Securing a job in the competitive hospitality industry requires more than just a winning smile and excellent customer service skills. A well-crafted resume is your ticket to standing out among the crowd of job seekers.

To help you navigate resume building, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 questions people often have when putting together a resume for hospitality positions, complete with answers and relevant examples.

1. How do I highlight my relevant skills and experience in the hospitality industry?

Tailor your resume to show your hospitality-specific skills, even if you haven’t worked in hospitality previously. Some hospitality skills to highlight (if they are relevant to you):

• Customer service
• Problem-solving
• Organization
• Communication

An example of this for someone applying for a front desk position who has previously worked as a cashier could be; “Delivered exceptional customer service by efficiently handling customer inquiries.”

2. Should I include a professional summary or objective statement?

Yes, include a brief professional summary highlighting your key qualifications and career goals. Keep it to 1 to 2 sentences. This should be attention-grabbing enough to make the hiring manager or recruiter want to keep reading your resume.

For example: Dedicated hospitality professional with over five years of experience in the food service industry. I increased sales 30% YoY by using upselling techniques with guests, and getting 100+ 5-star guest reviews that helped increase the overall rating of XYZ restaurant during my tenure.”

3. How can I demonstrate my ability to work in a fast-paced environment?

Use specific examples, such as “thrived in a high-pressure environment by efficiently managing reservations.” of “Ensured timely food and beverage service during peak hours.”

4. Is it essential to include education details?

Yes, mention your educational background, focusing on relevant degrees or certifications if possible. However, there are many opportunities in hospitality in which you don’t need a degree, but a specific amount of type of experience instead.

5. How do I show my adaptability and versatility?

Highlight experiences where you adapted to different roles or environments. For instance, “Successfully transitioned from front desk operations to event coordination, by taking on additional responsibilities to…”

6. Should I include specific achievements or awards?

Absolutely! Quantify your achievements whenever possible. For instance, “Was recognized for the “top sales associate” during February 2023 with $XXXXX in closed wins.”

You can also include an awards section before or after your education section that lists any recognitions you have received.

7. How can I emphasize my knowledge of guest satisfaction?

Mention instances where you went above and beyond to ensure guest satisfaction, like “Implemented a personalized guest recognition program resulting in a 20% increase in positive online reviews.”

8. Is it necessary to include references on my resume?

No. You should never include references or the phrase “references available upon request” on your resume. If they want your references, they will ask you, and you will provide them in an email.

9. Should I tailor my resume for each job application?

The short answer is yes. However, that’s not always the most practical or quickest route. It’s best to create a resume based on the type of position you are applying for. If you are applying to front desk agent, cashier, and server positions, create a different resume that relates to each of those job titles and use them for the appropriate jobs.

This will ensure you have the right skills and experiences showcased, but you won’t need to create a new resume every time you’re applying for a job.

10. How can I make my resume visually appealing?

Use a clean, professional layout. Incorporate concise bullet points for easy readability, and choose a legible font. Keep your sections organized and obvious, and make sure the font is large enough to easily be read.

You can read all of our resume design do’s and don’ts here.

Crafting a compelling hospitality resume requires a strategic approach that showcases your unique skills and experiences. By addressing these top 10 questions, you’ll be well on your way to creating a standout resume that opens doors to exciting opportunities in the dynamic world of hospitality.