Nicole O Donnell
Galway,Ireland
Summary
Enthusiastic and hardworking hospitality professional with strong experience in bars, restaurants, cafés, and bakery environments. A lifelong Galway local with an excellent understanding of customer service standards and the fast pace of the city’s hospitality scene. Confident in front‑of‑house duties including waitressing, bar support, coffee preparation, and till operation. Known for reliability, a strong work ethic, and the ability to stay organised during busy periods. Skilled in multitasking, communication and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Currently seeking a full‑time position where I can continue developing my skills and contribute positively to a professional, customer-focused team.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Waitress bartender
The salthill hotel
Galway, ireland
2025.02 - Current
- Greeted new customers and offered immediate seating assistance and acknowledgement with a warm, welcoming, and positive attitude establishing prompt and high quality service.
- Maintained extensive knowledge of food, allergies , drinks and menus to answer customer queries and concerns.
- Demonstrated full knowledge of all menu items, contents and preparation methods to provide suggestions based on customer preference and upsell new additions to menus creating good business.
- Adhered to strict hygiene and cleanliness standards and polished bar glasses and cutlery, maintaining a spotless bar and floor area at all times.
- Documented customer orders, calculated bills and processed payments.
- Processed cash, credit card and voucher payments to fast track process.
- Resolved customer complaints to maintain satisfaction and business loyalty.
- Successfully managed high-volume shifts, serving up to 200 customers without compromising service quality.
- Mixed drinks, served wine, beer, coffee, tea and non-alcoholic beverages for multiple guests simultaneously maintaining high service standards regardless and polished bar glasses and cutlery, maintaining excellent bar presentation.
- Balanced multiple customer orders simultaneously, demonstrating exceptional memory and organisational skills during peak times and busy periods.
- Handled customer complaints with professionalism, resolving issues promptly to ensure satisfaction, and bringing more complex issues to higher management.
- Managed table reservations and seating arrangements, maximising space efficiency and customer comfort.
- Managed inventory and restocked bar supplies, minimising waste and reducing costs.
- Cultivated a welcoming atmosphere through attentive service and engaging conversation, building a loyal clientele.
- Maintained brand image by keeping neat personal appearance and positive attitude.
- Coordinated with kitchen staff to ensure timely delivery of service and gave clear instructions to kitchen staff on customer preferences and special dietary needs.
- Advised and promoted menu by offering cutomers knowledgeable pairings and reccomendations based on personal preferences to improve customer decisions ensuring satisfaction.
- Delivered quality food and beverage service to over 200 guests per shift.
- Trained new staff on bar operations, floor operations, drink preparation, and customer service standards fostering a team oriented enviornment.
- Conducted daily opening and closing procedures,managing bar stock and floor stock ensuring the bar was ready for business and securely closed.
- Cultivated a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, resulting in a 30% increase in repeat customers.
- Assessed IDs to guarantee customers met minimum age requirements for restricted items.
- Recognised and aided customers with special needs.
- Operated espresso machines and other coffee-making equipment with expertise, ensuring high-quality beverage production.
- Prepared a wide range of coffee and tea beverages, adhering to precise recipes and presentation standards.
- Maintained calm demeanour during high-volume periods and special events and controlled peak morning periods with accurate, efficient, levelheaded service.
Waitress assistant
The blackrock cottage
Galway, ireland
2024.03 - 2024.12
- Greeted guests with a warm and welcoming atmosphere acknowledging guests and guiding them to their tables engaging in friendly conversation enhancing guests dining experience.
- Kept dining area tidy, clearing tables and resetting them for new guests in a timely manner laying tables with clean cutlery, crockery and glassware throughout sittings.
- Delivered exceptional, friendly, and fast service to process a high volume of food and drink orders at peak times in a continuously busy restaurant.
- Managed multiple tables efficiently, prioritising tasks to maintain seamless service and managed multiple tasks during busy periods highlighting strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- Answered phones politely and promptly while accurately recording and confirming reservations.
- Delivered meals and beverages promptly, ensuring orders were correct and met customer satisfaction, checking in with customers at appropriate intervals to refill drinks and respond to requests and customer feedback during their experience to ensure satisfaction.
- Assisted colleagues during busy periods, fostering a team-oriented atmosphere to improve overall service.
- communicated amoungst waiting staff and kitchen staff to meet customer requirements such as dietary requiremnts and personal preferences ensuring customer satisfaction and business loyalty.
- Checked accuracy of completed orders and delivered to customers at tables.
- Advised customers on possible wait times and kitchen delays to manage expectations.
- Maintained extensive knowledge of food, drinks and menus to answer customer queries and offer excellent food knowledge and pairings according to customer preference.
- Processed customer payments accurately, handling cash, credit card, and contactless transactions.
- Completed daily opening and closing checklists to maintain standards and ready dining rooms for service.
- Monitored dining area to quickly address spills or hazards, maintaining a safe environment for patrons and staff.
- Developed rapport with regular customers, remembering their preferences to provide personalised service.
- Engaged in continuous learning about new menu items and specials to effectively communicate offerings to customers.
- Enquired about guest satisfaction, anticipated additional needs and happily fulfilled ad-hoc requests.
- Adhered to company policies and procedures, upholding professional standards and ethics.
Education
Colaiste Einde
Galway 2019.09 - 2025.06
Skills
cutsomer service
team collaboration
time management
listening attentively
multitasking efficiency
conflict resolution
patience under pressure
Languages
English
Native
Irish
Advanced
Polish
Fluent
Spanish
Intermediate
Affiliations
- I maintain a strong commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle, regularly attending the gym each morning as part of my daily routine. I have a passion for cooking and enjoy preparing homemade meals, which allows me to focus on nutrition and wellbeing. I take my health seriously and value staying active as it helps me maintain discipline, energy and a positive mindset in both my personal and professional life.
Timeline
Waitress bartender
The salthill hotel
2025.02 - Current
Waitress assistant
The blackrock cottage
2024.03 - 2024.12
Colaiste Einde
2019.09 - 2025.06