If you’re looking for casual shift work, you won’t go far wrong with a waitressing job. This fast-paced and social role is ideal for people who want flexible schedules or have other commitments. If you’re ready to land yourself your next job, the first step is nailing the application process. Get started by taking a peek at our waitress cover letter example.
Chances are, you can already walk the walk. You might have served up tasty dishes in restaurants, pubs, and local cafes far and wide. However, before you can start your next job, you need to make sure that you can talk to the talk too. Learning how to craft an eye-catching and engaging cover letter that shows off your experience is an art form. Yes, you’ll need to have a real way with words to pique the interest of your next manager.
You’ve come to the right place. Here at Resume.io, we have you covered with cover letter examples and expert-backed writing guides. Our library of resources can help you land more interviews and get hired faster than ever. In the following waitress cover letter writing guide — and corresponding cover letter example — we'll be covering these core topics:
- How to choose the right cover letter format and what paragraphs to include
- How to maximise the impact of each cover letter paragraph
- What approach, style, and tone to take when writing your cover letter
- How to write a waitress cover letter even if you have no experience
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your librarian cover letter.
Looking for some more inspiration? We’ve got your back. Check out our related shift work writing guides and cover letter samples now:
Best format for a waitress cover letter
Are you a bit of a rambler? Do you love rabbiting on and on? If the answer is yes, you need a solid structure for your waitress cover letter. As a golden rule, this letter should be around 300 words long. While it’s somewhat freeform, you don’t want to waste words or muddle up your paragraphs. With that in mind, the format of a waitress cover letter should include the following elements (in this order!):
- The cover letter header
- The greeting/salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
Following the above outline will help you create a coherent and easy to read cover letter. Of course, if you’re looking for some extra advice and help, you can read our full cover letter guide for the inside scoop. You can also take a look at our cover letter example here.
Dear Ms Thames,
I am a trained waitress and hostess with several years of experience in a variety of catering, fast food, and fine dining restaurants. I wish to put myself forward for your server vacancy at Mignon Brasserie.
As a top-rated restaurant in the city, I am aware of Mignon’s reputation and the standard of service its customers expect when visiting. My years working at the Michelin-star restaurant, Ceniamo, have prepared me for the expectations of fine dining guests.
During my time as a waitress there, I was required to maintain an excellent knowledge of the menu and wines on offer. This included memorising the carte du jour which changed daily in line with the best seasonally available ingredients. I was also expected to explain the flavour profiles of the dishes, how they were prepared, and advise guests on the best wines to pair them with.
Within this role, I was often praised for my excellent customer service, which I am convinced I perfected thanks to years of working in fast food and catering. These experiences taught me how to anticipate potential client issues and to problem-solve under pressure. For instance, while working at Burgers Inc., proactively proposed a new way of managing our drive-thru workflow. The new system reduced the time clients waited for their order by 20%.
While I have an eye for providing solutions like this to avoid complaints, I am also excellent at de-escalating conflict. I was consistently scheduled for the busiest shifts at Burgers Inc. and Ceniamo; my managers knew they were less likely to be involved in resolving client complaints when I was working because of my excellent diplomacy skills.
I would love to join the team at Mignon. I am confident that my past experiences make me an excellent candidate for the role and I hope to be able to tell you more in an interview.
Sincerely,
Ashley Porter
Should you include a cover letter, anyway?
Waitressing jobs tend to be a casual affair and you might find the same goes for the hiring process. In some places, landing a job may be as simple as popping in and speaking to the manager. However, that doesn’t mean you should skip your cover letter.
If you want to set yourself apart from the competition — and you do! — you should write a compelling waitress cover letter. Think of this as your chance to showcase your personality, skills, and experience in one dazzling statement. Should the manager have to pick between you and a candidate without a letter, you will have the upper hand.
Cover letter header
First up, the cover letter header is at the top of the page. It includes your name, email address, and phone number. Simple stuff. When writing this part of your cover letter, don’t try to be too fancy. The information needs to be easy for the manager to read. If — when they’ve read your application — they want to give you a call, make it straightforward for them. Take a look at our cover letter sample for an idea of how to get this step right.
Cover letter greeting
Next up, it’s time to say hi to the manager. As we have already mentioned, waitressing jobs tend to be somewhat casual. You might be pretty chummy with your co-workers and even your manager when you work in a restaurant. But before you’ve got your foot in the door, take a professional approach. Don’t make the mistake of being too chatty.
Rather than going straight in there with “Hello,” “Hey,” or “Hiya,” go for something more formal. If you know who the manager is, address them by their title and surname. For example, you might go with “Dear Mrs. Simons.” On the other hand, you won’t always know the hiring manager’s name. In that case, you should use “Dear hiring team.”
Cover letter introduction
The opening sentence of your waitress cover letter is perhaps the most important line of all. The manager will typically gloss over your application in a matter of seconds. It’s your job to give them a reason to keep on reading. Start strong by focusing on the main strength or skill that you are bringing to the table (or tables — during service!).
