Top 12 Busser Skills to Put on Your Resume
In a crowded dining scene, a standout busser shows up ready, steady, and sharp. Your resume should broadcast practical skills and the people-first traits that keep service humming. Put both on display and you don’t just look hirable—you look essential.
Busser Skills
- Tableware Sanitization
- Customer Service
- POS Systems
- Time Management
- Team Collaboration
- Multitasking Efficiency
- Space Organization
- Inventory Management
- Safety Compliance
- Conflict Resolution
- Physical Stamina
- Communication Skills
1. Tableware Sanitization
Tableware sanitization means cleaning and disinfecting dishes, glassware, and utensils so guests eat from items that are truly safe. For a busser, that includes correct handling, proper wash-and-rinse steps, and airtight hygiene habits at every turn.
Why It's Important
It stops germs in their tracks, protects guests and staff, and keeps the dining room in line with health codes. Clean isn’t a vibe—it’s a standard.
How to Improve Tableware Sanitization Skills
Make it routine, make it exact:
Pre-scrape fast: Remove food soil before it hardens.
Hot wash: Use hot, soapy water at or above 110°F/43°C for manual washing, or confirm the dish machine’s temps and chemicals are within spec.
Sanitize correctly: Use approved sanitizers (chlorine, quats, or iodine) at labeled concentrations and contact times. Check with test strips—don’t guess.
Air-dry only: Never towel-dry; air-drying prevents recontamination.
Clean flow: Keep dirty and clean zones separate. Handle rims and utensils by handles only.
Ongoing training: Review procedures, refresh on chemical safety, and log machine checks.
Follow the steps, every shift, no shortcuts.
How to Display Tableware Sanitization Skills on Your Resume
2. Customer Service
For a busser, customer service is quiet precision—clear the clutter, reset fast, read the room, and help guests feel cared for without hovering.
Why It's Important
It lifts the entire dining experience. Guests feel looked after, tables turn smoothly, and the team gets breathing room when service heats up.
How to Improve Customer Service Skills
Move quickly, not noisily: Clear, wipe, and reset with minimal disruption.
Anticipate needs: Top off water, extra napkins, booster seats, crumb sweeps—handle it before the ask.
Know the map: Table numbers, sections, pacing—stay two steps ahead.
Share information: Flag servers about guest requests, allergies, or timing.
Stay warm: Professional, friendly, and calm even during the rush.
How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume
3. POS Systems
POS systems track orders, payments, and table status. Bussers often update table turns, note special requests, and sync with servers and expo so the line keeps moving.
Why It's Important
Accurate table status and timely notes cut miscommunication. Faster resets. Fewer mistakes. Smoother flow.
How to Improve POS Systems Skills
Practice in training mode: Learn the floor map, quick keys, and common workflows.
Standardize updates: Mark bus-ready, seated, cleaned, or re-set the same way every time.
Log issues cleanly: Note 86’d items or guest needs in the designated fields so servers and expo see it instantly.
Reduce taps: Memorize frequent screens and shortcuts to shave seconds.
Ask and learn: When in doubt, confirm with a supervisor—better a quick check than a messy fix.
How to Display POS Systems Skills on Your Resume
4. Time Management
Time management means triaging tasks—clearing, wiping, resetting, restocking—so the dining room never stalls.
Why It's Important
Good timing means faster table turns and calmer service. Guests don’t wait. Staff stays coordinated. The whole night feels lighter.
How to Improve Time Management Skills
Prioritize by impact: Clear tables for waiting guests first, then handle sidework.
Batch tasks: Full hands in, full hands out. Stack glassware safely. Wipe multiple tables in a loop.
Stay organized: Keep bus tubs tidy, rags fresh, and tools where you can grab them fast.
Communicate timing: Tell servers when a table is nearly ready or needs a minute for drying.
Use micro-lists: Quick notes for mid-shift priorities help you pivot without forgetting.
How to Display Time Management Skills on Your Resume
5. Team Collaboration
Collaboration is the handoff: bussers, servers, hosts, expo, and kitchen moving as one so guests feel seamless service.
Why It's Important
It keeps missteps rare and recovery quick. Clear roles, crisp updates, and trust under pressure.
How to Improve Team Collaboration Skills
Define roles: Agree on who resets, who runs, who checks water—less overlap, more speed.
Use brief check-ins: Quick huddles at lineup and mid-shift to adjust coverage.
Close the loop: Confirm requests (“Got it—table 12 needs extra chairs; on it”).
Offer help before asked: See a jam? Jump in. Then signal when it’s clear.
Share wins: Thank teammates out loud. Morale rises; service follows.
How to Display Team Collaboration Skills on Your Resume
6. Multitasking Efficiency
Multitasking for a busser means juggling resets, restocks, and small guest requests without dropping pace—or standards.
