Kristen Taylor Sparks
Shreveport,LA
Summary
I have 20+ years of customer service experience with specializing in phone etiquette, along with knowledge about pretty much anything and everything involving restaurants. I’m extremely hardworking and strive to be the best in whatever I do while maintaining a positive attitude and outgoing personality. I would love to be a new addition to your team and thank you for your consideration!
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Server/To-Go Specialist/Expo/Bartender
Applebee’s on East Bert Kouns
Shreveport, Louisiana
10.2013 - 03.2018
- Greeted guests and provided menus.
- Provided excellent customer service to ensure satisfaction.
- Assisted in training new servers.
- Served food and beverages to customers
- Answered the phone and did the packaging for all to go orders.
- Would Expo to get all the food orders out to all the guests in the restaurant and to go orders.
- Cooked food when needed.
- Completed Sidework, Organizing and Cleaning duties.
- Put in liquor orders.
- Helped with inventory.
- Assisted the manager with whatever needed to be done.
- Wash dishes when needed.
- Worked every position in the restaurant and sometimes all at the same time.
- Maintained knowledge of current menu items, garnishes, ingredients and preparation methods.
- Prepared drinks according to standard recipes.
- Took orders from customers accurately and in a timely manner.
- Checked food before serving it to customers.
- Delivered food orders promptly and courteously.
- Ensured that each guest was served courteously, quickly, and efficiently.
- Accurately recorded orders on cash register and point-of-sale system.
Server
Posado’s on East Bert Kouns
Shreveport, Louisiana
04.2010 - 07.2011
- Greeted guests and provided menus.
- Provided excellent customer service to ensure satisfaction.
- Assisted in training new servers.
- Complete sidework, cleaning duties and organizing.
- Serve food and beverages to guests.
- Maintained knowledge of current menu items, garnishes, ingredients and preparation methods.
- Accurately recorded orders on cash register and point-of-sale system.
- Whatever else that needed to be done.
Hostess
Carrabba’s Italian Grill on East 70th Street
Shreveport, LA
06.2006 - 08.2007
- Greeted guests warmly upon arrival, seating them promptly.
- Verified reservations and wait times with customers.
- Maintained a clean and organized dining area.
- Assisted in preparing the restaurant for opening and closing shifts.
- Provided menus to customers and answered questions regarding menu items.
- Managed the waiting list, ensuring that all parties were seated in a timely manner.
- Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills when interacting with customers.
- Accurately recorded customer information into reservation system.
- Assisted servers in bussing tables when needed during busy periods.
- Answered phone inquiries to schedule and confirm reservations, record takeout orders and respond to service questions.
- Greeted guests and gathered information to seat groups or place on waitlist.
- Built positive relationships with other front-of-house and kitchen staff.
- Stayed attentive to server availability and table turnover to quickly seat guests.
- Scheduled reservations and notified servers and managers of large groups to prepare seating in advance.
Concessions Worker
Cinemark Tinseltown on Millicent Way
Shreveport, Louisiana
05.2004 - 07.2005
- Assisted customers in selecting items, taking orders, and providing recommendations.
- Stocked concession stands with supplies and food items.
- Provided customer service by greeting patrons, answering questions, and resolving complaints.
- Operated cash registers to process payments from customers.
- Prepared hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and other snacks according to recipes or instructions.
- Calculated daily sales totals and reported figures to management team at the end of each day's work shift.
- Monitored inventory levels of food supplies in order to prevent shortages during busy periods.
- Kept track of stock rotation so that older products are used first while maintaining freshness of new stock items.
- Communicated effectively with co-workers in order to ensure smooth operation of concessions activities.
- Assisted in training new employees on proper concession stand operations.
- Maintained exceptional standards of customer service during high-volume, fast-paced operations.
- Maintained neat, well-groomed appearance, impeccable personal hygiene, hair restraint and minimal jewelry to meet company standards.
- Cleaned concession area including counters, floors, equipment, and utensils.
- Safely prepared, assembled and presented food to satisfy customers and fill orders.
Education
High School Diploma -
Caddo Magnet High School
Shreveport, LA05-2006
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Bossier Parish Community College
Bossier City, LASkills
- Table Setting
- Food Delivery
- Order Management
- Food Running
- Food inspection
- Guest Engagement
- Table Bussing
- Supply Restocking
- Safe Food Handling
- Beverage Preparation
- Menu presentation
- Dining customer service
- Sales Techniques
- High-volume dining
- Suggestive Selling
- Effective customer upselling
- Relationship Management
- Professional Appearance
- Food station setup
- Sales expertise
- Positive and professional
- Guest Seating
- Cash Handling
- Item promotion
- Menu Memorization
- Food safety understanding
- Menu knowledge
- Table setting arrangements
- Guest Relations Management
- Point of Sale (POS) system operations
- Exceptional customer service
- Liquor, wine, and food service
Timeline
Server/To-Go Specialist/Expo/Bartender
Applebee’s on East Bert Kouns
10.2013 - 03.2018
Server
Posado’s on East Bert Kouns
04.2010 - 07.2011
Hostess
Carrabba’s Italian Grill on East 70th Street
06.2006 - 08.2007
Concessions Worker
Cinemark Tinseltown on Millicent Way
05.2004 - 07.2005
High School Diploma -
Caddo Magnet High School
Some College (No Degree) - General Studies
Bossier Parish Community College