Having a good Waiter/Waitress cover letter is the key to landing the Waiter/Waitress job you want. It’s an important part of the job search process and serves to express your interest in the role and highlight why you’re a good candidate. But writing a compelling cover letter isn’t easy. To help you out, we’ve put together cover letter examples and templates you can use.
Cover Letter for Waiter/Waitress Examples
Cover letters can be formal or casual, depending on the type of establishment you’re applying to. Let’s look at examples of both and provide templates you can use the next time you apply for a Waiter/Waitress job.
Casual cover letter example
Obviously, both casual and upscale establishments employ individuals in the Waiters/Waitresses role and task them with taking orders and delivering food to patrons. When applying for a position in a more casual restaurant, a casual cover letter that’s friendly in nature can help you express your positive attitude and enthusiasm for the job. You can check out how we did this in the cover letter example below.
[Your Name, Address, City, State, Phone Number, Email Address]
[Hiring Manager Name, Establishment Name, Address]
Dear, [Hiring Manager Name],
Thank you for giving me a chance to apply for the Waiter/Waitress role at [Establishment Name]. I have [two years] of experience in the Waiter/Waitress role and am skilled in taking orders and delivering dishes to customers. I enjoy working with people and always try to make customers feel valued. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you and am eager to bring my enthusiasm and skills to [Establishment Name] if hired.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Formal cover letter example
If you’re applying for the Waiter/Waitress role in an upscale or fine dining establishment, you need a more professional cover letter. In this case, you can use the letter to showcase your professionalism and highlight what qualifies you for the role. When writing it, you can use the formal cover letter example below as a template.
[Your Name, Address, City, State, Phone Number, Email Address]
[Hiring Manager Name, Establishment Name, Address]
Dear Mr./Mrs. [Hiring Manager Name],
I am writing to you to express my interest in the Waiter/Waitress position at [Establishment Name]. I have over [four years] of experience working in the hospitality industry, two of which I have spent in the Waiter/Waitress role. I am highly skilled in taking orders, delivering dishes and ensuring customer satisfaction in restaurant and café environments.
I previously worked as a Waiter/Waitress at [Previous Establishment Name] and [Previous Establishment] name. Throughout my career, I was tasked with taking orders, serving food and working together with kitchen teams.
I take pride in providing excellent customer service and always strive to create exceptional dining experience for customers. I am used to working in a fast-paced environment and can handle multiple tasks at once.
Additionally, I am dedicated to following all food safety and sanitation regulations and taking extra care to ensure the food is safe for customers to consume.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
How To Write a Waiter/Waitress Cover Letter in 3 Steps
If you decide to use a Waiter/Waitress cover letter example from this post, it’s important to personalize it and adjust it to your specific situation.
When applying for a job at an establishment, you can also examine their Waiter/Waitress job description closely and make sure to include the key skills that show you’re a strong candidate for it. Keep an eye on Server job listings as well, as the terms Waiter/Waitress and Server are often used interchangeably.
Below, we’ll show you how to write a compelling cover letter for a Waiter/Waitress job in three simple steps.
Step 1 – Write an Engaging Introduction to Your Cover Letter
When writing a cover letter, it’s important to use the opening paragraph to inform the Restaurant Owner or Hiring Manager about who you are and what you do. Here, you can also express why you enjoy working as a Waiter/Waitress and why you’re interested in the role.
The beginning of your cover letter should be all about leaving a strong first impression and giving them a reason to consider you for the job.
Step 2 – Show Why You Are a Good Fit for the Role
The Hiring Manager will get a chance to see your employment history on your resume. Your cover letter can discuss this in more detail and show how the skills you’ve obtained in those positions can transfer to the role.
To be viewed as a good Waiter/Waitress candidate, make sure to list strong work ethic, exceptional service, interpersonal skills and multitasking skills as your strengths. Depending on your previous employment, you can also include the key duties and responsibilities you took on in the past.
When applying for positions in upscale restaurants, mentioning Mise en Place and other techniques associated with fine dining can also help you land the job.
Since the Waiter/Waitress role is an entry-level one, you can apply for it even if you don’t have experience in the hospitality industry. In that case, you can list any transferable skills you have, such as customer service skills.
Step 3 – Show Why You Are a Good Fit for the Role
You can use the final section of your cover letter to thank the Hiring Manager for their consideration and express your genuine enthusiasm for working at their establishment.
Lastly, consider including references from your former employers and mentioning that they’re attached in your email.
Pair Your Cover Letter with a Resume
Your job application should include both a Waiter/Waitress cover letter and a resume. Besides our cover letter examples from this post, we also have Waiter/Waitress resume examples and templates you can use. There, you should include more details about your previous employment, such as job title and dates, as well as education history.
