Life as a front desk employee is demanding yet simultaneously rewarding. You're the friendly face that greets weary travelers as they bound through the front door impatient to reach their rooms. Whether early in the morning or late at night, you solve problems and make sure guests have what they need to leave a glowing review of the hotel. To win such an important outward-facing position, you'll need a stellar hotel front desk employee resume.
Luckily, Resume.io is here to help with 300+ resume examples for every stage of your career no matter where it may lead. This guide, along with our hotel front desk employee resume example is designed to help you create a stellar application that impresses hiring managers and lands you the job.
Here's what we'll cover:
- The essential sections of a resume sample and how to write each of them
- The best format for hotel front desk employee resumes
- How to create a resume summary that sells your skills and experience
- Design and layout tips that are as classy as a 5-star hotel
What does a hotel front desk employee do?
Hotel front desk employees are responsible for handling a variety of duties relate to the front desk operation of a hotel. They interact with hotel patrons, and work to ensure their stay is satisfactory. Hotel front desk employees typically serve as the first point of contact for hotel guests and visitors. Hotel front desk employees are expected to be knowledgeable about hotel amenities, events, and promotions. They should also be knowledgeable about hospitality and catering and should be ready to the area surrounding the hotel, and be ready to suggest restaurants and entertainment venues. Hotel front desk employees handle guest questions and inquiries, and strive to ensure the best possible hotel experience for all guests.
Hotel front desk employees work with a variety of other hotel staff including housekeepers. An ideal candidate possesses excellent communication skills and has wonderful phone etiquette.
In 2020, about a quarter million people were employed as front desk employees in the U.S. and made roughly 13 dollars per hour on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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How to write a hotel front desk employee resume
A good resume sample for a hotel front desk employee should contain the following sections:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
By organizing your resume sample in this manner, you can be sure a hiring manager will find the sections they are looking for and that the most vital information will be covered in your resume.
A winning hotel front desk employee resume should showcase a candidate’s ability to support the satisfaction of hotel guests by providing outstanding customer service. They should be adept in working in hospitality environments, where the satisfaction of the customer is the number one goal. The resume should highlight the candidate’s friendly and outgoing attitude, as well as their commitment to learning about hotel offerings and amenities. The ideal candidate is friendly, and willing and able to provide guests with hospitable assistance at all times. A winning hotel front desk employee resume should showcase a candidate’s ability to remain patient and professional in high-stress situations.
Choosing the best resume format for hotel front desk employees
When it comes to picking the best resume format as a hotel front desk employee, you have a few options. If you've worked in the industry for some length of time, you'll likely use the reverse chronological format. This structure prominently features an "Employment History" section listing your relevant positions from most recent to oldest. This outline shows a hiring manager that you've developed on-the-job skills that can quickly be applied to your next role.
If you don't yet have any formal experience as a hotel front desk employee or in another related hospitality role like doorman or concierge, you may consider using the functional resume format. This structure starts with a general "Experience" section where you can list your skills without having to attribute them to specific employment. This format allows you to share your strengths without worrying about completing an entire work history section.
If you do have a small amount of related experience, you'll likely want to use a combination resume format which takes elements of both structures and weaves them together.
If you're applying to a large hotel chain, there's a good chance the management team won't be the first to lay eyes on your resume. Many online applications feature built-in resume scanners called ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) that search for keywords in resumes and pass only the top ranking ones on to the HR team. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to avoid this roadblock:
- Read the job description closely and take note of any skills or duties emphasized by the hiring manager – these are the keywords.
- Place the keywords using the exact spelling from the job description into the appropriate resume sections
- Use common section headings like "Employment History" or "Skills" so that the ATS knows where to look for each piece of information
Even if you're applying to a local hotel chain where you'll need to send in your resume by email, placing the exact skills and requirements into your resume is the best way to land the interview.
