As a front desk manager, articulating your multi-faceted experience in customer service, administration, and team leading into a concise resume can be a daunting challenge. Our guide is tailored to help you effectively summarize your diverse skill set and achievements, ensuring your resume stands out to potential employers.
- Which sections do you need to include in your resume to meet recruiters' requirements;
- How to write your front desk manager resume experience section - even if you have don't have little to no work experience;
- Real-life professional examples to guide you how to write the most important front desk manager resume sections;
- Adding even more sections so your front desk manager resume stands out with professionalism and your personality.
We've also selected some of the best (and most relevant) resume guides for the front desk manager role you're applying for:
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Is there a correct way to format your front desk manager resume?
This is a tricky question. While skimming over your resume, recruiters will be looking at your experience and the message your profile conveys. That's why your resume format needs to be clear and concise, serving to supplement and organize your experience. Professional best practices point that the best front desk manager resumes:
- Follow the reverse chronological order, where the most recent experience items are presented first . This is to keep your expertise succinct and to show recruiters your career growth over the years;
- Have a clearly defined header that includes all relevant contact information and a portfolio or a LinkedIn link. In some countries, it is acceptable to include a professional photo , so that your application is more memorable;
- Feature the most important front desk manager resume sections towards the top, e.g. summary, skills, and experience. That way, recruiters can immediately find information that is relevant to the role;
- Take up no more than two pages - and two pages are the exception for more experienced professionals. Keep your expertise to the point and use your front desk manager resume real estate wisely .
- Selecting modern, yet simple fonts, e.g. Rubik, Lato, etc., would help your application stand out;
- Many candidates stick with the tried-and-tested Arial or Times New Roman, but you'd want your front desk manager resume to be a bit more unique;
- The ATS can read all serif and sans-serif fonts, so you should avoid fancy, formal script (or cursive) fonts.
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The more time and effort you've put into obtaining the relevant certificate, the closer to the top it should be listed. This is especially important for more senior roles and if the company you're applying for is more forward-facing.
Fundamental sections for your front desk manager resume:
- The header with your name (if your degree or certification is impressive, you can add the title as a follow up to your name), contact details, portfolio link, and headline
- The summary or objective aligning your career and resume achievements with the role
- The experience section to curate neatly organized bullets with your tangible at-work-success
- Skills listed through various sections of your resume and within an exclusive sidebar
- The education and certifications for more credibility and industry-wide expertise
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven ability to manage and maintain a busy reception area with strong organizational and multitasking skills.
- Experience with front desk software applications (e.g., hotel property management systems, scheduling/booking software).
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a focus on guest services and customer satisfaction.
- Demonstrated leadership qualities and experience supervising front desk staff.
- Expertise in handling administrative responsibilities, such as managing reservations, coordinating with other departments, and overseeing billing processes.
Advice for your front desk manager resume experience section - setting your application apart from other candidates
Your resume experience section needs to balance your tangible workplace achievements with job requirements.
The easiest way to sustain this balance between meeting candidate expectations, while standing out, is to:
- Select really impressive career highlights to detail under each experience and support those with your skills;
- Assess the job advert to define both the basic requirements (which you could answer with more junior roles) and the more advanced requirements - which could play a more prominent role through your experience section;
- Create a separate experience section, if you decide on listing irrelevant experience items. Always curate those via the people or technical skills you've attained that match the current job you're applying for;
- Don't list experience items from a decade ago - as they may no longer be relevant to the industry. That is, unless you're applying for a more senior role: where experience would go to demonstrate your character and ambitions;
- Define how your role has helped make the team, department, or company better. Support this with your skill set and the initial challenge you were able to solve.
Take a look at how real-life front desk manager professionals have presented their resume experience section - always aiming to demonstrate their success.
- Oversaw a team of 10 front desk associates at a high-volume luxury hotel, improving check-in efficiency by 30% over two years.
- Implemented a new customer relationship management system which increased guest satisfaction scores by 15% within the first year of use.
- Negotiated with suppliers to reduce costs of office supplies by 20%, saving the hotel an estimated $5,000 annually.
- Led the front desk team at an upscale urban hotel, consistently achieving top rankings in service, resulting in a 25% increase in repeat guests.
- Collaborated with the IT department to upgrade the property management system, enhancing staff productivity and guest check-in speed.
- Developed and implemented staff training programs, leading to a reduction in average guest complaint resolution time by half.
- Directed the front desk operations at a boutique hotel, increasing annual bookings by 18% through strategic promotional partnerships and exemplary guest service.
