Crafting a waiter cover letter can often be trickier than juggling plates during a dinner rush. You've probably hit 'apply' more times than you can count, only to realize each application requests not just your resume, but a compelling cover letter that brings your experience to life. This isn't a place to rehash your resume. It's where a single, shining professional victory takes center stage, told through a story that's distinctly yours – no clichés allowed. And remember, like the perfect menu, your cover letter should leave them wanting more, never spilling over the one-page limit.
- Including all the must-have paragraphs in your structure for an excellent first impression;
- Learning how to write individual sections from industry-leading cover letter examples;
- Selecting the best accomplishment to tell an interesting and authority-building professional story;
- Introducing your profile with personality, while meeting industry standards.
And, if you want to save some time, drag and drop your waiter resume into Enhancv's AI, which will assess your profile and write your job-winning cover letter for you.
If the waiter isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:
- Waiter resume guide and example
- McDonalds cover letter example
- Banquet Bartender cover letter example
- Restaurant Server cover letter example
- Barback cover letter example
- Hotel Bartender cover letter example
- Ice Cream Server cover letter example
- Assistant Restaurant Manager cover letter example
- Reservations Manager cover letter example
- Front of House Manager cover letter example
- Banquet Server cover letter example
Waiter cover letter example
Aiden Williams
Dallas, Texas
+1-(234)-555-1234
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasize relevant experience and measurable achievements: Citing tenure with Sodexo as a Lead Food Service Coordinator and highlighting a specific initiative that reduced wait times demonstrates both relevant experience and the capacity to deliver measurable improvements, which is attractive to potential employers.
- Showcase leadership and team management: Mentioning the leadership of a 10-person team and the achievement of a 99% compliance rate with health inspections illustrates strong team management skills and a commitment to maintaining high standards.
- Align personal values with company values: Expressing an appreciation for culinary excellence and operational efficacy indicates that the candidate's personal professional values are in line with those of the potential employer, suggesting a good cultural fit.
The must-have sections and format of your waiter cover letter
When writing your waiter cover letter, keep in mind that it'll only be read by the recruiters and not the Applicant Tracker System (or software used to assess your profile). That's why you should structure your content with a/an:
- Header (apart from your contact information, include your name, the role you're applying for, and the date);
- Personalized salutation;
- Opening paragraph to win the recruiters over;
- Middle paragraph with key details;
- Closing that starts from clichés;
- Sign off (that's not mandatory).
Industry standards dictate your paragraphs to be single-spaced and to wrap your content in a one-inch margin. Designing your waiter cover letter, refer to one of our templates, which automatically takes care of the spacing and margins.
Choose the same font for your waiter cover letter as you did for your resume: the likes of Lato and Bitter would help you to stand out in a sea of cover letters in Arial or Times New Roman.
Export your whole waiter cover letter from our builder in PDF to keep the same formatting and image quality.
The top sections on a waiter cover letter
Header: Include your contact information, the date, and the employer's contact information to ensure the hiring manager knows who you are and how to reach you.
Greeting: Use a polite and personalized salutation to address the hiring manager or restaurant owner directly, demonstrating your attention to detail and respect for the individual.
Introduction: Clearly state the position you're applying for, express your enthusiasm for the role of a waiter, and provide a brief overview of your most compelling qualifications that match the restaurant's needs.
Body: Discuss your relevant experience, skills in customer service, multitasking abilities, knowledge of food and beverages, and any specialty such as familiarity with fine dining or specific cuisines, which will set you apart as a candidate tailored for waiting staff roles.
Closing: End with a professional closing statement that thanks the employer for their time, reiterates your interest in the position, and mentions your availability for an interview, signaling your eagerness to take the next step in the application process.
Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter
- Exceptional customer service skills: Recruiters look for candidates who can demonstrate the ability to provide a pleasant and satisfying experience for diners, including dealing with complaints gracefully.
