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5 tips to help you write a CV for a hospitality job

7 min read · Updated on October 13, 2022

To land work in the hospitality industry, try these CV tips.

2020 was a challenge for us all. However, if you work in customer service, the pandemic may have hit you especially hard. In March 2020, more than 800,000 Brits unceremoniously lost their jobs , according to the BBC; the report suggests that the hospitality sector was one of the worst affected. Going from a busy schedule of shift-work to zilch is a difficult transition. Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

With the British economy slowly but surely reopening, the hospitality jobs market is set to recover. Last month, Pizza Express announced that they would be creating 1,000 more jobs in the near future. Restaurants have opened up, and if all goes to plan, all social distancing restrictions will be eased as of 21 June.

So, are you looking for a new job? Ahead of these important milestones, you might want to start applying for hospitality roles. If you're ready to dust off your CV and give it a whirl, we've got you covered. Follow our advice on how to create a winning hospitality application.

1. Read the job posting closely

Not all hospitality jobs are created equal. Working in Costa may be quite a different experience (and require a different skill set) from working in a local cafe. Before you put figurative pen to paper and start writing your CV, you need to make sure you read the job posting closely. Look out for specific skills that the employer highlights and consider how your professional experience complements them. It may help to make notes whilst reading the job posting so you can refer to them when writing your CV.

Then, try using the exact phrases that you find in the job posting. For example, if the advert asks for a 'team player', use that phrase precisely, rather than saying that you're 'good at teamwork'. It's a small difference. However, if the employer is using an applicant tracking system , which uses keywords to filter applicants, this change could help you get past it. Put simply, that means you will have a better chance of landing that all-important interview.

2. Show some personality in your personal statement

Hospitality is all about personality. Therefore, showing that you're a people person on your CV is a smart way to stand out from the crowd. Luckily, you can use the personal statement towards the top of the document to do just that.

There are plenty of ways to slide in some personality and show a potential employer that you are the right person for the job. For example, you might want to include an interesting fact about your customer service experience or even a quote from a previous boss. Taking the time to make this statement creative ‒ rather than simply following a standard template ‒ could help you attract all the right attention.

3. Highlight hospitality-centric skills

Next up, let's take a moment to talk about the hospitality-centric skills you need to include on your CV. To give yourself the best chance of getting ahead, you should ensure that your skills section is peppered with all the traits a hospitality employer is looking for. Whilst these may vary from role to role, there are some core talents that you want to include, such as:

• Teamwork: A huge part of working in hospitality is being part of a team. Whether you're a waiter, barista or chef, you need to show that you have what it takes to be a team player and support your fellow co-workers well.
• Customer service: The customer is always right, or so the age-old saying goes. Show an employer that you're going to treat their customers with care and respect by listing this in your skills section.
• Cleaning and maintenance: In many hospitality jobs, you will be charged with cleaning up as you go. If you have prior experience of this skill, listing it on your CV helps an employer know they can trust you to be Mrs. Hinch.
• Attention to detail: It's all about the details when you work in this sector. Customers need to know that they can trust you to deliver the best possible level of service and never miss a trick.
• Organisation: Whatever job role you're working in, you will need to be as organised as possible. This skill shows that you can take care of a multitude of tasks without getting overwhelmed.
• Leadership: Have you got your eye on a management position? If so, make sure that you note your leadership skills on your CV. Showing off this trait could help you get places.

4. Mix and match hard and soft skills

Whilst we're on the topic of writing the skills section of your CV , there's an important thing to remember: You should highlight both hard and soft skills .

Hard skills are learned proficiencies that apply directly to the role at hand. They can include cleaning, organisation, table service and cooking. Soft skills, on the other hand, are more about your personality. These can include your leadership qualities, customer service style, being a 'people person' and having the motivation to work hard on every shift. It's important to strike a balance between these types of skills on your CV because they are all important.

5. Include experience (and explain gaps)

Of course, you will need to include your professional experience on your CV. Chances are, if you're a hospitality worker, you may have been on furlough or unemployed over the last year. That's completely understandable. 2020 was a year like no other, and potential employers will be expecting to see gaps in CVs when they are hiring again. Be sure to include all of your previous experience and employment up until that point. Additionally, you can include information on how you maintained your skill set whilst off the job.

