One specific CV challenge faced by the fast food industry is the high turnover rate of staff, leading to a constant need for efficient recruitment. Our guide offers practical tips on streamlining your hiring process, ensuring you attract and retain the right talent to bolster your team's stability.
- Answer job requirements with your fast food CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your fast food CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
How to ensure your profile stands out with your fast food CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your fast food CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your fast food CV:- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your fast food CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
PRO TIP
For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a fast food CV
- Relevant Work Experience to show your practical knowledge in fast food service.
- Key Skills Section highlights your abilities crucial for fast food roles.
- Education and Training to showcase relevant qualifications and courses.
- Achievements in Fast Food indicating successful metrics or accomplishments.
- Food Safety Certification to affirm your understanding of hygiene standards.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight any previous customer service experience, demonstrating your ability to interact positively with customers and provide excellent service, which is a core requirement for fast food roles.
- Emphasise your multitasking and time management skills, as fast food environments require staff to handle various tasks quickly and efficiently.
- Mention any experience with point-of-sale systems or cash handling, as these are common duties in a fast food setting and show that you can manage transactions confidently.
- Detail your flexibility regarding working hours, including night shifts and weekends, to indicate your willingness to accommodate the often variable schedules in the fast food industry.
- Note any food safety training or certifications you might have, as this shows you understand the importance of maintaining hygiene standards in a food preparation environment.
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Making a good first impression with your fast food CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for fast food:
- Shift Supervisor | Team Leadership | Efficiency Optimisation | Food Hygiene Cert | 3+ Years Experience
- Customer Service Manager | Conflict Resolution | Staff Training | Five-Star Rating Achievement | 8 Years in Hospitality
- Head Chef | Menu Development | Inventory Management | Culinary Arts Diploma | Seasoned with 10 Years Experience
- Restaurant General Manager | Operational Excellence | Strategic Growth | P&L Management | Senior Level, 15 Years
- Assistant Manager | Staff Scheduling | Quality Control | Hospitality Management BSc | Committed 5-Year Professional
- Drive-Thru Coordinator | Speed of Service Specialist | Customer Interaction Pro | 2 Years Fast-Paced Role
What's the difference between a fast food CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your fast food CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a fast food job:
- With over five years of dedicated service in the fast food sector as a Shift Manager, I possess a proven record of enhancing customer satisfaction and a 20% increase in store efficiency. My expertise lies in team leadership, inventory management, and delivering exceptional customer service.
- Bringing forward three years' experience as an Assistant Manager in a bustling fast food outlet, I pride myself on a track record of reducing food waste by 30% through strategic planning and inventory management, ensuring smooth operational flow and high-quality customer interactions.
- Seeking to transfer my extensive 8-year background in customer service management into a dynamic fast food environment, I am equipped with a robust set of skills in team leadership, problem-solving, and efficient customer resolution, aiming to enhance operational excellence and customer experience.
- An experienced retail store manager aiming to pivot to the fast food industry, bringing a wealth of knowledge in inventory control, staff training, and sales promotion, combined with a deep understanding of customer satisfaction drivers and proficiency in point-of-sale systems.
- As a motivated individual with a passion for the fast-paced atmosphere of the fast food industry, my objective is to apply my strong organizational skills, eagerness to learn, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction to contribute positively to a company focused on quality and service excellence.
- Eager to embark on a food service career, I am focused on utilizing my outstanding communication skills and strong work ethic to deliver top-notch service, while gaining valuable experience and contributing to a team dedicated to upholding the highest standards in food quality and customer care.
How to meet job requirements with your fast food CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Efficiently managed high-volume orders during peak times, ensuring all customer orders were completed accurately and swiftly, contributing to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Maintained a clean and hygienic food preparation area, adhering to food safety standards, minimising contamination risks and consistently passing health inspections with high ratings.
- Developed strong teamwork skills by collaborating with kitchen staff and front-of-house teams to streamline the service process, reducing average customer wait time by 20%.
- Demonstrated adaptability by quickly learning and executing the use of different kitchen equipment and technology, reducing the average order preparation time.
- Provided exceptional customer service by attentively listening to customer needs, offering recommendations, and resolving any issues, leading to a monthly average of 95% positive feedback.
