Busser resume example & writing guide

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.

Resume guide for a busser resume

When it comes to landing your next hospitality job, Resume.io is your complete companion. Check out our guides and resume examples for more than 500 occupations. Combined with our intuitive resume builder, creating a stand-out application has never been easier.

This resume guide and corresponding busser resume example will cover the following:

• How to write a busser resume
• Choosing the right resume format for bussing
• How to add your contact information
• Using summaries
• Adding your busser experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the hospitality market looks like, and what salary you can expect

How to write a busser resume

The very first step in writing your busser resume is understanding what sections to include. Your resume should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

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:

• Relevant hospitality work. Previous work in hotels, restaurants, catering companies, or other relevant hospitality establishments is great proof that you have a deeper understanding of how your role as a busser fits into the larger picture.
• Transferable skills. If you don’t have direct restaurant experience, make sure to focus on transferable skills—abilities that are applicable across jobs. Examples of transferable skills could include working efficiently, working in a team, or attention to detail gained from work as a checkout clerk.
• Organized layout. It doesn’t matter how much relevant experience you have, if an employer can’t easily find what they’re looking for, they’ll quickly move onto the next candidate. Make sure your resume layout is clear and easy to read with common section headings like “Employment History” and “Skills”.

Choosing the right resume format for a busser

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. 

Include your contact information

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:

• Full name & title. List your first and last name and include busser so that the hiring manager can quickly see the role you are applying for.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected]. Even if you are a student, a professional email address is a must.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be easily contacted and make sure your voicemail box isn’t full.
• Location. List only your city and state, no need for a full home address.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth. Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination.
• Personal details. Marital status, social security number, passport number, etc.

Make use of a summary

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.

Here are a few summary examples:

Outline your busser work experience

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:

• Worked as a busser in a busy restaurant
• Helped other staff members clean and set tables
• Was reliable and easy to work with

Try:

• Efficiently bussed 35+ tables in a busy restaurant serving 100 customers per night
• Communicated with team of 10 and maintained positive and professional demeanor
• Demonstrated reliability and happily took on additional roles when asked

How to write a busser resume with no experience

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.

Include the relevant key skills that make you a great busser

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. 

Detail your education & relevant busser certifications

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.

Pick the right resume layout and design for a busser

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.

Busser job market and outlook

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. 

What type of salary you can expect as a busser

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.

Busser resume example (text only)

Key takeaways for a busser resume

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.

Get started creating your resume with Resume.io’s easy-to-use resume builder.