- Experience with point-of-sale systems: Familiarity with POS technology is essential for efficiently processing orders and payments.
- Strong memory and attention to detail: A good waiter must remember customers' orders, any special dietary requests, and the restaurant’s menu details.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment: Recruiters seek individuals who can keep calm under pressure and handle multiple tasks simultaneously without sacrificing service quality.
- Teamwork and communication skills: Since waiters work closely with kitchen staff and other front-of-house employees, the ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team is crucial.
- Flexibility with scheduling: The hospitality industry often requires employees to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, so recruiters look for candidates with availability that matches the restaurant's needs.
How to greet recruiters in your waiter cover letter salutation
As the saying goes, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Write your waiter cover letter salutation to be more personalized to the actual hiring manager, who is set to assess your profile by:
- greeting them on a first-name basis, if you have previously communicated with them (e.g. "Dear Sam,");
- using their last name, if you have more formal communication or haven't spoken to them (e.g. "Dear Mr. Harrows" or "Dear Ms. Marshall");
- writing "Dear HR Team" or "Dear Hiring Manager", if you have no clue about who's recruiting for the role.
Search on LinkedIn, Google, or the company website to find information as to the recruiter's name.
In any case, avoid the impersonal "Dear Sir or Madam".
List of salutations you can use
- Dear Hiring Manager,
- Dear [Restaurant Name] Team,
- Dear [Manager's Name],
- Dear [Restaurant Owner's Name],
- Dear [Department Name] Manager,
- Dear [Company Name] Representative,
How to start your waiter cover letter introduction
The opening paragraph of your waiter cover letter can seem like a real enigma.
Where do you start writing?
In your waiter cover letter introduction, focus on yourself by stating what:
- gets you motivated and excited about the role;
- you like best about the company, from culture to awards.
Write no more than two sentences, which are both authentic and show your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
The middle or body of your waiter cover letter body: a great instrument to tell a story
Now that you've set the right tone with the greeting and introduction of your waiter cover letter, it's time to get down to business.
Hear us out, the body of your waiter cover letter is the best storytelling instrument you have, in your job-hunting arsenal.
Writing the next three to six paragraphs, take the time to reassess the advert to discover job-crucial requirements.
Next, choose one accomplishment that covers those key skills and talents.
Use precisely that achievement to tell an exciting story of how you match the ideal candidate profile.
In the undertones of your story or waiter cover letter body, hint at the difference you'd make and sell your application as the perfect one for the job.
Final words: writing your waiter cover letter closing paragraph
The final paragraph of your waiter cover letter allows you that one final chance to make a great first impression.
Instead of going straight to the "sincerely yours" ending, you can back up your skills with a promise of:
- how you see yourself growing into the role;
- the unique skills you'd bring to the organization.
Whatever you choose, always be specific (and remember to uphold your promise, once you land the role).
If this option doesn't seem that appealing to you, close off your waiter cover letter with a follow-up request.
You could even provide your availability for interviews so that the recruiters would be able to easily arrange your first meeting.
The zero experience waiter cover letter: shifting the focus to your unique value
Don't worry if you have no conventional professional experience. Within your whole experience, there's plenty more you can write about in your waiter cover letter.
Take, for example, your biggest achievement or award - dedicate your cover letter body to describe it and the job-relevant skills you've learned.
Your professional ambitions could also take center stage. Describe what you plan on achieving in the next five to ten years and the efforts you're making towards your dreams.
Key takeaways
Creating your waiter cover letter should be a personalized experience for the role and the recruiter, where you:
- Format your cover letter using the same ATS-friendly font (e.g. Railway) as you did for your resume;
- Greet recruiters, using their name, and follow up with two sentences to introduce yourself, your interest in the role, and to stand out;
- Map out one key success from your career (or life) that has taught you job-crucial skills;
- Substitute your lack of experience with an achievement from your internships, degrees, or volunteering gigs;
- End with a promise for your potential or your availability for an interview.
