One specific CV challenge faced by the hospitality sector involves the effective showcasing of diverse customer service skills in a concise format. Our guide offers tailored strategies to highlight your unique experiences, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers in this dynamic industry.
Learn how to create your next hospitality CV by:
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Resume examples for hospitality
Explore additional hospitality cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Entry-Level Hospitality Associate
- Content presentation is crisp and well-organized - The CV presents information in a structured and concise manner, making it easy for readers to quickly understand the candidate's qualifications. The use of bullet points under each experience and skill section ensures clarity and efficient communication of relevant details.
- Demonstrated career growth in hospitality - The candidate's career trajectory shows a clear progression within the hospitality industry, moving from a Housekeeping Supervisor to an Events Coordinator. This progression highlights the candidate’s ability to take on increasingly complex responsibilities and leadership roles, showcasing commitment and growth in their field.
- Emphasis on leadership and team management - The CV highlights significant leadership roles, such as managing teams and conducting training workshops. These experiences underscore the candidate's ability to foster a positive work environment and improve team performance, which are crucial qualities for roles in hospitality management.
Junior Hospitality Coordinator
- Comprehensive industry knowledge and practical application - The CV exemplifies Oliver's detailed understanding of event planning and hospitality through explicit entries in logistics management and client satisfaction improvements. This is enhanced by a structured layout that itemizes experience and achievements, highlighting practical application in real-world scenarios.
- Diverse skill set with a focus on logistics and coordination - Oliver's skill set is extensive and covers essentials like Microsoft Office, relationship building, and inventory management, bolstered by hands-on technical skills in audiovisual setup. This broad range allows for a multifaceted approach to managing and improving event outcomes.
- Solid demonstration of career progression and adaptability - Oliver's career trajectory shows clear growth from an Administrative Assistant to a Hospitality Coordinator, indicating adaptability and a proactive approach to career development. Each role demonstrates increased responsibility and complex project management, showcasing his commitment to the industry.
Trainee Hospitality Consultant
- Content presentation with a strategic focus - The CV is structured to present a clear, concise overview of the candidate's expertise, particularly in sales and recruitment. By organizing information in a logical sequence—starting with personal details, summary, and gradually leading to specific experiences and education—its clarity aids the reader in quickly grasping significant career highlights and contributions.
- Career trajectory showcasing progression and adaptability - Henry White's career path reveals a consistent upward trajectory from a Business Development Officer to a Senior Sales Consultant. Each role demonstrates not only growth and promotions but also an adaptive capability to undertake increasingly complex responsibilities in diverse environments, moving from general business development to specialized recruitment consultation.
- Accomplishments with strategic business impact - The CV provides bullet points that detail achievements with substantial business implications, beyond mere numerical representations. For instance, the implementation of a CRM system leading to increased efficiency and improved revenue streams highlights forward-thinking and the ability to catalyze organizational change, reinforcing the candidate’s value as more than just a team member but a transformative leader.
Experienced Hospitality Analyst
- Cohesive Structure and Clarity - Chloe Bell’s CV stands out with its clear and organized structure, making it easy to digest. Each section is distinctly categorized, which allows for quick access to vital information, from professional experience to educational background. The concise language and bullet-point format enhance readability, ensuring that key accomplishments and skills are highlighted effectively.
- Progressive Career Development - The CV details a strong career trajectory in the hospitality and event management sectors, showing Chloe’s growth from an Event Coordinator to a Data and Analytics Manager. Her progression is marked by increased responsibilities and more complex roles, reflecting her ability to take on and manage intricate tasks, ultimately underlining her capacity for leadership and advancement within the industry.
- Data-Driven Achievements and Business Impact - The CV effectively marries achievements with measurable business outcomes. Noteworthy accomplishments include a significant increase in reporting accuracy by 25% and a boost in ticket sales by 30% through predictive modeling. Each achievement is tied to a business impact, demonstrating Chloe's ability to drive efficiency and profitability, a critical asset in any analytical role within the hospitality industry.