For example, if you spent some of last year learning a new skill online , include that on your CV. Or, you may have spent some time volunteering in a local charity shop and bolstered your customer service skills. Alternatively, you could have completed a short course on promotions that you can bring to the table when you return to working in hospitality.

These extra details show potential employees that you are serious about your chosen career.

Bonus tip: Ask the important COVID-safety question

Of course, COVID-19 has changed the way that many of us view work and, indeed, socialising. The hospitality industry brings those two things together neatly. So, putting your safety first as you get back to work is crucial. With that in mind, when you start making conversation with a potential employer, don't be afraid to ask that burning question: 'How are you planning to protect both customers and staff?' The answer you get will give you a good idea of whether the role will be the right fit for you.

For more information on the current hospitality safety guidance, check out the government website here .

Ready to get into the hospitality industry? With things opening up all across the UK, it's a good time to start applying. As always, when writing your CV, make sure that you tailor it to each individual job posting and follow our advice here. Creating an application that turns employers' heads is the first step towards getting your next big job.

Be sure you show your best on your hospitality CV. Get a free CV critique for expert feedback.

Recommended Reading:

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Hospitality & Leisure CV Template

Build the perfect Hospitality and Leisure CV with our free template

Build the perfect Hospitality and Leisure CV with our free template [Full Name] [Home address] [Contact Number] • [Email Address]

Personal Statement

Stick to no more than four sentences in this section of your CV. “I am a professionally qualified chef with over 15 years’ experience. During this time I have worked in fine dining restaurants up to a 2 rosette standard and spent two years working for high society event caterers across Europe. I hold an up to date Level 3 Certificate in Food Hygiene, and am now looking for my first Head Chef role.”

This is your chance to talk about your qualifications, academic and vocational. This is a particularly important section for those with little experience. You should give detail about what you studied, where and when, and list them in chronological order. If you have many of one qualification, such as GCSEs or professional qualification e.g. HND in Hotel Management/NVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery etc. you might find it useful to group them together. [University Name] [Date M/Y– Date M/Y] [Degree Class] [Degree Name] [College/School Name] [Date M/Y– Date M/Y] A-levels:

[Subject] – [Grade]

[Number] GCSEs, grades [range], including Maths and English

Work Experience

Try not to repeat yourself when you are bullet pointing each job. Mix it up, and try to think of different skills/styles of environment you’ve worked in. This should be brief and, as a general rule of thumb, focus on the last five years of your career, or last three roles, in chronological order with the most recent at the top. You should highlight your key achievements and use bullet points rather than lengthy descriptions. October 2010 – Present Senior Sous Chef, REED Restaurant, London, 3 rosettes

Brief overview: [state any promotions you’ve had and your responsibilities e.g. staff training, recruitment, stock/cost control P&L, marketing strategy, managing suppliers etc.]

Environment worked within: I worked in a [size of brigade/team] to produce [style of food] in a [establishment e.g. hotel/bar/restaurant] with [status e.g. Rosette, Michelin etc.]. Or I worked on [event/contract catering/food retail/production/New Product Development] with [result].

Worked/managed [different sections/departments/teams e.g. F&B, events, reception, general/kitchen, corporate or leisure sales, revenue management etc.]

Received a [include achievements e.g. Bib Gourmand/Rosette/Michelin/Trip Advisor score, increase in revenue etc.] for [reason]

Hobbies and Interests

If you are a chef, clients would expect to see that at least one of your hobbies relates to cooking or eating out. If you work front of house it would be advised to include interests in different styles of restaurants or bars, give examples of your knowledge. “I have a keen interest in craft beer and whisky, and have recently discovered The East London Liquor Company.” Make it relevant.

References are available upon request. Download our full hospitality & leisure CV template.

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Writing A Great Hospitality CV: Our Guide

There are many different ways to make your hospitality CV stand out. In this article, we’ll share some dos and don’ts to help you write a great CV.

We’ll also run through an example CV for a hospitality role to give you some inspiration.

According to ONS statistics , approximately 1.8m people work in the UK hospitality industry – roughly 2.5% of the population and 5.5% of the workforce based on labour market figures .

Pre-pandemic in 2019, the sector generated a whopping £40.4bn in gross value added and that doesn’t even include revenue from hotels! Now the industry looks set for growth, with a CAGR of 2.8% predicted by 2027, according to data from research company GII .

