How to write a hospitality resume that gets noticed

How to write a hospitality resume that gets noticed

8 September 2025

In this article

    Hospitality has become one of the most sought-after sectors globally, with thousands of qualified candidates competing for roles at leading hotels, resorts and restaurants. Intense competition has dramatically changed how employers evaluate potential hires, with studies revealing a startling reality: hiring managers spend less than 10 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to shortlist a candidate (Zippia, 2024). 

    In this brief window, your entire professional history is judged and your future in hospitality is determined - which is why it’s more important than ever to create a standout resume.

    What makes the difference between landing that coveted interview and being overlooked? Which essential elements are hiring managers searching for in those fleeting seconds? 

    This guide will explore what employers look for, how to structure your resume for the hospitality industry and the common mistakes that could cost you an opportunity. 

    Whether you're applying for hospitality internships, an entry-level position or a management role, this article will help you craft a resume that stands out from the competition.

    What hospitality employers look for in hospitality resumes

    A hospitality resume is different from those in other industries. Employers aren't just looking for technical skills; they're evaluating how well you understand guest experiences, adaptability and your ability to work under pressure. 

    Your resume must demonstrate you have the right combination of industry-specific knowledge, soft skills and hands-on experience to thrive in a fast-paced, customer-facing role.

    Industry-specific expectations

    Employers in the hospitality industry expect candidates to have specific skills and qualities that make them effective, including:

    The importance of soft skills and hard skills

    When hiring for hospitality careers, employers assess what are known as soft and hard skills. While technical abilities or ‘hard skills’ are necessary for specific roles, soft skills often determine success in customer-facing positions.

    Soft skills

    Strong communication, teamwork, leadership, time management and emotional intelligence are critical in hospitality. These enable staff to interact effectively with guests, manage conflicts and ensure operations run smoothly.

    A 2023 industry survey by the Hospitality Management Association found that 82% of hospitality hiring managers ranked interpersonal skills as more important than technical qualifications for front-of-house positions. Your resume should reflect your emotional intelligence and people skills through specific achievements rather than generic statements.

    For example, if you've worked well with other departments and produced excellent results, instead of writing 'good teamwork skills', try 'led a cross-departmental task force that improved communication, reducing service delays by 27% during peak season'.

    Hard skills

    Hospitality employers are often looking for candidates with specific expertise in, for example, reservation systems such as Opera and Fidelio, event planning software or food safety and revenue management.

    Creating an effective resume for hospitality job applications requires a clear understanding of the technical requirements specific to different specializations:

    How global education and internships improve your resume for hospitality jobs

    International experience can give you a significant advantage in the hospitality job market. According to a 2024 Global Hospitality Employment Report, candidates with global experience receive 35% more interview callbacks for luxury hospitality positions compared to those with only domestic experience.

    This advantage stems from the following valuable skills developed through international education and internships:

    These skills often translate directly to career advancement. International hospitality experience doesn't just boost your resume, it fundamentally expands your professional capabilities in an increasingly global industry.

    gettyimages Credit: Xavier Lorenzo

    Resume format for the hospitality industry

    To ensure your resume is easy to read and highlights the most relevant information, it should follow a structured format. Below is a breakdown of each section and what to include:

    1. Header and personal statement

    The top section of your resume should include:

    Example personal statement: "Dedicated hospitality professional with three years of experience in luxury hotel management. Passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences, improving service operations and leading high-performing teams. Seeking a role that allows me to contribute to a world-class hospitality brand."

    Your personal statement should be tailored to each position you apply for, emphasizing the most relevant experience and skills for the role. Here are some examples:

    2. Work experience (internships, part-time roles, placements)

    Your work experience section should be more than just a list of job titles and responsibilities, it should showcase your practical application of hospitality knowledge and measurable achievements.

    According to research from Cornell University's Hotel School, 78% of hotel general managers believe that candidates who can demonstrate how their hospitality education improved their performance are significantly more competitive for leadership roles. When describing your work experience, include specific examples of how your specialized knowledge improved service delivery, operational efficiency or guest satisfaction.

    Before and after example:

    Before: "Worked as a front desk agent handling check-ins and check-outs."

    After: "Managed an average of 40+ daily check-ins/check-outs while maintaining 97% guest satisfaction rate, recognized as 'Employee of the Month' twice for resolving guest complaints that resulted in converting potential negative reviews to positive experiences."

    For recent graduates with limited professional experience, internships should be presented with the same level of importance as full-time roles when writing the work experience section. For example:

    Six-month management trainee at The Ritz-Carlton, Singapore

    3. Skills section (languages, software, communication)

    A well-structured resume format makes it easier for hospitality managers to identify key qualifications quickly. When listing your skills, keep things clear and organized to ensure they are easy to scan. Depending on your experience and career stage, consider these resume formats:

    Technical skills, language proficiency and soft skills are essential components that hospitality employers often review to quickly assess your suitability for the role. Consider setting out your skills using clearly defined subsections and indicating your proficiency levels, as shown in the structured example below:

    Technical skills

    Create subsections for different types of technical proficiencies:

    Language skills

    Rather than simply listing languages, indicate your proficiency level:

    Soft skills

    Focus on industry-specific soft skills that are valuable in hospitality, such as:

    4. Education

    If you've earned a hospitality degree, highlight it here, along with any relevant coursework. Certifications such as ServSafe, HACCP or First Aid should also be included in this section.