By Role
Hospitality Manager
- Impressive Career Progression - Florence Knight's CV showcases a clear and upward career trajectory through roles such as Catering Operations Coordinator, Senior Catering Manager, and ultimately, Catering and Hospitality Manager. Each position reflects a step up in responsibilities, highlighting growth opportunities seized within reputable companies in the industry.
- Strong Emphasis on Financial Acumen - The CV places significant focus on budget management and fiscal performance improvements. Florence consistently demonstrates her ability to manage and enhance large budgets, showcasing her strategic cost analysis and effective vendor negotiations, leading to improvements like a 10% boost in fiscal performance.
- Leadership and Team Development - A considerable portion of the CV is dedicated to showcasing leadership abilities. Florence’s experience includes leading teams of up to 20 professionals, where she implemented training programs that not only boosted team efficiency but also improved employee retention by 25%, indicative of her strong leadership and team-building skills.
Hospitality Coordinator
- Clear Content Presentation and Structure - The CV is exceptionally well-organized, featuring distinct sections with concise bullet points that highlight key responsibilities and achievements. The clarity and brevity of each entry ensure that important information is communicated efficiently, which is beneficial for hiring managers scanning for valuable insights quickly.
- Notable Career Trajectory - Florence Knight's career progression illustrates a clear upward trajectory within the catering and events management industry. Starting as an Operations Assistant and growing into a Catering Manager showcases her ability to leverage initial experiences into leadership roles, demonstrating personal and professional growth within the industry.
- Industry-Specific Tools and Methodologies - The CV highlights Florence's proficiency with essential industry tools such as MS Office and advanced inventory management systems. Additionally, it mentions effective vendor negotiation strategies and supplier relationship management, indicating her strategic approach to operational challenges within catering management.
Hospitality Consultant
- Clear and Structured Content Presentation - The CV is exceptionally well-organized, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, and achievements. Each experience entry includes concise bullet points that effectively convey the candidate's key responsibilities and successes in a clear manner, ensuring the reader can quickly grasp the scope and impact of their work.
- Demonstrates Strategic Growth and Industry Expertise - Ruby Gibson's career trajectory illustrates a clear path of growth from a Sales Consultant to a Hospitality Sales Manager. Each role builds upon the last, showcasing an upward progression with an increasing focus on leadership and strategic sales management, which is critical for roles in the hospitality and sales sectors.
- Industry-Specific Methodologies and CRM Expertise - The CV highlights specific tools and methodologies that are crucial in the hospitality sales industry, such as CRM systems and custom sales training programs. By developing and implementing a CRM system that reduced response time significantly, Ruby demonstrates a deep understanding of how to leverage technology to enhance client relationships and drive sales.
Hospitality Analyst
- Structured Content Presentation - The CV displays an organized and succinct structure, clearly separating sections for easy navigation. Each role within the experience section is accompanied by well-defined responsibilities and achievements, ensuring that the reader can quickly understand the candidate's impact and contributions.
- Career Growth in Hospitality Contracts - Daniel Baker's career trajectory highlights consistent upward growth within the hospitality industry, focusing on contracts and regulations. His progression from a Contract Coordinator to a Contract Analyst at notable companies demonstrates a career path marked by increasing responsibility and expertise.
- Effective Use of Industry Tools and Skills - The CV emphasizes Daniel's proficiency in specific industry tools like Salesforce and analytical platforms, showcasing his technical depth in contract negotiation and procurement processes. This highlights his ability to leverage technology to enhance efficiency and informed decision-making within his roles.
Hospitality Director
- Clear demonstration of leadership skills - Isabelle's CV effectively highlights her strong leadership capabilities, having led teams to success in both Live Nation UK and IMG Sports. Her ability to enhance client satisfaction and manage cross-functional teams demonstrates her aptitude for driving performance and fostering a collaborative environment.
- Comprehensive experience in sports and entertainment - The career trajectory showcases a consistent path in the sports and entertainment industry, positioning Isabelle as a specialist. Her experiences with major companies like Live Nation UK and IMG Sports, coupled with a focused academic background, solidify her expertise and commitment to this sector.
- Application of data-driven strategies - The CV highlights Isabelle's impressive use of advanced data management systems and strategic ticketing insights, which resulted in increased revenue and client satisfaction. Her ability to adapt technical knowledge to achieve business objectives is a distinctive asset in the hospitality and events industry.