- Coordinated multiple renovation projects to modernize the reception area without disrupting the guest experience.
- Introduced a cultural competency training program that lead to a 35% improvement in guest reviews relating to staff service.
- Managed the day-to-day operations of front desk staff at a large convention hotel with over 1,500 rooms, reducing check-in wait times by 40%.
- Oversaw the successful implementation of a loyalty program which contributed to a 20% increase in direct bookings.
- Spearheaded a customer service excellence initiative that led to the hotel winning a regional hospitality award.
- Supervised all aspects of guest services at a city center hotel, improving online rating scores consistently above 4.5 stars on major review platforms.
- Orchestrated an employee recognition program that resulted in a 50% decrease in staff turnover.
- Pioneered a full-scale analysis of guest feedback, leading to refinements in service offerings that catered to business travelers.
- Initiated an innovative virtual check-in process, leading to a drastic reduction in lobby congestion and improved guest satisfaction levels.
- Collaborated with the sales team to target corporate accounts, which increased long-term business stays by 32% within one year.
- Meticulously managed front desk budget, reducing expenses by 25% through smart scheduling and resource allocation.
- Led a successful cross-training program for front desk, concierge, and reservations teams to enhance overall staff versatility and service delivery.
- Played a key role in the hotel's strategic rebranding effort, which saw a 22% year-over-year increase in revenue.
- Implemented a guest feedback loop for continuous improvement, which lowered negative feedback by 40% over two years.
- Revitalized guest service protocols at a heritage hotel property, leading to a 10-point increase in NPS (Net Promoter Score) over the course of my tenure.
- Coordinated and optimized scheduling during peak seasons to ensure a 24/7 high-quality guest service without incurring overtime costs.
- Managed the integration of a new POS system for incidental charges, achieving a 20% quicker processing time for guest checkouts.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the number of guests assisted per day to demonstrate customer service capability and efficiency.
- State the percentage increase in customer satisfaction scores due to your initiatives to highlight customer relations improvements.
- Quantify the reduction in check-in and check-out time after process optimization to show operational improvements.
- List the exact number of front desk employees you’ve trained or managed to showcase leadership and training skills.
- Mention the dollar amount of transactions handled daily to indicate trustworthiness and experience with financial responsibilities.
- Specify the number of languages spoken fluently to emphasize communication skills and diversity.
- Measure the growth in loyalty program sign-ups to present successful marketing and sales efforts.
- Report the amount of revenue saved through cost-cutting measures you've implemented to demonstrate financial acumen.
Action verbs for your front desk manager resume
Making the most of your little to none professional experience
If you're hesitant to apply for your dream job due to limited professional experience, remember that recruiters also value the unique contributions you can offer.
Next time you doubt applying, consider this step-by-step approach for your resume's experience section:
- Rather than the standard reverse chronological order, opt for a functional-based format. This shifts the focus from your work history to your achievements and strengths;
- Include relevant internships, volunteer work, or other non-standard experiences in your front desk manager resume's experience section;
- Utilize your education, qualifications, and certifications to bridge gaps in your front desk manager resume experience;
- Emphasize your interpersonal skills and transferable skills from various industries. Often, recruiters seek a personality match, giving you an advantage over other candidates.
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List your educational qualifications and certifications in reverse chronological order.
Balancing hard and soft skills in your front desk manager resume
Recruiters indeed pay close attention to the specific hard and soft skills candidates possess. Hard skills refer to technical abilities or your proficiency in technologies, while soft skills are the personal attributes and qualities developed over your lifetime.
If you're unsure about effectively quantifying these skills on your resume, follow our step-by-step guide. It's crucial to first understand the key job requirements for the role. Doing so enables you to accurately list your:
- Hard skills in sections like skills, education, and certifications. Your technical expertise is straightforward to quantify. Most organizations find it sufficient to mention the certificates you've earned, along with your proficiency level.
- Soft skills within your experience, achievements, strengths, etc. Defining interpersonal communication traits in your resume can be challenging. Focus on showcasing the accomplishments you've achieved through these skills.
Remember, when tailoring your front desk manager resume, ensure that the skills you list match exactly with those in the job requirements. For instance, if the job listing specifies "Microsoft Word," include this exact term rather than just "Word" or "MSO."