- Implemented upselling techniques for new menu items and promotions, which contributed to a 10% increase in average transaction value over six months.
- Assisted in inventory management, accurately tracking stock levels and placing timely orders for ingredients, which decreased food waste by 25%.
- Participated in team training sessions, sharing knowledge of product offerings and preparation techniques, which helped new staff shorten their learning curve by 30%.
- Constantly focused on improving personal performance metrics, like speed and accuracy, to exceed corporate set targets and enhance restaurant efficiency.
- Managed a team of 15 employees, ensuring adherence to health regulations and company policies, improving team efficiency by 30%.
- Oversaw the deployment of a new point-of-sale system, reducing customer transaction time by an average of 25%.
- Implemented a customer feedback loop to improve the menu, leading to a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings.
- Streamlined drive-thru operations which increased throughput by approximately 50 cars per hour during peak times.
- Developed a waste reduction strategy that cut monthly costs by 10% through better inventory management.
- Established a training program for new employees that decreased time-to-proficiency from 3 weeks to 1 week.
- Implemented a locally-sourced ingredients initiative which bolstered community relations and reduced supply expenses by 8%.
- Coordinated the introduction of two successful limited-time menu offerings, driving a 15% uplift in sales during promotion periods.
- Ensured compliance with food safety standards, recording zero instances of violations during tenure.
- Led the customer service team to achieve a 95% positive feedback rating through effective coaching and performance management.
- Executed a local marketing campaign which increased brand awareness and resulted in a 12% rise in store traffic.
- Participated in cross-training across kitchen and cashier roles, contributing to a more adaptable and flexible team.
- Pioneered a new employee scheduling system, leading to a more balanced workload distribution and a 5% decrease in labor costs.
- Handled daily cash operations and deposits with zero discrepancies over a two-year period, managing approximately $10,000 per day.
- Instrumental in the seasonal menu overhaul which saw a 18% increase in sales of promoted items.
- Improved order accuracy by establishing a double-check system which reduced errors by 22%.
- Contributed to a 10% reduction in employee turnover by mentoring staff and recognizing outstanding performance.
- Co-managed the successful roll-out of a new breakfast line that drove an additional $3K in daily sales.
Lacking professional expertise: how to write your CV to highlight your best talents
Don't count on your lucky stars when you're applying for a role, where you happen to have less (or almost none) professional experience. Recruiters sometimes do hire inexperienced candidates if they're able to present their unique value from the get-go. So, instead of opting for the traditional, CV experience section:
- List any applicable expertise you happen to have - no matter if it's a part-time job, internship, or volunteer work. This would hint to recruiters that your profile is relevant;
- Focus your CV on your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your whole life and work experience. In effect, you'll be spotlighting your value as a candidate;
- Separate more space for your applicable academic background and certificates to show you have the technical know-how;
- Ensure that within your objective, you've defined why you'll like the job and how you'll be the perfect match for it. Always ensure you've tailored your CV to individual applications.
Looking for more good examples for your first job? We'll show you how other candidates, with less professional experience, have created their job-winning CVs.
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PRO TIP
Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your fast food CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your fast food CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your fast food CV:
Cash Handling
Food Safety Knowledge
Customer Service
Point of Sale Systems
Inventory Management
Cooking and Food Preparation
Cleaning and Sanitation
Health and Safety Regulations
Time Management
Basic Math and Calculations
Effective Communication
Teamwork
Adaptability
Stress Management
Active Listening
Problem Solving
Attention to Detail
Customer Orientation
Work Ethic
Conflict Resolution
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Listing your university education and certificates on your fast food CV
The best proof of your technical capabilities would be your education and certifications sections. Your education should list all of your relevant university degrees, followed up by their start and completion dates. Make sure to also include the name of the university/-ies you graduated from. If you happen to have less professional experience (or you deem it would be impressive and relevant to your application), spotlight in the education section:
- that you were awarded a "First" degree;
- industry-specific coursework and projects;
- extracurricular clubs, societies, and activities.
When selecting your certificates, first ask yourself how applicable they'd be to the role. Ater your initial assessment, write the certificate and institution name. Don't miss out on including the completion date. In the below panel, we've curated relevant examples of industry-leading certificates.
PRO TIP
Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
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Key takeaways
Write your professional fast food CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