Hospitality Executive
- Strong focus on client satisfaction and efficiency improvements - Sienna West's CV emphasizes achievements that reflect a keen ability to enhance client experiences, as seen in her track record of increasing client satisfaction scores by 25% and reducing booking conflicts by 20%. These results underline her impact on operational efficiency and her direct contribution to business success through improved service delivery.
- Clear demonstration of career progression and leadership development - The career trajectory showcases a purposeful climb from a Customer Service Representative to a Hospitality Front Office Manager. This progression indicates her growing responsibilities and leadership roles, such as managing a team of associates and implementing service improvements, illustrating her capability to handle increased levels of responsibility effectively.
- Emphasis on adaptability and cross-functional competencies - West's background includes a diverse set of experiences across different roles and responsibilities, from event coordination to vendor negotiations. This demonstrates her ability to adapt to various functions within hospitality management, making her a versatile asset capable of thriving in multiple aspects of field representation and customer service.
Hospitality Sales Manager
- Structured and Concise Layout - The CV excels in clarity and organization by providing a straightforward structure that highlights key sections such as experience, education, skills, courses, achievements, languages, and passions. Each section is clearly defined, making it easy for recruiters to locate the relevant information efficiently.
- Steady Career Progression and Leadership Development - Ethan Palmer's CV demonstrates a clear upward trajectory within the hospitality industry. His journey from Sales Executive to Sales Manager showcases consistent growth, with promotions reflecting increased responsibilities and leadership capabilities at prominent hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Radisson.
- Diverse Skillset with Industry-Specific Expertise - The CV underscores Ethan's unique capabilities, including proficiency in audio-visual solutions and CRM processes tailored for the hospitality sector. This specialized knowledge complements his core strengths in sales strategy and customer relationship management, enhancing his value as a sales leader.
Hospitality Marketing Manager
- Clear Structure and Conciseness - The CV is organized in a precise manner, with distinct sections for personal information, summary, experience, education, skills, and more. Each section contains concise bullet points that highlight crucial achievements, skills, and professional history, making it easy to navigate and understand.
- Career Growth and Industry Relevance - James Lewis's career trajectory indicates significant growth within the hospitality sector, with progressive roles from Marketing Coordinator to Senior Marketing Executive. This progression reflects a strategic understanding of the industry, underscoring capabilities in both leadership and career development.
- Strategic Achievements with Quantifiable Impact - The CV effectively communicates key business contributions, such as driving a 25% increase in revenue and boosting hotel occupancy by 15% through strategic marketing campaigns. These achievements underscore a deep understanding of market dynamics and the ability to achieve measurable business outcomes.
Hospitality Project Manager
- Strategically Structured Content Presentation - The CV is meticulously organized, beginning with a succinct summary that sets the stage by emphasizing Jacob Roberts' extensive experience and core competencies. Each section flows logically, with clear headings and bullet points that enhance readability and allow for quick navigation through his accomplishments and skills, making it easy for potential employers to pinpoint key information.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Jacob's career progression is highlighted through ascending job titles and responsibilities, such as moving from Assistant Project Manager to Project Manager and finally to Senior Hospitality Project Manager. This trajectory not only underscores his growth within the industry but also demonstrates a robust blend of experience in both project management and hospitality construction, indicating a solid commitment to his field.
- Impressive Achievements with Tangible Business Impact - The CV effectively showcases Jacob's ability to deliver substantial business impact through his achievements. From managing multimillion-pound projects to improving cost efficiency by reducing resource costs by 12%, each accomplishment is tied to concrete results like increased stakeholder satisfaction and enhanced compliance rates, reflecting his significant contributions to organizational success.
Hospitality Trainer
- Logical Organization and Clarity - The CV stands out with its well-organized structure, making it easy to understand Sophia Foster's qualifications and achievements. Each section is clearly delineated with concise details, allowing the reader to quickly grasp her professional experience and skills without being overwhelmed by information.
