I don’t know where you are located, Interrobang?!, but I’ve been in the biz for about seven years, and nobody I know uses a resume to get a waiter/restaurant gig.
When I hostessed, I saw a lot of applications, and I’ve talked to several managers about what they look for, so if you want some pointers for your brother, here’s some basic stuff:
1.) Always go between 2 and 4 p.m., even if they don’t specify a time to drop an application off. Before or after that, management will probably be too busy to talk to you, and even if they aren’t, it shows ignorance of the pace of a restaurant–lack of experience–to visit at other hours.
2.) Don’t give the application if at possible to anyone but a manager. Applications given to anyone else have a 50/50 chance of getting to their destination; they have a tendency to float around the whole restaurant.
3.) If a manager doesn’t take the application, take it back home with you and go back the next day. This first impression is crucial; most waiters are hired b/c the manager happened to have time to talk to them, and they made a good impression in person. If you do give an application to anyone else, call about it the next day during the same hours, and ask to speak to a manager.
3.) Dress nicely. Even if it’s “just a waiter gig.” Management appreciates this. Doesn’t have to be a tie, but make sure you’re at least “dressy casual,” starched, ironed, and looking crisp and neat.
4.) Make sure you fill out the entire application. (I know, it sounds stupid, but you’d be amazed.) Every little detail is important. Make sure your spelling/grammar is good, your handwriting is legible, and that when it asks you “what your job description was,” you actually say something. Don’t just put “waiting tables.” Don’t use the phrase “people person,” b/c everyone else does. Just indicate that you’ve worked in a job with the public before, if you have…and if you haven’t, find some other experience that will fill the quota. You can also put this on the app where it says “list any special skills you have that may be helpful in this job,” or whatever.
Basically, try to come across as an interesting person.
And the key here is to meet the manager, b/c you can always make a better impression in person than on paper, particularly if your brother doesn’t have a great deal of experience. Lots of eye contact, easy conversation, and a relaxed, respectful manner are what they’re looking for; how you treat them is how they think you’ll treat their customers.
And as for the resume…I’ve seen maybe five in the whole seven years I’ve worked at restaurants. Sometimes they’re impressive, b/c they give the impression that you really went to the trouble of doing it b/c you really want a job…but most of the time they’re unnecessary. What you put on your app is far less important than meeting the manager, b/c very few restaurants actually call on applications. They just hire those applicants they happen to meet and like.
Hope that helps!