How to Write a Hospitality Resume

Hospitality Resume Format

One of the first aspects of a resume the hiring manager will take note of is the resume format. The three main resume formats are the chronological resume format, the functional resume format and the combination resume format. If you have extensive work experience, then the chronological resume format would be your best option. However, if you are a recent grad, changing careers or have spotty work experience, the functional resume format may be ideal because it focuses more on your skills. Regardless of the resume format you use, these are the key sections you will need to include in a professional resume:

• Header - contact information
• Resume summary
• Skills
• Work experience
• Education

1. Contact information

   The header of your resume should contain your contact information, including your full name, address, phone number and your email address. You should include your LinkedIn profile link or links to your other job networking profiles. Remember, always be sure to feature your correct and most updated contact information in this section so the hiring manager can contact you to schedule an interview.

2. Resume summary or objective

   The next section of your hospitality resume is the resume summary or resume objective. This is a short paragraph at the top of your resume that hiring managers will read first. The resume summary briefly touches on your most relevant hospitality skills and significant achievements in your work history. This can convey what specific hospitality sector you have worked in and why your skills would make you a great fit for the role. However, if you have very little work experience, you can write a resume objective and state your career goals.

3. Skills

   In the skills section, you should list both hard skills and soft skills to impress recruiters. Hard skills relate to technical skills and other expertise required to complete your daily duties. For the hospitality industry, this might include knowing how to operate specific equipment or software.

   Soft skills relate more to your personality and how you handle customers and coworkers. Listing a good mix of hard and soft skills in a bullet point list is a great way to present your skills. Bullet points can give hiring managers a better overview of what you are good at.

   Here is a sample list of great skills you could include in your hospitality resume:

   • Customer service skills
   • Problem-solving
   • Computer skills (i.e., MS Word, POS software, etc.)
   • Teamwork
   • Conflict resolution
   • Food safety training

   If you are still unsure what skills to include in your resume, read the job description for keywords to use. Oftentimes, job applications are run through an applicant tracking system (ATS) that uses the job description as a base for keywords to identify the best candidates. Applications that include a certain amount of those job-related keywords will get through to an actual hiring manager to read.

4. Work experience

   In the work experience section, list your professional experience for the past 10 years. For each job, write 4-6 bullet points stating your most important accomplishments. Also include the company name, your job title and your dates of employment, which will show the hiring manager your years of experience. You should only add the most relevant work experience to this section to land a hospitality job. If you have years of experience working in guest services, for instance, you’re more likely to be considered for a hotel management position.

5. Education

   If you hold a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, this certainly will help you to land a hospitality job. In this section, you should also include any certifications you have earned. Hospitality certifications, such as the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA), can establish you as someone who often goes above and beyond in your field.