- Dynamic Career Progression - Sophia's career trajectory reflects a consistent growth within the health and safety industry, starting as a Food Safety and Health Consultant and advancing to a Health & Safety Trainer. Her progression signifies an increasing scope of responsibilities and expertise, showcasing her ability to handle more complex roles over time.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The CV highlights significant achievements like a 40% reduction in workplace accidents and a 30% decrease in incident reports. These accomplishments demonstrate her ability to implement effective safety measures, translating to substantial business benefits such as improved compliance and operational efficiency.
Hospitality Supervisor
- Career Growth and Industry Consistency - Samuel’s career trajectory is remarkable for its consistent advancement within the hospitality industry. His promotion from Catering Supervisor to Assistant Manager and finally to Front of House Supervisor demonstrates a clear pathway of growth, marked by increasing responsibility and leadership roles. His steady progression highlights a strong commitment to and promotion within the hospitality sector.
- Impactful Achievements with Quantifiable Results - The CV highlights significant achievements throughout Samuel’s career, demonstrating his ability to generate tangible business results. From achieving a 15% increase in customer satisfaction to reducing staff turnover by 25%, these metrics indicate a professional who not only meets but exceeds business objectives. His efforts in reducing inventory costs and boosting daily sales further showcase his operational acumen and business impact.
- Comprehensive Skills and Adaptability - Samuel's CV presents a robust skill set that blends core hospitality and managerial abilities with adaptability across functions. Skills such as customer service, team motivation, operations management, and upselling are well-documented, showcasing his versatility in handling various aspects of hospitality management. Additionally, his proficiency in both English and Spanish reflects a cultural adaptability crucial for customer service roles.
Hospitality Officer
- Succinct and Robust Presentation - The CV presents information in a structured and concise manner, with clear sections for experience, education, skills, and achievements. Each section is well-organized, maintaining a balance between detail and brevity, effectively ensuring the reader can easily digest the key qualifications and accomplishments of the candidate.
- Consistent Career Progression - Freya Richardson's career trajectory demonstrates consistent growth within the hospitality sector, moving from a Senior Hospitality Assistant to a Hospitality Officer. This progression, along with the shift from operational roles to more strategic positions, reflects not only advancement in responsibilities but also the accumulation of leadership skills.
- Emphasis on Soft Skills and Leadership - The CV highlights significant soft skills such as relationship-building, team leadership, and excellent communication. These attributes are underscored by Freya’s ability to enhance team productivity, resident satisfaction, and to lead community projects, which demonstrate her capacity to inspire and organize people towards shared goals.
Hospitality Assistant
- Consistency in Professional Growth - Eva Fisher's career trajectory is marked by a steady growth from a Restaurant Host to a Hospitality Supervisor. Each position held showcases a clear advancement in responsibilities and leadership, reflecting her ability to adapt and excel in dynamic settings.
- Impactful Operational Strategies - The CV highlights innovative strategies such as implementing a customer feedback system and developing a quick-reference guide for staff, which resulted in noticeable improvements in service efficiency and customer satisfaction. These achievements emphasize her strategic approach to transforming operational processes with lasting business impact.
- Diverse Skill Set and Cross-Functional Collaboration - The document highlights a range of skills from managing inventory to collaborating with chefs and marketing teams. Eva’s experience in cross-functional roles, along with certifications in food safety and service excellence, underscores her adaptability and comprehensive understanding of the hospitality industry.
Formatting your hospitality CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional hospitality CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :
- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional hospitality CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
PRO TIP
Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a hospitality CV
- Personal Statement details your passion for hospitality, giving employers a glimpse into your enthusiasm and commitment to the industry.
- Employment History showcases your previous roles and achievements, emphasising your experience in hospitality settings.
- Customer Service Skills highlight your ability to interact positively with guests, a core competency in hospitality roles.
- Hospitality Qualifications list relevant formal training, demonstrating your knowledge base and dedication to professional development.
- Languages Spoken is a valuable section indicating your ability to communicate with a diverse clientele, which is crucial in hospitality.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Emphasise your customer service skills, showcasing times when you've provided exceptional service, resolved conflicts, or received positive feedback from guests or management.
