Landing a dream job requires patience, dedication, and organization. This is true for getting a job at all levels of the hospitality and food service industries. Close attention to detail and organization is key. Keeping excellent track of contacts, managing the overall success of interviews, and organizing vital information such as phone numbers and locations are all an absolute must.

Hotel, resort, and restaurant careers can be a competitive job market. Staying on top of the game could make all the difference in landing the perfect hospitality position. Here are some helpful job-hunting tips as well as ideas on how to keep all of the important information at your fingertips.

The Interview

So what about the all-important hospitality job interview? One of the most useful pieces of advice that can be given is to be upbeat and personable in the interview. The food service and hotel industries are all about their clients. Whatever level of employment an applicant wants to achieve, these industries are very people-oriented. One must be friendly, outgoing, and balanced. These are the traits that will tell the interviewer how well an applicant will handle their daily responsibilities, other employees, and most importantly their company’s guests.

Tips for a successful interview can be found simple – the best thing a resort or restaurant applicant can remember is to relax and be likable. Meet every interview question with a well-thought-out, competent answer to ensure an excellent interview.

The Follow Up

A key component to keep in mind after each interview is to send a thank you letter to the interviewer as soon as possible, and a good rule of thumb is to mail it within 24 hours of the first meeting. 

The Job Search Diary

Once the hospitality applicant’s schedule is full of appointments, here are some good ideas on how to keep track of the particulars of each interview.

Create a spreadsheet to document important information and make the files also accessible on your mobile phone (like in a Google doc, for example), so you can add or refer to it even when you’re on the go.

It is essential to keep track of the company’s name, who performed the interview, their contact information including phone number, and which version of the applicant’s cover letter and resume was used.

Other useful details to list are the interview time and place, any relevant questions the applicant can think of before the interview, and a place to make notes on the interview itself.

Additional helpful pieces of information to include in your job search diary are a record of when the thank you letter was sent out, and it may be useful to keep a copy of the letter on hand as well.

Post-interview follow-ups can make the difference between your application proceeding or failing, so you may want to set reminders to yourself not to forget any of these communications. 

Getting the ideal job in the food service, hotel, or resort industries is a dream come true for many people. Focusing on keeping track of the important details and staying organized in the hospitality applicant’s job log will pay off with a rewarding career in this exciting field.