Justin Powell
Defining Wellness
Jackson,MS
5
years of professional experience
Restaurant operations support focused on customer greeting, entryway maintenance, and server load balancing to sustain efficient service. Applies positive attitude and approachable demeanor to strengthen guest experience during peak demand.
Work History
Cook
5 Months- Prepared nutritious menu items following dietary guidelines and wellness-focused recipes.
- Maintained clean, organized prep areas and sanitized surfaces throughout service.
- Monitored ingredient freshness and rotated stock to support kitchen quality standards.
- Followed food safety procedures while handling, storing, and cooking ingredients.
- Communicated with team members to coordinate timely meal preparation and service.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills, managing multiple orders simultaneously without sacrificing quality or presentation.
Server
2 Months- Maintained clean, organized dining areas, resetting tables for incoming guests.
- Resolved guest concerns professionally, preserving positive service experience and satisfaction.
- Demonstrated strong multitasking skills by managing multiple tables simultaneously without compromising service quality.
- Served food and beverages promptly with focused attention to customer needs.
Package Handler
3 Years- Unloaded trailers and sorted packages by destination for efficient warehouse flow.
- Scanned labels to verify routing, tracking, and shipment accuracy.
- Loaded packages onto trucks while maintaining proper stacking and weight distribution.
- Operated conveyor lines and hand trucks to move freight safely.
- Inspected packages for damage and reported shipping discrepancies promptly.
- Supported team members during peak shifts to keep outbound processing on schedule.
- Handled heavy packages with proper lifting techniques to prevent injury and damage.
- Followed safety regulations to maintain safe work environment.
- Removed jams and unblocked conveyor system to maintain flow of goods.
- Followed verbal and written instructions to properly move and ship products.
- Collaborated with other package handlers to provide prompt and accurate delivery of orders.
Server
2 Months- Delivered prompt table service, accurately relayed orders to kitchen and bar staff.
- Recommended menu items and answered guest questions to support informed dining choices.
- Processed payments, balanced checks, and handled cash and card transactions with accuracy.
- Coordinated timing between food preparation and serving to maintain smooth dining flow.
- Memorized menu details, daily specials, and ingredient information to improve guest service.
- Supported teammates during busy shifts by anticipating needs and prioritizing service tasks.
Host
7 Months- Checked the seating area and the restrooms to make sure they were clean every 15-30 minutes.
- Informed servers of newly seated parties for quick service.
- Used OpenTable to manage in-person and telephone guest inquiries, customer service requests, and reservation bookings.
- Worked with the kitchen to keep customers informed about wait times and to answer questions about the food.
- Conducted frequent dining room and server checks to determine whether the dining room and servers were ready for expected customer traffic.
- Maintained open communication with the kitchen team to assess cooking times, avoid worker overload, and minimize customer dissatisfaction.
- Oversaw server balance and table turnover to ensure that customers were properly seated and satisfied.
- Assisted servers, food runners, and bussers in making sure the dining area was ready for each and every guest.
- Gathered information about the size of the guests' party, led them to their seats, and offered menus.
- Kept a loyal clientele by providing exceptional service at every stage of the restaurant dining experience.
- Customer questions about hours, seating, and menu information were answered by me.
- Documented reservations and communicated changes to guests using OpenTable.
- Keep track of clean, dirty, and occupied tables by running the floor plan board and observing tables.
- Aided managers in resolving service and food-related issues as quickly as possible.
- Cultivated positive guest relations by managing information and coordinating quick seating.
- Used OpenTable to record available tables after seating each party.
- Kept an eye on the dining room staff in order to assess server loads and calculate accurate wait times.
- Took phone and walk-in reservations, keeping scheduling demands and kitchen output on schedule to avoid overbooking.
- Resolved guest and employee complaints to ensure complete customer satisfaction and workforce effectiveness.
- Organized menus, spaces, and special requests for guest parties of 6+ and executed them.
- Cultivated positive guest relations by managing information and coordinating quick seating.
- Took reservations and to-go orders over the phone, answered customer questions, and kept customers informed of wait times.
- Kept an eye on the dining room and the flow of guests in order to maximize table usage and cut wait times by 40%.
- Collaborated with front-of-house staff to reposition tables and rearrange seating to accommodate groups with special needs.
- Kept an eye out for new guests at the front door and assisted servers by taking and delivering drink orders.
- Kept track of reservations, alerted servers and managers when large groups arrived, and set up seating.
- Collect guest information and accurately quote wait times to guests when tables are not immediately available.
Education
High School
- Participated in the band.
- Was a part of the Student Government Association as "Mr. Callaway"
- Founder and president of the chess club. Duties included organizing tournaments and improving the skill of members
Skills
Inventory management
Upselling techniques
Item promotion
Reservation coordination
Bill computation
Problem-solving
Multitasking
Guest relations management
Excellent judgment
Dining room management
Critical thinking
Employee training and development
Sales expertise
To-go order preparation
Daily specials memorization
Service industry background
Customer-focused
Integrity
Communication skills
Accurate money handling
Regional cuisine
Dish preparation
Culinary art
Quality assurance and control
Recipe-based cooking
Cutting and slicing techniques
Creative plating
Plate presentation
Cooking
Food handling
Timeline
Cook
Defining Wellness
06.2026 - CurrentRead More
Server
Chilis's Bar and Grill
02.2025 - 04.2025Read More
Package Handler
UPS Warehouse
08.2023 - 08.2026Read More
Server
Sal & Mookies
06.2023 - 08.2023Read More
Host
Char Restaurant
03.2022 - 10.2022Read More
Callaway High School
High School
Read More