What is it that makes you better than other waitresses out there? For instance, you might want to highlight your experience working in fine-dining restaurants. You may want to draw attention to your bubbly personality and interpersonal skills. You could talk about your love of wine and the additional training you’ve done. Whatever it is, you want to stick out in the manager’s mind for all the right reasons. Take a look at our cover letter sample below.
Dear Ms Thames,
I am a trained waitress and hostess with several years of experience in a variety of catering, fast food, and fine dining restaurants. I wish to put myself forward for your server vacancy at Mignon Brasserie.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The greeting is the apéritif and the intro is the starter. That means the middle paragraphs of cover letters are very much the main course. This is where you can get into the meat of your application — what is it that you want the manager to know about you?
Imagine that you have two minutes to tell the manager why you are the right candidate for the job. You might wax lyrical about your ability to manage hundreds of covers per shift, deal with customer enquiries, coordinate orders, and do all of the above with a huge smile. Consider what qualities and attributes make you an excellent waitress in the first place.
If you’re drawing a blank, don’t panic. It can be hard to reflect on the skills that we have from time to time. Speak to ex-colleagues or even managers to see what they have to say from you. Asking for their honest and direct feedback is a smart way to get the content you need for your cover letter. Why not send out a quick message and see what they say?
When you do put pen to paper, be sure that you are using the right tone. Nobody wants to read a bland and boring application letter. You might want to add in some anecdotes, stories, or asides to make things more interesting. Take a look at our cover letter example.
As a top-rated restaurant in the city, I am aware of Mignon’s reputation and the standard of service its customers expect when visiting. My years working at the Michelin-star restaurant, Ceniamo, have prepared me for the expectations of fine dining guests.
During my time as a waitress there, I was required to maintain an excellent knowledge of the menu and wines on offer. This included memorising the carte du jour which changed daily in line with the best seasonally available ingredients. I was also expected to explain the flavour profiles of the dishes, how they were prepared, and advise guests on the best wines to pair them with.
Within this role, I was often praised for my excellent customer service, which I am convinced I perfected thanks to years of working in fast food and catering. These experiences taught me how to anticipate potential client issues and to problem-solve under pressure. For instance, while working at Burgers Inc., proactively proposed a new way of managing our drive-thru workflow. The new system reduced the time clients waited for their order by 20%.
While I have an eye for providing solutions like this to avoid complaints, I am also excellent at de-escalating conflict. I was consistently scheduled for the busiest shifts at Burgers Inc. and Ceniamo; my managers knew they were less likely to be involved in resolving client complaints when I was working because of my excellent diplomacy skills.
How to close a waitress cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
When you’ve said all there is to say, it’s time for dessert. You guessed it — you need to sign off your cover letter. If the manager is in a rush, they will only read the first sentence of your cover letter, skim the middle section, and then focus on the last sentence. For that reason, the final lines of your waitress cover letter need to pack a real punch.
Leave the manager with the right taste in their mouth. You might want to say something about why you want to work at this particular establishment. For example, are you a regular and you already know the venue well? Do you have a penchant for the type of cuisine that the restaurant serves? Have you been a loyal customer for years now?
The conclusion gives you the opportunity to add some flavour to your application. You should also include a call to action (CTA), expressing your interest in hearing back from the manager. Don’t presume that you will get the job — this can be interpreted as arrogant. Instead, let the manager know you are excited at the prospect of an interview.
I would love to join the team at Mignon. I am confident that my past experiences make me an excellent candidate for the role and I hope to be able to tell you more in an interview.
Sincerely,
Ashley Porter
Waitress cover letter with no experience
Waitress roles make perfect first jobs. Should you have recently left school or want a part-time role while you study, you may not have any prior experience. Since your CV is lacking, your cover letter is the ideal place to tell the manager why you want the job. Here are some of the things you may want to cover when you write your application:
- Your knowledge and love of different cuisines and/or beverages
- Why you have chosen to apply for this role specifically
- Your high energy levels, flexibility, and, crucially, availability
- Your qualifications relating to dining (e.g. a food tech course)
- Any voluntary experience you have working with customers
Don’t be shy about the fact that you lack experience. Everybody has to start somewhere. By showing that you are enthusiastic about the role at hand, you may land an interview.
Basic mistakes in a waitress application letter (and how to avoid them)
We’ve almost come to the end of the writing process. However, you don’t want to fall at the last hurdle. Before you click “print” on your waitress cover letter, you need to make sure that you have made any of the following mistakes:
- Spelling and grammar errors. It’s all too easy to miss these problems when you proofread your cover letter. Use software — like Grammarly or Hemingway App — to double-check the application.
- Writing a super long cover letter. The hiring manager doesn’t need to know your life history to hire you for a waitress role. Keep things short and sweet here.
- Using boring language! Have you sent the manager to sleep? You only have one chance to make the right first impression. Use expressive, bold action verbs.
Key takeaways
- Waitressing jobs are perfect for people looking for casual work. If you’re ready to land your next role, you can use your cover letter to show off your skills and personality.
- Be sure to take a formal approach when writing your cover letter. Managers will know that you are serious about this role when you pitch your application just right.
- Steer clear of basic mistakes. You don’t want to give the hiring manager any reason to ditch your application.
- Make your application stand out by using one of our field-tested cover letter templates!
