Ensuring that your restaurant's CV (curriculum vitae) accurately conveys the unique skills and experiences of your staff can be quite challenging, especially when trying to attract top talent in a competitive market. Our guide offers tailored advice and examples to help you craft compelling CVs that will highlight the distinct qualifications and culinary expertise of your team, setting your establishment apart.
- Design and format your professional restaurant CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading restaurant CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your restaurant CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
How complex should the format of your restaurant CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your restaurant CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
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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 restaurant CV
- Relevant Work Experience shows your history in hospitality.
- Notable Achievements highlight your success and impact.
- Menu Development Skills showcase culinary creativity and knowledge.
- Customer Service Excellence proves your ability to please guests.
- Certifications and Training display formal qualifications and learning.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight any culinary training or food safety certifications you possess, as these qualifications are critical in demonstrating your ability to uphold restaurant standards and compliance.
- Showcase your experience with specific cuisines or restaurant types, whether fine dining, fast-casual, or ethnic specialities, to indicate your versatility and expertise within the industry.
- Detail your customer service skills, emphasising any roles where you've directly interacted with patrons, managed complaints, or contributed to a pleasant dining experience.
- Include any experience with food preparation, menu planning, inventory management, or staff supervision to demonstrate your all-around capabilities in various aspects of restaurant operations.
- Mention your ability to work under pressure during peak hours, adaptability to changing situations, and teamwork, as these are fundamental attributes for most roles within a restaurant setting.
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Our checklist for the must-have information in your restaurant CV header
Right at the very top of your restaurant CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for restaurant:
- Head Chef | Culinary Arts Degree | Innovative Menu Design | 10+ Years Progressive Experience
- Restaurant Manager | Customer Service Excellence | P&L Management | Level 4 Hospitality Manager Apprenticeship
- Pastry Chef | Artisan Bread & Dessert Expertise | City & Guilds Level 3 | 5 Years' Experience
- Sommelier | WSET Level 3 Certified | Wine List Curation | International Wine Acumen | Senior Position
- Sous Chef | Bistro Cuisine Specialist | Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate | 8 Years Culinary Journey
- Bar Manager | Mixology Innovator | Cask Marque Accreditation | Team Leadership | Hospitality Management Diploma
Choosing your opening statement: a restaurant 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 restaurant job:
- Seasoned Chef with over 15 years of experience spearheading the culinary team at a Michelin-starred London eatery. Specialises in classical French cuisine with a modern twist, and adept in menu development and food cost management. Proud winner of the 'Best Innovative Dish' award at the International Gastronomy Festival, 2021.
- Expert Restaurant Manager with a decade-long track record at high-volume New York bistros, renowned for elevating customer satisfaction ratings by 30%. Adept at staff leadership and training, inventory control, and dining room management. Achieved 'Restaurant of the Year' twice under my stewardship at Gusto's.
- Dedicated IT Professional seeking to apply extensive problem-solving skills and a customer-focused attitude to the restaurant industry. Brings 8 years of team management and tech innovation prowess to create efficient restaurant systems. Keen to adapt my vast knowledge to enhance dining experiences and operational functionality.
- Engaged Marketing Expert with 6 years' experience in brand strategy and social media outreach, aiming to transfer my skills into the restaurant sector. Excited about combining a passion for gourmet food with proven strategies to drive business growth and brand loyalty. Extended record of leading successful promotional campaigns for food brands.
- Eager to embark on a career in restaurant hospitality, bringing a fresh perspective and untapped passion for culinary arts and guest services. Objective: To grow within a dynamic team where I can contribute to delivering exceptional dining experiences while developing my skills in a hands-on environment.
- Ambitious and driven individual with no prior restaurant experience, seeking to delve into the vibrant world of gastronomy. Objective: To leverage my strong communication and organizational skills to excel in providing top-tier customer service, all while absorbing valuable industry knowledge and techniques.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your restaurant 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
- Managed a team of 15 staff members, ensuring seamless day-to-day operations and consistently receiving positive feedback on team performance and guest satisfaction.
- Implemented cost-control measures that reduced wastage by 20%, significantly improving the restaurant's bottom line without compromising on food quality.
- Orchestrated a menu redesign that led to a 30% increase in sales, using customer feedback and food trend analysis to introduce popular new dishes.