    For recent graduates, include specific coursework that aligns with the target role, for example:

    Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management

    5. Extras (certifications, volunteer work, awards)

    Employers value candidates with a mix of skills, experiences and qualities, so use this section to highlight the following:

    Examples would include:

    Optimizing your resume for AI screening (ATS)

    A 2024 Resume Technology Impact Study found that 99% of Fortune 500 companies now use ATS software, with 75% of resumes being rejected before a human ever sees them. To ensure your resume passes ATS screening: 

    Strategic keyword placement

    Modern ATS systems search for specific keywords and analyze their context and relevance. Here's how to effectively incorporate keywords:

    1. Study the job posting: identify recurring terms and industry-specific language. For a front office manager position, terms such as "guest relations", "upselling", "conflict resolution" and "revenue optimization" might be crucial
    2. Use exact matches: if the job description mentions ‘experience with Opera PMS’, use that exact phrase rather than ‘PMS experience’
    3. Incorporate keywords naturally: spread keywords throughout your resume rather than clustering them in one section
    4. Include variations: use both spelled-out terms and acronyms (e.g., ‘Property Management System (PMS)’ and ‘PMS’ later in the document)

    Example: for a Food and Beverage Manager position that emphasizes ‘inventory management’, ‘cost control’ and ‘team development’, you might include:

    "Implemented a new inventory management system that reduced food cost by 3.5% while minimizing waste and ensuring quality standards were maintained."

    "Led strategic planning sessions for special events, resulting in the creation of exceptional guest experience packages that increased revenue by 22%."

    Common resume mistakes to avoid

    Even qualified candidates make mistakes that lead to their resumes being discarded. Avoid these common pitfalls:

    1. Generic summaries

    Problem: opening with vague statements such as: "Hardworking professional seeking a position in hospitality."

    Solution: craft a specific personal statement that highlights your unique value proposition: "Guest-focused F&B supervisor with 4+ years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, specializing in fine dining service standards and team development."

    2. Too much industry jargon

    Problem: overusing specialized terminology that might not be understood by HR professionals conducting initial screenings

    Solution: use industry terms strategically and provide context when necessary, especially when describing specialized systems or methodologies

    3. Failing to show results or achievements

    Problem: listing responsibilities without demonstrating impact

    Solution: for each role, include at least one quantifiable achievement that shows how you contributed to business goals

    Before: "Responsible for training new servers." 

    After: "Developed and implemented a structured two-week training program for new servers that reduced onboarding time by 30% and improved service consistency scores by 25%"

    4. Poor formatting

    Problem: dense text blocks, inconsistent spacing or fonts that are too small to read quickly

    Solution: use bullet points, maintain consistent formatting and ensure ample white space. Remember your resume will likely be scanned in seconds, so make it easy to digest visually

    5. Spelling/grammar issues

    Problem: typos and grammatical errors suggest a lack of attention to detail, critical in hospitality

    Solution: have at least two people proofread your resume and consider reading it aloud to catch awkward phrasing

    How to highlight your hospitality education and experience

    Your education and hands-on experience in hospitality are key selling points. To maximize their impact:

    Featuring academic projects

    Academic projects can demonstrate real-world skills, especially for those with limited professional experience, so detail this along the lines of the following example:

    Restaurant concept development project

    Demonstrating transferable skills

    Even non-hospitality experience can be valuable if you highlight transferable skills, for example:

    Retail sales associate, luxury department store

    Leveraging international experience

    A global perspective is highly valued in hospitality. Emphasize cross-cultural competencies gained through international study or work, such as:

    Exchange semester, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

    Adapting your resume for different hospitality sectors

    The hospitality industry encompasses diverse sectors, each with unique requirements. Tailoring your resume to specific segments can significantly increase your chances of success and open doors to exciting careers in hospitality. Examples include:

    Luxury hotels and resorts

    Emphasize:

    Cruise industry

    Highlight:

    Restaurant and food service

    Focus on:

    Events and conferences

    Showcase:

    The one thing your hospitality resume can't fake

    No matter how perfectly you craft your hospitality resume, one truth remains: exceptional education is the foundation of every successful hospitality career.

    When top hospitality employers scan your resume, they're looking beyond your bullet points to the name of your institution. Where you studied tells them everything about your training, your connections and your potential. This is why graduates from elite hospitality schools such as Glion land interviews, even with simple resumes, while others struggle despite perfect formatting and exacting revisions.

    If you’re serious about building a long-term career in hospitality, investing in a world-class hospitality education can help you gain the expertise and connections that set you apart.

    Photo Credits:
    Main Image - gettyimages Credit: sturti