The hospitality sector was one of the hardest hit through the pandemic, but the government has committed to realising a new vision for the hospitality sector in coming years. As the sector recovers and regains resilience, there’s never been a better time to create your hospitality CV and land your next position.
Whether you work in a restaurant, hotel, cruise ship, amusement park or resort, Resume.io has you covered with this hospitality CV example and writing guide:
- What does a hospitality professional do?
- How to write a hospitality CV (tips and tricks)
- The best format for a hospitality CV
- Advice on each section of your CV (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional CV layout and design hints.
You can find even more detailed advice in our dozens of occupation-specific CV examples and writing guides designed to help you advance your career with ease.
How to write a hospitality CV
A great CV for a hospitality job will contain many of the basic sections found on most CVs including:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
This structure allows the hiring manager to easily find the information they are looking for and evaluate your candidacy in just a few minutes. While this hospitality CV example and guide give general guidance for a range of industry positions, it’s important to tailor the content of your CV to the specific role you are applying for.
Make sure to offer examples and skills that are most relevant to the employer’s needs and interests. The job description is a great place to start when it comes to finding out what the company cares about most. You should also adapt your tone (especially in the summary) to the employer’s to make it evident that you are the right fit.
Choosing the best CV format for a hospitality position
Since many hospitality workers aren’t required to have formal training in the field, it is your previous experience that tells the employer whether you have the necessary skills to handle the role. That means that the reverse chronological CV format is the best choice for hospitality positions.
The reverse chronological format focuses on the employment history section where you are able to showcase your relevant previous positions, going back up through the past 10 years. This structure is preferred by hiring managers and the CV scanners in use at most large-scale hotel chains, restaurants and other businesses.
However, reverse chronological is not your only option. If you only have one or two previous experiences to show, you may opt for the hybrid format which starts with the skills section to show the hiring manager what your key abilities are before moving on to a shorter employment history section. The functional CV format should be reserved for students or first-time job seekers applying for smaller or more local hospitality operations.
One more obstacle the right CV format can help you overcome is the Applicant Tracking System or ATS built into most online application portals. These algorithms scan for keywords provided by the employer and rank your CV against the other candidates. Only the highest-scoring advance to the hiring manager for review. Avoid being filtered out by creating a well-organised CV format with commonly used section titles.
CV summary example
The summary is a key section of your hospitality CV because it is likely the only place you’ll be able to convey your personality and professional demeanour that are essential to many hospitality roles. The summary is also one of the few places you’ll be able to speak directly to the hiring manager and express your achievements, goals and interests.
When applying to a large hotel chain or even a restaurant with multiple posted openings, don’t forget to specify which role you’re after in your summary. This will help a hiring manager quickly categorise your CV and – bonus tip! – the name of the employer and the job title are often keywords programmed into the CV scanner. Check out our CV sample below for more ideas on crafting your summary.
Experienced hospitality professional with expertise in front desk reception and concierge roles. Skilled in offering welcoming and inclusive customer service while managing multiple tasks to ensure positive guest experiences. Proficient in English, Polish, and Spanish to effectively communicate with guests from diverse backgrounds.
For another take on writing a powerful and convincing summary, take a look at our waitress CV sample or our customer service CV example.
Employment history sample
No matter how much effort you put into the other sections of your CV, there’s a good chance the employer will gravitate towards your employment history first. This is the place to communicate all your relevant experience and achievements in each of your previous roles. Make sure to list the job title, employer name, dates worked and location.
Under each subheading, it’s wise to add a list of 4-5 bullet points that detail your main responsibilities, skills and accomplishments. Make sure to cherry pick each of these examples based on your prospective employer’s needs and the duties for the new position as outlined in the job description. Add numbers and concrete information to quantify your experience. See the employment history section from our CV sample below.
Residences Concierge at The Resident Liverpool, Liverpool
July 2022 - Present
- Responded to residence owners’ and their guests’ requests for visitor information, special arrangements, or services.
- Made arrangements for transportation, reservations, and dry cleaning.
- Gathered, summarised, and provided information to residence owners and their guests about the property and the surrounding area amenities.
- Permitted access only to authorized visitors.
- Answered all calls and handled requests, questions, or concerns.
- Contacted appropriate persons to resolve calls, requests, or problems.
- Assisted with valet services for owners when requesting for their vehicles.
- Followed all company policies and procedures.
- Maintained confidentiality of proprietary information and protected company assets.
Front Desk Associate at Liverpool Consultancy Ltd, Liverpool
March 2021 - June 2022
- Served as a first point of contact for this busy consultancy firm.
- Performed a variety of administrative, reception, and office procedures.
- Managed the company calendar and booked appointments.
- Worked to promote company values and achieve a high level of customer satisfaction.
- Maintained an up-to-date knowledge of firm services and offerings.
- Assisted the manager in performing daily operations in the reception area,
- Worked well independently as well as collaboratively.
CV skills example
The skills section of your CV is where you’ll showcase your main competencies and areas of expertise. However, this section can be difficult to get right. That’s because the bullet-point format limits you to skills that can be summarised in a word or two. Make sure to avoid clichés here, and instead focus on the employer’s ideal candidate since the skills section is one of the key places the ATS looks for keywords. Include a balance of hard and soft skills to show that you are a well-rounded hospitality professional. See our CV example below.
- Hospitality Management
- Proficient in Toast and Lightspeed POS Systems
- Customer Service
- Attention to Detail and Anticipating Guests' Needs
- Strong Organisational Skills
- Multilingual Communication Skills
- Knowledge of Local Area
- Health and Safety Trained
Hard and soft skills are equally important for your hospitality CV, but what are they actually?
Soft skills are innate qualities that give you the right personality traits for the role. Your positive attitude, motivation, commitment to customer service or good communication skills fall in this category. Meanwhile, hard skills are abilities that must be learned, usually in the particular field where you plan to work. Computer software, cleaning equipment, phone systems or cooking techniques are all considered hard skills.
Hospitality CV education example
Depending on the exact role you are applying to, your hospitality CV may or may not need to show formal education. No matter the case, make sure to list all diplomas and degrees attained here. If you have completed a masters, you can leave off your secondary school education.
The education section is also the right place to mention any training you’ve completed, awards you’ve won or memberships you hold. These all give the employer more information about your background and commitment to the industry. See our education CV sample below.
HNC Hospitality Management, The City of Liverpool College, Liverpool
September 2018 - May 2021
CV layout and design
Just as the orderliness and decoration of a hotel lobby conveys quality and class, the layout and design of your CV show that you are a polished candidate ready to be taken seriously. While you don’t need to go overboard with colour or flashy elements, a well-organised layout allows the hiring manager to quickly find what they are looking for. Make sure to leave a balance of white space to text and to stick with the same professional font styles and sizes throughout.
Show that you understand the brand by choosing a CV design that conveys the same feel. You’ll want to update your style for the different openings you apply to. Luckily, a CV template can make this easy to accomplish.
Key takeaways for a hospitality CV
- As the hospitality industry continues to reinvent itself, a range of jobs have opened for candidates who can convey experience on their hospitality CV.
- The summary is the best place to speak directly to the employer and convey your expertise and personality on your CV.
- Don’t forget to quantify your experience in your employment history section to show the impact you can have.
- Check out our hospitality CV sample for more ideas on creating a page layout that catches the hiring manager’s attention.
