ve used customer service skills. Discuss your philosophy of providing excellent service and explain how you can use these skills to succeed in your new role.
  • Showcase teamwork and adaptability. Servers work as part of a team, so highlight times when you’ve collaborated with others. Discuss your ability to adapt quickly and stay calm in fast-paced environments.
  • Highlight your organizational skills. A server often juggles multiple tasks, so provide examples of times when you’ve balanced different priorities. Explain how you use your organizational skills to stay focused and work efficiently.
  • Discuss volunteer experience. If you’ve ever worked at events or served food in a volunteer capacity, discuss this experience in your cover letter. Volunteering shows initiative and indicates you have an idea of what to expect in a professional setting.

With these tips, you can connect your past experience to the new role and help hiring managers see why you’re a good candidate for the job.

Expert tip

Master the ATS

Some restaurants may use applicant tracking system (ATS) software to review resumes. The ATS ranks resumes by keywords, so it benefits you to include these words and phrases in your cover letter. Read through the job description and highlight potential keywords you can use in your letter.

For a server job, these are some common keywords:

Key takeaways

A successful server cover letter should emphasize your ability to provide quality service, connect with guests, and work as part of a team. In your cover letter, include specific examples and anecdotes to show you can create positive dining experiences.

The search for your next server job starts with our resume and cover letter builder, but you don’t have to stop there. Take your career further with resume.io’s 18 powerful tools.

You can find jobs, track your progress, prepare for interviews, and negotiate your salary—all within our comprehensive career toolkit.

Build your cover letter in minutes
Build your cover letter in minutes
Stand out and get hired faster with our free, professional cover letter templates. That’s just the start. With 17 other powerful career tools, you can build much more than a cover letter.
Create cover letter

Free professionally designed templates

With over 10 million resumes and cover letters created, Resume.io is the leading online career builder that land you interviews
4.5 out of 5
based on 52,171 reviews on Trustpilot
Use this templateStockholm cover_letter template
Stockholm
1,500,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateNew York cover_letter template
New York
490,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateVienna cover_letter template
Vienna
130,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateSydney cover_letter template
Sydney
180,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateLondon cover_letter template
London
340,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateDublin cover_letter template
Dublin
290,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateMoscow cover_letter template
Moscow
71,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateAmsterdam cover_letter template
Amsterdam
170,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateMadrid cover_letter template
Madrid
170,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateSantiago cover_letter template
Santiago
160,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateSingapore cover_letter template
Singapore
58,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateOslo cover_letter template
Oslo
64,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateCape Town cover_letter template
Cape Town
8,800+ users chose this template
Use this templateParis cover_letter template
Paris
40,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateBerlin cover_letter template
Berlin
100,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateGeneva cover_letter template
Geneva
3,900+ users chose this template
Use this templateVancouver cover_letter template
Vancouver
52,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateTokyo cover_letter template
Tokyo
68,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateMilan cover_letter template
Milan
56,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateLisbon cover_letter template
Lisbon
34,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateBarcelona cover_letter template
Barcelona
32,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateCopenhagen cover_letter template
Copenhagen
25,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateChicago cover_letter template
Chicago
22,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateRio cover_letter template
Rio
32,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateRome cover_letter template
Rome
6,400+ users chose this template
Use this templateBoston cover_letter template
Boston
21,000+ users chose this template
Use this templateToronto cover_letter template
Toronto
120,000+ users chose this template
This website uses cookies to improve user experience and perform analytics and marketing. By using our website, you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
Accept Cookies