Although there are plenty of people working in hospitality, that means there’s lots of competition for the best roles in restaurants, hotels, cafés, bars, clubs and so on.

To get a good job in this sector, you need a CV that does justice to your experience and skills – let’s take a look at how to make that happen.

Hospitality CV dos and don’ts

When writing a CV for hospitality roles, or any job, keep the reader in mind. Think hard about what potential employers want to see – whether you’re going for a role as an event planner, receptionist, chef, salesperson, hotel manager, bartender, etc.

• Strike a professional tone.
• Keep the layout and formatting simple and effective, so the document is easy to read and the key information is straightforward to find.
• Highlight your achievements: Describe in detail your career experiences so far and biggest successes.
• Include your hard and soft skills: Tailor them to the job description because some of these will be more relevant to the role than others.
• Write an attention-grabbing personal statement: Who are you, what can you bring to the table and what are your career ambitions? Spend time getting this bit as good as it can be, because if it doesn’t tick the right boxes, the reader might not continue.

You may want to leave space for the personal statement at the top of your CV but write it at the end, once you’ve worked out your greatest strengths and achievements.

• Add personal details such as your age or marital status.
• Mention salary expectations.
• Put your photo on a CV unless applying for a role outside the UK, if so, research the local requirements online, as employers in some countries may expect one.
• Lie on a CV because it won’t do you any favours.

Also, try not to use generalisations or clichés on your CV to describe your best attributes. In the next section, we’ll go through the better way to describe your achievements.

Hospitality skills

The jobs you’re applying to will hopefully mention some hard and soft skills that the employer sees as either required or desired.

One clear way to show employers which of these you have on your CV is to add a key skills section. Otherwise, if you prefer, you can work your skillset into the personal statement and career history sections more naturally, as long as they still stand out.

Some of the skills that employers are looking for include the following. However, it depends greatly on the sub-sector of hospitality that you’re focusing on – a travel operator and waiter have different responsibilities, for example:

• Cross-selling
• Staff management
• Problem solving
• Health and safety
• Complaint handling
• Process improvement
• Payment processing
• Identifying customer needs
• Inventory management
• Food hygiene
• People skills
• Foreign language skills

But how can you demonstrate that you truly have what it takes on your CV? By supporting your claims with evidence.

It’s not always easy to find facts and figures for a CV to show your success in previous roles – but always try to add some. Include any relevant and impressive statistics to prove the impact you have had.

This evidence will have more weight in context. Use the STAR method to explain your best achievements and if you need a few sentences to do it, your cover letter is a good place for this.

No hospitality experience yet? No problem – here’s how to write a CV with no experience . 

Otherwise, here’s a hospitality CV example to help you get started:

Frances Robinson

[Address] – [Phone number] – [Email address]

Personal Statement

Use several lines to explain why you stand out and what your unique selling points are. Here is a sample first sentence:

Luxury hotel customer service manager with 5 years of experience overseeing performance at very high-end boutiques and a perfect record of meeting CSAT targets…

If your skill section looks strong, include it here and if not, after your work history section. Match your skills to the job description and use bullet points – for example:

• Advanced level of Spanish

Work History

List previous roles or the companies you’ve worked at in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent or current position and also including the dates. 

Then add bullet points, to describe your relevant responsibilities or successes, e.g.:

[Role, employer] [Dates]

• Improved the hotel’s Booking.com average review rating from 8.9 to 9.1 during my time overseeing customer service
• Received a hotel nomination for a 2022 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award from Tripadvisor
• Responsible for developing customer service policies, managing a budget, evaluating staff, handling complaints and implementing a new customer loyalty programme
• Supervised a team of 9 full-time staff

Qualifications and Education

Start by including any relevant qualifications, then give your education details: 

• [Relevant qualification(s) obtained] [Dates]
• [University name, degree subject, grade] [Dates]
• [School name, A-Levels, grades] [Dates]
• [School name, GCSEs, grades] [Dates]

Any interests you include should ideally strengthen your application in a relevant way, if possible. If you’re short of space on your CV, this section isn’t essential.

References available on request

Final thoughts: How to write a hospitality CV

There are several different types of CV , so you need to decide which one is right for you. The above example uses the common reverse-chronological format but you may prefer to try a more skills-based approach.