- Trained new employees in providing exceptional customer service, resulting in a 40% increase in repeat customers within six months.
- Developed a local sourcing strategy that strengthened community relations and ensured the freshest ingredients, enhancing the overall dining experience.
- Successfully navigated health and safety inspections, maintaining a 5-star hygiene rating and instilling rigorous standards among the staff.
- Spearheaded a digital marketing campaign which increased our online presence and bookings by 50%, utilising social media, email marketing, and a revamped website.
- Streamlined kitchen operations with a new inventory system that cut food preparation time by 25%, allowing for quicker customer turnaround during peak hours.
- Coordinated with event planners to host private functions that boosted off-peak revenue by 35% and showcased our versatility in catering for diverse occasions.
- Successfully managed a staff of 20 waiters and 10 kitchen personnel, ensuring top-notch customer service and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.
- Implemented a new inventory management system that decreased food waste by 25% while maintaining the consistent quality of menu offerings.
- Collaborated with the chef to develop and launch 5 new seasonal menus, helping to drive a 15% increase in repeat customers.
- Coordinated and executed over 200 private dining events, consistently receiving positive feedback and driving a 20% growth in event bookings annually.
- Implemented staff training programmes that improved service times by 30 seconds per customer and increased the customer satisfaction score to 95%.
- Negotiated with suppliers to reduce costs by 10%, which increased the restaurant's profit margin without compromising on the quality of ingredients.
- Enhanced digital marketing strategies, resulting in a 40% increase in website traffic and a significant boost in reservations through online channels.
- Conducted thorough market analysis to reposition the restaurant in a competitive market, leading to a 10% rise in average customer spend.
- Spearheaded a sustainability initiative that cut down energy use by 20%, demonstrating environmental responsibility and attracting eco-conscious customers.
- Oversaw daily operations for a restaurant seating 150 patrons, maintaining exceptional standards in customer service.
- Developed a comprehensive staff scheduling system that optimised shift patterns, reducing overtime costs by 15%.
- Successfully launched a loyalty programme that contributed to a 25% growth in repeat patronage within the first year of operation.
- Directed a team in delivering a farm-to-table experience that raised local supplier engagement by 50% and reinforced the restaurant’s community-focused brand.
- Implemented health and safety protocols during a pandemic which allowed the restaurant to operate safely and exceed local authority inspections.
- Leveraged social media to enhance the restaurant's online presence, generating a monthly average of 5000 interactions.
- Managed the budgeting process for operating costs, achieving a reduction in expenses by 8% through strategic planning and cost control measures.
- Fostered community relations by organising monthly culinary events that highlighted local artisans, drawing in an additional 100 patrons per event.
- Analysed customer feedback to introduce a popular dietary-specific menu that accounted for 20% of total sales within 6 months of launch.
- Designed and executed a marketing campaign for a new fusion menu that increased overall restaurant revenue by 18% within the first quarter.
- Coordinated with the kitchen team to streamline preparation processes, reducing the average meal delivery time by 10 minutes during peak hours.
- Initiated a customer feedback loop that led to a bespoke dining experience, increasing customer retention rates by 30%.
- Enhanced the dining ambiance using innovative interior design changes, which were pivotal in winning the 'Best Restaurant Atmosphere' award in 2019.
- Optimised menu pricing based on detailed cost and profit analysis, amplifying the restaurant's net income by 12% within one fiscal year.
- Mentored and developed a high-performance team, with two staff members being promoted to management roles under my guidance.
Writing your CV without professional experience for your first job or when switching industries
There comes a day, when applying for a job, you happen to have no relevant experience, whatsoever. Yet, you're keen on putting your name in the hat. What should you do? Candidates who part-time experience , internships, and volunteer work.
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PRO TIP
If applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your restaurant CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your restaurant CV:
Food preparation
Hygiene and sanitation
Inventory management
Customer service
Point of sale (POS) operation
Knowledge of food pairings
Menu planning
Cooking techniques
Safety regulations compliance
Staff training and development
Communication
Teamwork
Flexibility
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Time management
Leadership
Multitasking
Stress tolerance
Customer orientation
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your restaurant CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your restaurant CV:
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your restaurant 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.
