Zara McCarthy
Summary
I am a 23-year-old graduate with five years of experience in hospitality, specialising in café service, food and beverage assistant, barista work, host and customer care. Skilled in handling busy service environments, managing multiple tasks efficiently, and providing a welcoming experience for every customer. Strong team player with excellent time management, organisational skills, and the ability to solve problems quickly to ensure customer satisfaction. Flexible, reliable, and eager to bring strong interpersonal and service skills to any new environment.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Waitress
Killashee Hotel
Kildade
06.2021 - Current
- I have five years of experience working as a waitress and barista in both restaurant and hotel settings, where I developed strong customer service and communication skills.
- My role involved ensuring every guest left satisfied, resolving issues quickly to maintain a positive experience, and working under pressure during peak busy hours.
- I was trained in bartending and barista service, preparing quality drinks and food items while managing multiple orders efficiently.
- Alongside this, I gained front-of-house experience by managing bookings, organising table plans, taking phone calls, and redeeming vouchers, which strengthened my organisational and problem-solving skills.
- I also became confident using digital systems to support daily operations.
- I actively ensure products are upsold to guests to meet daily sales forecasts and attend daily briefings to stay informed on hotel performance and operations.
- Part of my role involved creating strong relationships with guests, making sure they felt welcome and valued, which encouraged repeat visits and built a base of regular customers.
- I also stayed up to date with the business's social media pages and looked for creative ways to attract new guests by promoting events, offers, and services.
- In addition to this practical experience, I completed training in GDPR, fire and safety, food regulation, and diversity awareness.
- My studies in Psychology at UCD have further enhanced my ability to understand people and their needs, developing skills in active listening, empathy, and clear communication.
- This academic background has strengthened my ability to connect with customers, anticipate their expectations, and adapt my approach to provide an attentive, personalised, and professional service.
Education
BSc - Psychology
University College Dublin
Leaving Certificate -
St. Wolstans Community School
Skills
- Customer service
- Relationship building
- Communication skills
- Listening skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Understanding customer needs
- Adaptability
- Sales-oriented mindset
- Product recommendation
- Upselling
- Organisation
- Time management
- Working under pressure
- Digital systems experience
- Bookings
- Till operations
- Social media awareness
- Teamwork
- Collaboration
- Flexibility
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
References
Available on request.
Languages
English, expert
Personal Information
Title: Senior Waitress
Languages
English
First Language
Timeline
Senior Waitress
Killashee Hotel
06.2021 - Current
BSc - Psychology
University College Dublin
Leaving Certificate -
St. Wolstans Community School