If it’s been a while since you last wrote a CV, or this is your first one, then here’s how to write a CV – our comprehensive guide .

Also, check out our article on writing a CV for temporary jobs , perfect for seasonal work opportunities. If you’re using a master CV, make digital copies and tailor each one to the specific job description .

Don’t undo all your hard work on the CV by making easily avoidable mistakes. Keep reading through and checking it until you’re happy – find any mistakes and fix them, then ask a friend or family member to review it in case they spot anything else. 

Focus on highlighting your strongest skills and what makes you an outstanding candidate, then build the CV around these points.

If you need some help with any of this, look no further – we’re CV writing experts. We know how to write a great hospitality CV for all types of roles, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any queries.

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• • Developed and implemented strategic plans to maximize occupancy and revenue, resulting in a 30% increase in sales.
• • Streamlined check-in and check-out processes, resulting in a 10% reduction in wait times and a 25% increase in guest satisfaction.
• • Implemented a new staff training program, resulting in a 15% increase in employee retention rates.
• • Managed staff scheduling to ensure adequate coverage and high-quality customer service delivery, resulting in a 20% decrease in staff turnover.
• • Implemented a new guest feedback system, resulting in a 10% increase in guest satisfaction scores.
• • Developed and executed marketing campaigns to promote hotel services and facilities, resulting in a 25% increase in revenue.
• • Managed reservations, check-in and check-out processes, accurately handling more than 50 daily transactions.
• • Demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills when dealing with a range of guest issues, resulting in a 50% reduction in complaints.
• • Achieved the highest upselling rate in the hotel, resulting in a 15% increase in revenue.

3 Hospitality CV Examples & Guide for 2024

Customize this CV with ease using our seamless online CV builder.

Hospitality CVs based on experience level

Additional hospitality cv tips and tricks, hospitality skills for your cv, hospitality cv summary examples and tips, specific tips how to make your hospitality cv stand out.

When it comes to hospitality, jobseekers often don't consider the importance of tailoring their CV to the industry. With this in mind, this guide provides tips and tricks, with three examples of hospitality CVs, to help you land your dream role. By reading this article, you'll learn:

• Three examples of Hospitality CVs

Top sections for a Hospitality CV

Additional sections for a hospitality cv.

• Top hard and soft skills or technologies for your CV
• Specific tips to make your Hospitality CV stand out
• Frequently asked questions about Hospitality CVs

Career Change Hospitality CV example

Entry Level Hospitality CV example

• Personal information
• Professional summary
• Work experience
• Education and qualifications
• References (optional)
• Achievements and awards
• Hobbies and interests
• Professional development training and courses
• Languages spoken and proficiency level

Top bullet points for your Hospitality CV

If you have extensive work experience, make sure to focus on the most relevant experience on your CV. A pro tip for highlighting your work experience is to use bullet points and start each one with an action verb to make them sound more impactful. For example, instead of writing "Assisted guests in making menu choices," write, "Guided customers in selecting dishes from the menu."

• Flawlessly executing service to raise customer satisfaction
• Implementing effective customer complaint handling to resolve issues efficiently
• Show diversity in maintaining a clean and safe environment resulting in zero accidents
• Achieving sales growth targets through persistent and persuasive upselling techniques
• Training, supervising, and motivating staff to deliver on performance goals
• Maintaining attention to detail to ensure quality presentation and consistency across all areas
• Growing revenue by establishing and maintaining client relationships and repeat business
• Developing effective communication skills to liaise with clients, suppliers and colleagues
• Demonstrating adaptability in high-pressure and fast-paced environments
• Handling cash and card payments with absolute accuracy, including balancing tills and floats
• Using POS systems, reservation software, and other relevant technologies effectively
• Clear understanding of health and safety guidelines, and following proper procedures
• Experience with creating and managing budgets to maximize profitability
• Proven record of stock control while minimizing wastage and optimizing product shelf-life
• Strong problem-solving skills to mitigate any operational or service-related challenges

Highlighting your skills on your CV is essential to show hospitality employers what you can bring to the table. There are both hard and soft skills that play an equally significant role in the hospitality industry:

Top hard skills or technologies on your CV for a Hospitality job

• Proficient in using POS systems and reservation software
• Familiarity with inventory management
• Knowledge of food and beverage menus and offerings
• Competency in handling cash and electronic payments
• Experience with budgeting and accounting
• Understanding of health and safety regulations and guidelines
• Awareness of digital marketing and social media platforms
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Suites tools
• Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies quickly

Top soft skills on your CV for a Hospitality job

When crafting your CV summary, emphasize your unique abilities and strengths to grab the reader's attention. Here's an example of how to frame your summary:

• Excellent communication skills
• Great interpersonal skills
• Customer-service oriented
• Flexible and adaptable to change
• High level of attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Punctuality and consistent work ethic
• Positive attitude and ability to remain calm under pressure
• Leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities

Your CV summary is an opportunity to showcase your hospitality experience and strengths. Here are five summary examples to guide you:

Top summaries for your Hospitality CV

To make your Hospitality CV stand out, keep in mind the following tips:

• Expert communicator with five years of experience in high-end dining and extensive wine knowledge, seeking a position as a Restaurant Manager.
• Passionate hospitality professional with experience in Front-of-House and Back-of-House operations, possessing exceptional customer service and leadership skills.
• Dynamic and energetic bartender with demonstrated expertise in cocktail creation, inventory management, and customer satisfaction looking for a role in a renowned bar or restaurant.
• Detail-oriented and organised Hospitality Manager with over eight years of experience in managing high-volume customer engagement, team management, financial planning, and process improvement.
• Experienced Hotel Operations Manager with a proven track record of driving enhanced levels of guest satisfaction, reducing operating costs, and exceeding quality objectives.
• Focus on quantifiable achievements backed up by data
• Highlight multiple language fluencies or certifications to demonstrate your cultural competency
• Use a professional and clean layout that is easy to read
• Personalize your CV to the specific role and company you are applying to
• Showcase results achieved through team management, revenue growth, and customer satisfaction improvement

Looking to build your own Hospitality CV?

• CV Examples

Frequently asked questions about Hospitality CVs:

What should i include in my cv if i have no hospitality experience, should i include a photo on my hospitality cv, what font size and type should i use for my hospitality cv.

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Career Change CV: Examples & Templates to Show Your Best Transferable Skills

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What to Include in Your Hospitality CV

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• Customer Service

When it comes to writing a fantastic CV, there are certain rules that everyone should follow no matter that type of job they’re looking for.

Every good CV should be succinct and to the point, there should be no spelling, punctuation or grammar errors, and you should ensure you include all the necessary contact information – you’d be surprised how many folk miss out a telephone number or email address.

For some industries, however, it’s worth tailoring your CV to that specific sector. Here, we look at how to write the ideal resume for a job in the  hospitality industry .

PERSONAL INFORMATION

This should include your name, address, telephone number and email address. You don’t have to include your date of birth or nationality.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

Hospitality is all about people, an industry where customer service comes first, and where staff with a good personality are important. This personal statement is your chance to shine and stand out from the other applicants by detailing the skills you have that are relevant to the job. So, if you’re looking for bar work but your only past experience is working as a barista, focus on your experience of the service industry, dealing with the public, your excellent people skills and ability to work in a busy environment. If you’ve picked up any relevant experience or awards during college or through volunteering mention those here, too. Highlight what’s important to the hospitality industry – willingness to serve others, being a team player, a polite and friendly personality and being able to work under pressure. But remember it’s not your life story you’re providing here – stick to two or three lines.

List any previous jobs in date order, starting with the most recent. As well as dates and job titles, you should include a brief description of your duties for each position held. Even if previous roles were not within the hospitality sector, were there aspects relevant to the job you’re applying for? For example, if you previously worked in an office, emphasise times when you worked well as part of a team or managed to get results while working under pressure. If you don’t have any past work experience, it may be worth considering voluntary work. And don’t leave any gaps on your CV – if you took a year off to go travelling, make this clear on your CV.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Like any other CV, this is where you list your academic qualifications: Standard Grades, Highers, diplomas and degrees. It’s also a good chance to highlight any training you’ve had that could be beneficial to a career in hospitality, such as food safety certificates or first aid training.

Contact details for two referees should suffice and always remember to get their permission BEFORE including them as someone willing to provide a reference.

Now that you’ve got your CV sorted, why not check out the latest hospitality jobs  on Fish4jobs?