Resume summary example
Just like a friendly greeting at the front desk, the resume summary warms the hiring manager up to what you have to offer. Give a taste of your relevant achievements, training and skills here – hotel management can read more later on. These 3-5 sentences are also a great place to inject personality into your resume. Show a hiring manager what it would be like to have you on their team. Remember to use as many powerful action verbs and job specific information as you can. Hotel front desk employees play a vital role in the reputation and success of hotels. Highlighting your key attributes that prove your qualifications and accomplishments here is crucial.
Check out the summary from our hotel front desk resume example below.
Experienced hotel front desk employee dedicated to delivering first class service to all hotel patrons. Bringing forth the ability to handle a variety of clerical and administrative tasks to ensure smooth hotel operations. Adept in providing patrons with optimal customer service while maintaining a friendly and helpful attitude.
Employment history sample
If you're using the reverse chronological resume format, the employment section is the place to list all positions relevant to the customer service industry, or positions that have transferable duties and/or required skills necessary for a hotel front desk employee position. Don't forget to include the job title, hotel name, location and dates worked. Underneath, you'll want to create bullet points that explain how you solved problems, handled customer needs and improved the environment of the hotel. Remember to use powerful action verbs and mention job specific accomplishments that prove you are an excellent candidate.
Check out the employment history section from our resume example below.
- Successfully managed all front desk operations.
- Arranged bookings and handled special requests.
- Greeted and assisted all guests with hospitality and unwavering assistance.
- Offered suggestions regarding dining, leisure, and entertainment.
- Maintained an organized desk area, adding to the welcoming environment of the hotel.
- Fostered strong work relationships with all hotel departments.
Hotel front desk employee resume education example
Hotel front desk employees aren't required to hold advanced degrees, but any diplomas listed in the education section help a hiring manager get a sense of your career trajectory. List all degrees and certifications here. Any honors or distinctions should be noted here as well. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor's degree, you may leave out your high school. Make sure to include the name of the degree, the school, the location and dates attended. If you're still a student, you can include your anticipated graduation date. Below is an idea of how to format your education section based on our resume example.
2004-2008 NYU, Bachelor of Communications NY, NY
While including keywords from the job description is important, make sure never to engage in the practice of "keyword stuffing." Deliberately using untrue keywords or repeating them multiple times on your resume may help you beat the ATS but it will ensure you land at the bottom of the hiring manager's pile.
CV skills example
Skills are at the heart of your job as a front desk employee, so it's no surprise that they should be featured prominently on your CV. This section often takes bullet point format so it's best for skills that can be summed up in a word or two. Review the job description carefully and look for a mix of hard and soft skills to place on your CV.
If you don't have any experience as a hotel front desk employee, you can place transferrable skills from previous positions into this section of your CV. You'll also want to focus on any personality traits you have that make you a good fit for the role. A lot of the more specific duties can be learned on the job. See our resume sample below.
- Advanced Communication Skills
- Conflict Resolution Skills
- Outstanding Hospitality Skills
- Patience
- Strong Organizational Skills
Resume layout and design
The layout and design of your resume is nearly as important as the writing, especially in an industry where appearances matter. Make sure to spend some time creating an attractive header that will prominently display your name, contact information and any other relevant details. Just like you'll want to customize your writing, you should also customize your header and layout. A resume for the front desk employee at a hostel probably shouldn't look the same as someone hoping to work at the Ritz-Carlton. If you're not a trained graphic designer, you can check out our resume templates to give yourself a head start and ensure a professional outcome.
- Keep a balance of white space to text to avoid visual fatigue
- Add a splash of color if appropriate for the hotel brand
- Keep you font size between 10 and 12 point
- Create a resume longer than one page
- Add a photo of yourself unless common in the country where you plan to work
- Submit your resume without proofreading for grammar and spelling
Key takeaways for a hotel front desk employee resume
- A resume sample for a hotel front desk employee should convey your personality, skills and relevant experience.
- Write each section using action verbs and try to quantify your achievements with numbers whenever possible.
- Look for key skills from the job description and place them in the appropriate resume sections.
- A great header, as seen in our resume example, can show a hiring manager you really care about the position.