Why It's Important
It keeps the floor fluid. Fewer bottlenecks. Faster table turns. Better guest energy.
How to Improve Multitasking Efficiency Skills
Rule of two: Always carry or do at least two purposeful things per trip.
Micro-prioritize: Tackle the quickest wins first (crumbing, water refills) while a table dries.
Create a route: Sweep the section in a loop—clear, wipe, reset, restock—repeat.
Set par habits: Keep side stations stocked so you don’t backtrack.
Stay calm: Smooth hands beat hurried hands. Precision saves time later.
How to Display Multitasking Efficiency Skills on Your Resume
7. Space Organization
Space organization is arranging the dining room, side stations, and traffic paths so everything flows—clean, orderly, and quick to reach.
Why It's Important
Good layout shrinks steps and errors. Guests see tidy spaces; staff feels faster.
How to Improve Space Organization Skills
Assign zones: Clear responsibilities and areas prevent pileups.
Use compact tools: Choose bus tubs and carts that maneuver easily without blocking aisles.
Vertical storage: Keep frequently used items at chest height and visible; label bins clearly.
Reset standards: Silverware placement, wipe pattern, chair alignment—make it consistent and quick to check.
Clean-as-you-go: Wipe spills immediately; remove clutter before it grows.
How to Display Space Organization Skills on Your Resume
8. Inventory Management
Inventory management for bussers centers on sidework supplies—napkins, flatware, glassware, polish rags, sanitizer, and cleaning tools—kept stocked without overflow.
Why It's Important
No stockouts, no scramble. Service stays fast. Waste drops. Costs behave.
How to Improve Inventory Management Skills
Set par levels: Decide the “full” amount for each item; restock to par during natural lulls.
Use simple counts: Quick checklists at open, mid-shift, and close catch shortages early.
FIFO always: First in, first out—rotate linens, disposables, and chemicals.
Label and date: Mark sanitizer buckets and prep times; replace on schedule.
Track patterns: Note high-traffic nights and adjust pars before the rush.
How to Display Inventory Management Skills on Your Resume
9. Safety Compliance
Safety compliance is following health and safety rules every minute—cleaning chemicals used right, spills marked, body mechanics safe, allergens handled with care.
Why It's Important
It prevents injuries and illness, protects guests, and keeps the restaurant inspection-ready.
How to Improve Safety Compliance Skills
Train deliberately: Proper lifting, wet-floor signage, knife and glass handling, chemical safety.
Wear the gear: Non-slip shoes, gloves when appropriate, and secure hair or accessories.
Maintain stations: Keep sanitizer at correct strength and replace on schedule; store chemicals away from food and service items.
Audit often: Quick safety walks to catch tripping hazards or leaks.
Speak up: Report hazards immediately and document fixes.
How to Display Safety Compliance Skills on Your Resume
10. Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution means defusing friction—with coworkers or guests—so service gets back on track without drama.
Why It's Important
Less tension, quicker fixes, better hospitality. Problems shrink when handled early and calmly.
How to Improve Conflict Resolution Skills
Listen first: Let the other person speak fully; confirm what you heard.
Stay neutral: Keep your tone steady and language factual.
Offer options: Propose simple, fair solutions and agree on the next step.
Know when to escalate: Involve a supervisor if safety, policy, or guest satisfaction is at risk.
Follow through: Check back to confirm the issue is closed.
How to Display Conflict Resolution Skills on Your Resume
11. Physical Stamina
Physical stamina is the ability to move, lift, bend, and stay on your feet for long stretches—while keeping your pace and form.
Why It's Important
Busser work is physical. Strong stamina keeps your speed up and your technique safe, even late in the shift.
How to Improve Physical Stamina Skills
Train smart: Mix cardio with strength work—legs, core, grip—2–4 times a week.
Fuel and hydrate: Balanced meals, steady water intake, light snacks before rushes.
Sleep enough: Aim for consistent rest so recovery actually happens.
Stretch and reset: Quick mobility breaks reduce tightness and fatigue.
Protect your back: Bend knees, keep loads close, and ask for help with heavy trays or stacks.
How to Display Physical Stamina Skills on Your Resume
12. Communication Skills
Communication skills for a busser are crisp listening and clear, quick updates that keep the dining room synchronized.
Why It's Important
It tightens teamwork and reduces mistakes. Guests get what they need; staff knows what’s next.
How to Improve Communication Skills
Be concise: Short, specific updates beat long explanations.
Use closed-loop talk: Repeat back key details (“Table 8 needs a high chair—grabbing one now”).
Mind nonverbal cues: Eye contact, posture, and hand signals matter during a rush.
Ask clarifying questions: If a request is fuzzy, get the missing piece quickly.
Invite feedback: Check if your updates are helpful; adjust style as needed.
How to Display Communication Skills on Your Resume