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• 10 Tips for Writing the Perfect CV
• How to Make Your Personal Statement Pop
• The 3 Best CV Layouts According to Employers

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Hospitality Manager CV example

Are you ready to take the next step in your hospitality career?

If you’re hoping to secure a managerial role within an exciting new company, then you need to prove you’ve got the organisation, leadership and customer service skills to be successful.

To do this, you need to serve up an interview-winning CV, and we can help you to do just that with our comprehensive guide and hospitality manager CV below.

CV templates 

Hospitality Manager CV example

Before you start writing your CV, take a look at the example Hospitality Manager CV above to give yourself a good idea of the style and format that works best in today’s job market.

Also, take note of the type of content that is included to impress recruiters, and how the most relevant information is made prominent, to ensure it gets noticed.

Hospitality Manager CV format and structure

In a highly competitive job market, recruiters and employers are often inundated with applications. If they can’t find what they’re looking for in your CV quickly, they may skip past your application and move on to the next one in their inbox

So, it’s crucial to structure and format your CV in a way that enables them to find your essential details with ease, even if they’re pressed for time.

Tips for formatting your Hospitality Manager CV

• Length: Recruiters will be immediately put off by lengthy CVs – with hundreds of applications to read through, they simply don’t have the time! Grabbing their attention with a short, snappy and highly relevant CV is far more likely to lead to success. Aim for two sides of A4 or less.
• Readability : Help out time-strapped recruiters by formatting your CV for easy reading. Using lots of bullet points and lists will help them to skim through your info, while clearly formatted headings will allow them to navigate towards the content which is most useful to them.
• Design & format: When it comes to CV design, it’s best to keep things simple and sleek. While elaborate designs certainly command attention, it’s not always for the right reasons! Readability is key, so whatever you choose to do, make sure you prioritise readability above everything.
• Photos: You can add a profile photo to your CV, if you want to add some personality to it, but they are not a requirement the UK, so you don’t have to.

Quick tip: Creating a professional CV style can be difficult and time-consuming when using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. To create a winning CV quickly, try our quick-and-easy CV Builder and use one of their eye-catching professional CV templates.

CV structure

When writing your CV , it’s important to structure the content into the following key sections to ensure easy digestion by busy recruiters and hiring managers:

• Contact details: List your contact details at the top of your CV to prevent them from being overlooked.
• Profile: Begin with an introductory paragraph that captures recruiters’ attention and summarises what you have to offer employers.
• Work experience/career history: List your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current position.
• Education: Provide a brief summary of your education and qualifications.
• Interests and hobbies: An optional section to showcase any hobbies that highlight transferable skills relevant to your target jobs.

Now you understand the basic layout of a CV, here’s what you should include in each section of yours.

Contact Details

Start off your CV with a basic list of your contact details. Here’s what you should include:

• Mobile number
• Email address – It’s often helpful to make a new email address, specifically for your job applications.
• Location – Share your town or city; there’s no need for a full address.
• LinkedIn profile or portfolio URL – Make sure the information on them is coherent with your CV, and that they’re up-to-date

Quick tip: Delete excessive details, such as your date of birth or marital status. Recruiters don’t need to know this much about you, so it’s best to save the space for your other CV sections.

Hospitality Manager CV Profile

Your CV profile is basically a short introductory paragraph, which summarises your key selling points and highlights why you’d make a good hire.

So, write a well-rounded summary of what you do, what your key skills are, and what relevant experience you have.

It needs to be short, snappy and punchy and, ultimately, entice the reader to read the rest of your CV.

How to write a good CV profile:

• Make it short and sharp: Recruiters are busy, so to ensure your profile is actually read, it’s best to keep it short and snappy. 3-5 punchy lines makes for the perfect profile.
• Tailor it: No matter how much time you put into your CV profile, it won’t impress if it’s irrelevant to the role you’re applying for. Before you start writing, make a list of the skills, knowledge and experience your target employer is looking for. Then, make sure to mention them in your CV profile and throughout the rest of your application.
• Don’t add an objective: Leave your career objectives or goals out of your profile. You only have limited space to work with, so they’re best suited to your cover letter .
• Avoid generic phrases: “Determined team player who always gives 110%” might seem like a good way to fill up your CV profile, but generic phrases like this won’t land you an interview. Recruiters hear them time and time again and have no real reason to believe them. Instead, pack your profile with your hard skills and tangible achievements.