Top skills for your front desk manager resume:
Customer Service
Booking and Reservation Management
Front Office Operations
Financial Transactions Handling
Record Keeping
Report Preparation
Property Management Systems
Office Administration
Conflict Resolution Techniques
Compliance with Safety Regulations
Leadership
Communication
Problem Solving
Multitasking
Empathy
Teamwork
Adaptability
Attention to Detail
Patience
Time Management
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Highlight any significant extracurricular activities that demonstrate valuable skills or leadership.
Certifications and education: in-demand sections for your front desk manager resume
Your academic background in the form of certifications on your resume and your higher degree education is important to your application.
The certifications and education sections pinpoint a variety of hard and soft skills you possess, as well as your dedication to the industry.
Add relevant certificates to your front desk manager resume by:
- Add special achievements or recognitions you've received during your education or certification, only if they're really noteworthy and/or applicable to the role
- Be concise - don't list every and any certificate you've obtained through your career, but instead, select the ones that would be most impressive to the role
- Include the name of the certificate or degree, institution, graduation dates, and certificate license numbers (if possible)
- Organize your education in reverse chronological format, starting with the latest degree you have that's most applicable for the role
Think of the education and certification sections as the further credibility your front desk manager resume needs to pinpoint your success.
Now, if you're stuck on these resume sections, we've curated a list of the most popular technical certificates across the industry.
Have a look, below:
The top 5 certifications for your front desk manager resume:
- Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Certified Rooms Division Executive (CRDE) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Front Desk Representative (FDR) Certification - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
- Professional Front Desk Manager (PFDM) - International Hospitality Institutes (IHI)
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List all your relevant higher education degrees within your resume in reverse chronological order (starting with the latest). There are cases when your PhD in a particular field could help you stand apart from other candidates.
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Deciding between a resume summary or objective for your front desk manager role
Understanding the distinction between a resume summary and an objective is crucial for your front desk manager resume.
A resume summary, typically three to five sentences long, offers a concise overview of your career. This is the place to showcase your most pertinent experience, key accomplishments, and skills. It's particularly well-suited for those with professional experience relevant to the job requirements.
In contrast, a resume objective focuses on how you can add value to potential employers. It addresses why they should hire you and outlines your career expectations and learning goals. Therefore, it's ideal for candidates with less experience.
In the following section of our guide, explore how resume summaries and objectives differ through some exemplary industry-specific examples.
Resume summaries for a front desk manager job
- Front Desk Manager with over 6 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, adept at leveraging excellent communication and organizational skills to enhance guest satisfaction. Successfully increased hotel occupancy rates by 20% through proactive guest management and implementing targeted promotional campaigns.
- Seasoned Customer Service Professional pivoting to a Front Desk Manager role, bringing a track record of overseeing successful call center operations and improving customer satisfaction scores by 15%. Keen to leverage cross-industry expertise to deliver exceptional guest experiences in a fast-paced hotel environment.
- Dynamic professional with a background in corporate event planning, eager to transition into hospitality management. Combining 5 years of experience in orchestrating large-scale events with a passion for providing top-tier customer service, poised to drive success as a Front Desk Manager.
- Skilled Front Desk Manager with 8 years in luxury hotel settings, proficient in Opera PMS and adept at team leadership. Recognized for cutting operational costs by 30% without compromising service quality, aiming to bring this expertise to a new and challenging environment.
- Eager to launch a career in hospitality as a Front Desk Manager, I am committed to learning the intricacies of hotel operations from the ground up. With a B.A. in Communications and a strong background in volunteering for public events, I aim to exceed guest expectations and contribute to high standards of service.
- With a freshly earned degree in Hotel Management and a genuine enthusiasm for hospitality service, I am determined to apply my academic knowledge and customer service skills. As a budding Front Desk Manager, I aim to create memorable guest experiences while growing with a establishment renowned for excellence.
Recruiters' favorite additional front desk manager resume sections
When writing your front desk manager resume, you may be thinking to yourself, " Is there anything more I can add on to stand out? ".
Include any of the below four sections you deem relevant, to ensure your front desk manager resume further builds up your professional and personal profile:
Key takeaways
We've reached the end of our front desk manager resume guide and hope this information has been useful. As a summary of our key points:
- Always assess the job advert for relevant requirements and integrate those buzzwords across various sections of your front desk manager resume by presenting tangible metrics of success;
- Quantify your hard skills in your certificates and skills section, while your soft skills in your resume achievements section;
- Ensure you've added additional relevant experience items, such as extracurricular activities and projects you've participated in or led;
- Use both your resume experience and summary to focus on what matters the most to the role: including your technical, character, and cultural fit for the company.
