Restaurant Job Sites

We scan the news every week to identify trends in the hospitality industry. This week's topic is how to write a resume that describes a job in a restaurant.

Most employees don't realize that they can gain valuable skills while working in a restaurant. These soft and technical skills can be used in a wide range of industries and positions. If you stay in the hospitality industry, they will also help you advance your career.

It can be difficult to define the responsibilities of a chef when you have a lot of experience in foodservice. While there are many ways to improve the way you describe your duties you shouldn't lie about your experience. We'll show you how to write a resume for a job in a restaurant, with helpful examples.

How to describe a job in a restaurant on a resume

It's crucial to describe your hospitality experience in a way that highlights how they can be transferred to other jobs. Think of the "made, saved and achieved" method.

Also, what was your past job that increased the revenue or profit of your employer? Have you created a new process? Modify an existing procedure What are you doing every day that saves money and time for your employer? What recognition were you given? Remember that when you describe a job in a restaurant on your resume, you are essentially selling your skills and abilities to potential employers. Here are some ways you can do this:

You should find a way of quantifying the work that you have done.

It is more effective to describe your daily responsibilities using numbers than it is to do so with words. In doing so, management can better understand your revenue building potential.

To learn more:

Instead of saying "Sold food, drinks to guests,"

You might try saying "Facilitated $xx worth product purchase each shift."

For cooks:

Instead of saying "Worked on a line making food,"

You might try saying "Helped manage the production of $XX worth various food products each day."

For bartenders:

Instead of saying "Upsold shots and drinks",

You might try saying "Used selling techniques to increase guests' checks by $XX average."

You can relate your daily responsibilities to in-demand job seekers traits.

Strong integrity, communication, team-oriented and flexibility are some of the most desirable traits that hiring managers look for. These are the most important traits for restaurant employees. You can show how your experience matches the job you want by identifying the key attributes employers are looking for and linking them to your previous duties.

To learn more:

Instead of saying "Willingly help out wherever needed,"

You might try saying "Was flexible and adaptable when asked to accept different requests."

For cooks:

Instead of saying "Worked closely with the kitchen manager to ensure that the line ran smoothly."

You can say, "Use communication skills for smooth and successful lines."

For bartenders:

Instead of saying "Didn’t over/under pour friends",

You can say, "Valued personal as well as professional integrity by closely following drink recipes."

Mention any leadership-type responsibilities that you have taken on.

Knowing you're willing to take on more responsibilities - especially ones related to leadership/management - can be the difference between getting hired or losing the position to competition. It's possible that you think, "But I don't know how to manage a restaurant." Did you manage shift leaders, help with guest issues, or put together a schedule? All of these experiences count towards your management experience.

To learn more:

Instead of saying "Showed new server what to do,"

You might try saying "Managed new hire training."

For cooks:

Instead of saying "Did product matter at the end of that night?"

You might try saying "Assisted manage closing procedures, including product inventory."

For bartenders:

Instead of saying "Made the bar calendar,"

You can say, "Communicate closely to the team to create or manage the bartender's schedule."

A current and accurate resume will make a good first impression on potential employers, regardless of whether you are planning to stay in the hospitality sector or looking for a new job. Be thorough in describing a job at a restaurant on your resume. Employers will be able to see how you have adapted your skills by considering the various ways you can describe your time at a restaurant.

For more information visit Restaurant Job Sites.