Example CV profile for Hospitality Manager

What to include in your hospitality manager cv profile.

• Experience overview: Recruiters will want to know what type of companies you’ve worked for, industries you have knowledge of, and the type of work you’ve carried out in the past, so give them a summary of this in your profile.
• Targeted skills: Ensure that your profile highlights your key skills that are most relevant to your Hospitality Manager, and tailor them to match the specific job you are applying for. To do this, refer to the job description to closely align your skills with their requirements.
• Important qualifications: Be sure to outline your relevant Hospitality Manager qualifications, so that anyone reading the CV can instantly see you are qualified for the jobs you are applying to.

Quick tip: If you are finding it difficult to write an attention-grabbing CV profile, choose from hundreds of pre-written profiles across all industries, and add one to your CV with one click in our quick-and-easy CV Builder . All profiles are written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset.

Core skills section

Next, you should create a bullet pointed list of your core skills , formatted into 2-3 columns.

Here, you should focus on including the most important skills or knowledge listed in the job advertisement.

This will instantly prove that you’re an ideal candidate, even if a recruiter only has time to briefly scan your CV.

Important skills for your Hospitality Manager CV

Staff Management – Recruiting, training, and supervising staff, including scheduling shifts, setting performance expectations, and handling disciplinary matters.

Customer Service – Delivering exceptional customer service, resolving guest complaints, and ensuring a positive guest experience.

Inventory Management – Managing inventory levels, controlling costs, and optimising stock turnover to reduce wastage and maximise profitability.

Budgeting and Financial Analysis – Utilising knowledge of budget creation, financial reporting, and cost control strategies to meet revenue and profit targets.

Hospitality Software – Using hospitality management software for tasks like reservations, point-of-sale (POS), and property management.

Food and Beverage Management – Understanding food and beverage operations, including menu planning, pricing, and quality control.

Event Planning and Coordination – Planning and executing events, conferences, weddings, and banquets, ensuring successful outcomes.

Regulatory Compliance – Maintaining knowledge of hospitality industry regulations, including health and safety, food hygiene, and alcohol licensing laws.

Sales and Marketing – Developing and implementing sales and marketing strategies to attract guests, increase occupancy rates, and boost revenue.

Quality Assurance – Maintaining high service and cleanliness standards, conducting regular inspections, and addressing issues promptly to uphold the hotel’s reputation.

Quick tip: Our quick-and-easy CV Builder has thousands of in-demand skills for all industries and professions, that can be added to your CV in seconds – This will save you time and ensure you get noticed by recruiters.

Work experience

Recruiters will be itching to know more about your relevant experience by now.

Kick-start this section with your most recent (or current) position, and work your way backwards through your history.

You can include voluntary and freelance work, too – as long as you’re honest about the nature of the work.

Structuring each job

Lengthy, unbroken chunks of text is a recruiters worst nightmare, but your work experience section can easily end up looking like that if you are not careful.

To avoid this, use my tried-and-tested 3-step structure, as illustrated below:

Begin with a summary of your role, detailing what the purpose of your job was, who you reported to and what size of team you were part of (or led).

Key responsibilities

Using easy-to-read bullet points, note down your day-to-day responsibilities in the role.

Make sure to showcase how you used your hard sector skills and knowledge.

Key achievements

Finish off by showcasing 1-3 key achievements made within the role.

This could be anything that had a positive effect on your company, clients or customers, such as saving time or money, receiving exemplary feedback or receiving an award.

Sample job description for Hospitality Manager CV

Oversee employees and budgets, handle customer relations, as well as sustain high standards of quality and cleanliness, for a prestigious hotel that has a rich history of providing exceptional hospitality and accommodation services to numerous corporations and leisure travellers.

Key Responsibilities

• Spearhead day-to-day functions, including reservations, check-in/outs, F&B activities, and housekeeping.
• Recruit, supervise, and equip front and back-of-house personnel with the necessary skills to carry out their respective tasks.
• Create rotas schedules to confirm that there are enough persons on duty during various shifts.
• Produce pricing strategies aimed at targeting specific groups and maximising revenue and competitive positioning.

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our quick-and-easy CV Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

Education section

Next up, you should list your education and qualifications.