- Highlight your ability to work in fast-paced environments, including specific situations where you've managed high volumes of customers efficiently without compromising service quality.
- Demonstrate your knowledge of health and safety regulations, particularly any certifications you hold such as food handling or alcohol service, which are vital in the hospitality sector.
- Showcase your adaptability and flexibility by providing examples of when you've covered multiple roles or adapted to unexpected changes, including taking on extra shifts or learning new skills quickly.
- Include language skills and any experience with international clientele, as fluency in multiple languages and cultural sensitivity are great advantages in the hospitality industry.
Recommended reads:
What information should you include in your hospitality CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their hospitality CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for hospitality:
- Executive Chef | Culinary Excellence | Menu Development | Health & Safety | 10+ Years of Diverse Experience
- Hotel General Manager | Operational Leadership | Revenue Management | Guest Satisfaction | Hospitality Management Degree
- Senior Event Coordinator | Corporate Events Specialist | Project Management | 7+ Years in Event Planning
- Front Office Supervisor | Guest Relations Expert | Multilingual | Team Leadership | 5 Years Front Desk Experience
- Housekeeping Manager | Quality Control | Staff Training | Resource Management | Hospitality Industry Veteran
- Bar Manager | Mixology Enthusiast | Inventory Control | License & Certification | Over 8 Years of Dynamic Experience
Choosing your opening statement: a hospitality CV summary or objective
At the top one third of your CV, you have the chance to make a more personable impression on recruiters by selecting between:
- Summary - or those three to five sentences that you use to show your greatest achievements. Use the CV summary if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience and wish to highlight your greatest successes;
- Objective - provides you with up to five sentences to state your professional aims and mission in the company you're applying for
CV summaries for a hospitality job:
- With over 10 years of dedicated experience in luxury hotel management, proficient in leading high-performance teams to elevate guest satisfaction and operational efficiency, I have proudly spearheaded the turnaround of the Ritz-Carlton’s guest services department, increasing guest retention rates by 25%.
- Passionate culinary professional with 7 years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, I bring expertise in menu development and kitchen management, having successfully launched an innovative farm-to-table concept that boosted our restaurant’s reputation and increased annual revenue by 30%.
- Meticulous financial analyst with a decade of experience in the fast-paced securities sector, eager to apply a keen eye for detail and exceptional numerical skills to enhance the financial operations and strategic planning within the hospitality industry, aiming to contribute to sustainable revenue growth and cost control.
- Award-winning marketing manager transitioning from the competitive tech startup environment to hospitality, with an impressive track record of creating viral campaigns that bolstered user engagement by 70%. Dedicated to transferring storytelling skills and digital expertise to craft compelling brand experiences in tourism and guest services.
- As an ambitious individual with a vibrant passion for travel and a customer-centered mindset, I am eager to embark on a career in hospitality management. With a strong educational background in business administration and exceptional interpersonal skills, my objective is to contribute to creating memorable guest experiences while developing a deep understanding of the luxury hospitality sector.
- I am an enthusiastic graduate in International Relations, with a flair for languages and cross-cultural communication, seeking to enter the hospitality industry. Open to learning, I aim to leverage my organizational skills and adaptability to thrive in a dynamic environment and make a lasting positive impact on guest services.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your hospitality CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Highlight customer service skills, showcasing specific instances where you enhanced guest satisfaction and addressed customer needs effectively.
- Detail your experience with booking and reservation systems, emphasising your ability to manage occupancy and maximise revenue through efficient room allocation.
- Include any experience with event planning and coordination, outlining your ability to handle logistics, catering, and guest accommodations seamlessly.
- Mention your proficiency in multiple languages if applicable, as this is a significant advantage in communicating with a diverse clientele.
- Describe your leadership experience, especially if you've managed teams, by mentioning how you motivated staff and maintained high service standards.
- Document your knowledge of health and safety protocols, particularly in food handling and preparation if relevant to your hospitality role.
- Exemplify your ability to handle financial transactions, balance registers, and manage budgets within the context of the hospitality industry.
- Showcase your adaptability and problem-solving skills, illustrating situations where you successfully managed unexpected challenges or guest complaints.
