Skills
Busser Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in bussers, and how to build and show them.
What skills do bussers need?
Bussers need technical skills such as table clearing, table setting, and tray carrying, plus people skills like speed and teamwork. They also use tools such as Bus tubs and Trays.
Technical (hard) skills
- Table clearing
- Table setting
- Tray carrying
- Food running
- Cleaning
- Restocking
People (soft) skills
- Speed
- Teamwork
- Courtesy
- Awareness
Tools, equipment and technology
- Bus tubs
- Trays
- Pitchers
- Linens
- Rags
- Sanitizer buckets
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how bussers put their skills to work:
- How to turn a table in under three minutes
- How to pre-bus without interrupting guests
- How to run food to the right seat
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Table clearing” and “Table setting.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “speed,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Food handler card near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our busser glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Busser training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.