This can include your formal qualifications (a degree, A-Levels and GCSEs), as well as sector-specific Hospitality Manager qualifications and/or training.

While school leavers and recent grads should include a lot of detail here to make up for the lack of work experience, experienced candidates may benefit from a shorter education section, as your work experience section will be more important to recruiters.

Hobbies and interests

Although this is an optional section, it can be useful if your hobbies and interests will add further depth to your CV.

Interests which are related to the sector you are applying to, or which show transferable skills like leadership or teamwork, can worth listing.

On the other hand, generic hobbies like “going out with friends” won’t add any value to your application, so are best left off your CV.

An interview-winning CV for a Hospitality Manager role, needs to be both visually pleasing and packed with targeted content.

Whilst it needs to detail your experience, accomplishments and relevant skills, it also needs to be as clear and easy to read as possible.

Remember to research the role and review the job ad before applying, so you’re able to match yourself up to the requirements.

If you follow these guidelines and keep motivated in your job search, you should land an interview in no time.

Best of luck with your next application!

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Hospitality management personal statement example 1.

Hospitality Industry is one of the fastest-growing industries, whose great variety makes it very interesting area of working. I have never thought about the fascination and the opportunities which this industry offers until the day I started to work as a tourist manager assistant two years ago.

It was a summer job which was supposed to fill up my free time and increase my budget. I knew I was going to like it because I am keen on meeting new people and visiting tourist destinations, but I did not even suspect how much it would affect me.

As an assistant I was required to help the tourist manager accommodate the guests and organize different kinds of entertainment. This job gave me opportunity to become acquainted with the work of such people as hotel, club and event managers.

I was deeply impressed by their diligence to satisfy every need of their customers. I have realized the responsibility of their profession, but I have also understood how satisfied they are when their clients are happy. I will never forget the face of the tourist manager I worked with when the guests thanked him for the perfect holiday. His face was beaming.

Despite the fact I was only an assistant I felt satisfaction too seeing that the tourists were content with our work. This feeling of gratification and even happiness was the main reason why I decided to study Hospitality management. I am fond of knowing more about each sector of Hospitality industry, in which I see my future.

Every manager needs leadership skills. I think I have gained them by participating in diverse activities. I was one of the students chosen to stage a play for the hundredth anniversary of my primary school.

The most difficult task of the organization of the play was to make the children deliver an inspired performance. Eventually I managed to motivate them not only to be good actors but to enjoy acting itself. It produced positive response.

The passion I have for foreign languages ensured my successful participation in the English Language Festival of my school. In this way I have improved my organizational and presentation skills. Being a member of both Eco-club-Mathew and Interact club, the aim of which is charity, I have gained a sense of team spirit.

As a lover of nature the thing I like to do the most is to go hiking and on picnics. I find the nature of England very attractive and I am looking forward to going there and seeing its beauties. Dancing is my hobby too. I have been dancing a modern ballet for five years. This is my way to relax and keep fit.

I am reliable and positive person, who enjoys challenges and never gives up. I dream of managing a hotel, even a chain of hotels. I realise how great my ambitions are and how hard I must work to achieve them but I think it is most important to have a wish and will.

When one who has strong wishes is self-confident and self-motivated, when he is patient and determined he can fulfill them. I know that besides all these qualities I must also have skills in order to succeed in this industry in which there is such a competition. Studying hospitality management I will acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to be a prosperous hospitality manager.

In ten years I imagine myself possessing a five-star hotel on the French Riviera and the first thing I should do to achieve my goal is to take this course at your university.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by kamell for application in 2008.

kamell's Comments

this personal statement helped me gain a place at the university of surrey,course-international hospitality management

Related Personal Statements

It looks too messy, you.

Thu, 17/07/2008 - 06:33

it looks too messy, you should clean it up a bit.

it seems very good, i've

Sat, 28/03/2009 - 19:44

it seems very good, i've browsed a fw paragraphs so far and that one looks best

did u actually get into a

Thu, 21/05/2009 - 15:32

did u actually get into a full time job in hospatality

A good personal statement, it

Thu, 04/08/2011 - 14:04

A good personal statement, it's helpful to me.

Very good personal statement

Tue, 08/11/2011 - 21:14

Very good personal statement thanks!

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