- Reference your experience with cutting-edge hospitality technology, such as property management systems, point of sale systems, or online booking platforms.
Work Experience
Hospitality Services Manager
The Ritz-Carlton, London
04/2017-08/2020
- Improved guest satisfaction scores by implementing a new customer engagement strategy which raised our hotel's rating by 15% on travel review platforms.
- Led a team of 20 hospitality staff, overseeing scheduling, training, and performance evaluations, which decreased staff turnover by 25%.
- Managed the coordination and execution of 50+ high-profile business conferences, enhancing the hotel's reputation for excellence in event hospitality.
Work Experience
Hospitality Operations Supervisor
Hilton London Metropole
01/2015-11/2018
- Directed the development and launch of a new loyalty program, increasing repeat customer visits by 30% within the first year.
- Negotiated with vendors to reduce costs for amenities and supplies by 20%, significantly increasing the profit margins for hospitality services.
- Spearheaded the renovation project of the guest lounges leading to an enhanced visitor experience and a 10% upsurge in lounge usage.
Work Experience
Hospitality Coordinator
Marriott Hotel Park Lane, London
06/2014-12/2017
- Launched and managed a guest feedback system, collating over 1,200 responses and identifying key areas for service improvement.
- Orchestrated a staff upskill program that increased the team’s efficiency by 35%, resulting in a smoother guest check-in/out process.
- Developed a resource allocation plan that optimized the use of hospitality facilities, leading to a 20% increase in event bookings.
Work Experience
Hospitality Team Leader
InterContinental London
02/2009-05/2013
- Revitalized the hotel's breakfast service offering, yielding a 50% increase in breakfast up-sell rates.
- Conducted training for a multicultural team, improving communication skills and cultural awareness, and decreasing guest complaints by 40%.
- Implemented energy-saving measures across the hospitality department, cutting down utility expenses by 15%.
Work Experience
Senior Hospitality Associate
Premier Inn, London
07/2013-07/2016
- Cultivated strategic partnerships with local tour operators to provide guests with unique experiences, enhancing the hotel's market position.
- Oversaw the introduction of a new property management system which increased operational efficiency by 25%.
- Managed budgeting for the hospitality department, consistently coming in under budget by 10% through careful cost control measures.
Work Experience
Hospitality Technology Manager
The Savoy, London
03/2016-Ongoing
- Revamped the wine and dine experience, driving a 20% revenue increase in the hotel's in-house restaurant.
- Pioneered a staff incentive scheme that boosted employee morale and decreased absenteeism by 18%.
- Collaborated with IT to introduce a mobile app for guest services, which has been downloaded by 70% of existing guests, improving service accessibility.
Work Experience
Assistant Hospitality Manager
Claridge's, London
11/2011-03/2015
- Organized and executed bespoke wedding packages, averaging 30 successful events a year, translating to a steady 20% year-on-year growth in the wedding segment.
- Enhanced employee training modules, which resulted in the team winning 'Best Hospitality Service' in a national competition.
- Drove a successful rebranding campaign for the hotel's lounge area, attracting a 25% increase in local non-resident clientele.
Work Experience
Hospitality Service Specialist
The Langham, London
08/2012-02/2018
- Managed an international training exchange program, increasing staff cultural competence and language skills, contributing to a 10% boost in revenue from international guests.
- Orchestrated the transition to eco-friendly hospitality supplies, resulting in a 30% reduction in waste and a positive brand recognition in the market.
- Facilitated cross-training among staff to improve flexibility and service response times, achieving an all-time high staff versatility rating.
How to ensure your hospitality CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your hospitality 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 hospitality 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 hospitality CV:
HARD SKILLS
Customer Service
Food & Beverage Knowledge
Hospitality Management
Reservation Systems
Event Planning
Problem-Solving
Multitasking
Menu Planning
Housekeeping Standards
Point of Sale (POS) Systems
SOFT SKILLS
Communication
Empathy
Flexibility
Teamwork
Attention to Detail
Leadership
Patience
Conflict Resolution
Initiative
Time Management
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Further professional qualifications for your hospitality CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your hospitality CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Recommended reads:
Key takeaways
What matters most in your hospitality CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
