As a tour guide, your resume challenge might include effectively conveying the breadth of your interpersonal skills and the variety of your cultural knowledge to potential employers. Our guide can help you structure your resume to highlight these unique qualifications, making sure they stand out to those who make the hiring decisions.
- Incorporate tour guide job advert keywords into key sections of your resume, such as the summary, header, and experience sections;
- Quantify your experience using achievements, certificates, and more in various tour guide resume sections;
- Apply practical insights from real-life tour guide resume examples to enhance your own profile;
- Choose the most effective tour guide resume format to succeed in any evaluation process.
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How to style your tour guide resume: layout and format
When creating your tour guide resume, have you ever wondered how long it should be? Experts point out that it should be between one and two pages. Choose the longer format, if you happen to have over a decade of relevant experience. What is more, resume formats play a crucial role in presenting your experience. Use the:- Reverse-chronological resume format to highlight your experience;
- Functional skill-based resume format if you have less experience and want to focus on skills;
- Hybrid resume format to guide recruiters through both your experience and skills.
- Make sure your headline is simple and includes the job you're applying for or your current role, an abbreviation of a certificate you have, or even your professional area of interest;
- Always tailor your tour guide resume to the role you're applying for by matching job requirements to your experience via different resume sections;
- Once you've created your resume, download it in PDF (unless otherwise specified). This is to ensure readability and that the layout remains fixed.
Targeting Canada? – Keep in mind their resume layout may differ from others.
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PRO TIP
Listing your relevant degrees or certificates on your tour guide resume is a win-win situation. Not only does it hint at your technical capabilities in the industry, but an array of soft skills, like perseverance, adaptability, and motivation.
Essential sections that should make up your tour guide resume include:
- The header - with your contact details (e.g. email and telephone number), link to your portfolio, and headline
- The summary (or objective) - to spotlight the peaks of your professional career, so far
- The experience section - with up to six bullets per role to detail specific outcomes
- The skills list - to provide a healthy mix between your personal and professional talents
- The education and certification - showing your most relevant degrees and certificates to the tour guide role
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Knowledge of relevant history, culture, and attractions specific to the tour area
- Excellent communication and storytelling skills
- Experience in public speaking and audience engagement
- Customer service skills and ability to handle diverse groups of clients
- Language skills, especially proficiency in languages spoken by tour participants
Adding your relevant experience to your tour guide resume
If you're looking for a way to show recruiters that your expertise is credible, look no further than the resume experience section.
Your tour guide resume experience can be best curated in a structured, bulleted list detailing the particulars of your career:
- Always integrate metrics of success - what did you actually achieve in the role?
- Scan the tour guide advert for your dream role in search of keywords in the job requirements - feature those all through your past/current experience;
- Dedicate a bullet (or two) to spotlight your technical capabilities and how you're able to use the particular software/technology in your day-to-day roles;
- Write simple by including your responsibility, a job advert keyword or skill, and a tangible outcome of your success;
- Use the experience section to also define the unique value of working with you in the form of soft skills, relevant feedback, and the company culture you best thrive in.
Industry leaders always ensure that their resume experience section offers an enticing glimpse at their expertise, while telling a career narrative. Explore these sample tour guide resumes on how to best create your resume experience section.
- Led historical tours throughout downtown Boston for groups up to 50 individuals, consistently receiving 5-star reviews for engagement and knowledge.
- Pioneered a new interactive tour experience using AR technology, increasing customer engagement by 30% over a six-month period.
- Coordinated with local businesses to include exclusive stops on tours, which raised tour profitability by 20% due to additional sales.
- Restructured the training program for new tour guides, improving retention rates by 25% within the first year.
- Managed scheduling for a team of 15 tour guides, ensuring 100% tour availability during peak tourist seasons.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to create engaging promotional materials that increased off-season tour participation by 15%.
- Designed and executed a themed tour route focusing on the city's prohibition era, which drew an average of 200 attendees per month.
- Implemented a customer feedback system that led to a continuous improvement process, enhancing tour content and guest satisfaction consistently each quarter.
- Established partnerships with local universities to offer educational tours, which increased quarterly revenue by 10% through student group bookings.
- Provided engaging and informative eco-tourism tours in the Yellowstone region, increasing awareness about local conservation efforts.
- Assisted in the development of a digital tour guidebook for Yellowstone, which contributed to a 15% uptick in self-guided tour purchases.
- Received the 'Most Valuable Guide' award for consistently achieving the highest guest satisfaction ratings in the team.
- Managed and conducted nightly ghost tours in New Orleans, attracting 1000+ guests per month with engaging storytelling techniques.
- Launched a VIP ghost tour experience that incorporated theatrical elements, resulting in a 40% increase in premium tour bookings.
- Trained new guides in storytelling and public speaking, ensuring high-quality delivery and maintaining a consistent 90%+ customer satisfaction rate.
- Organized and guided educational tours for international students at Washington DC monuments, facilitating cultural exchange and broadening students' historical perspectives.
- Developed a partnership program with local schools to incorporate civics and history tours into their curriculum, generating an additional 5-7 group bookings per month.
- Implemented an audio tour option for international visitors, increasing accessibility and tour participation by non-English speakers by 20%.
- Led daily vineyard tours, explaining winemaking processes and hosting tastings, which helped increase wine club membership sign-ups by 35% year-over-year.
- Introduced a seasonal 'Harvest Experience' tour that allowed guests to participate in grape picking and stomping, leading to a 50% increase in off-season tour bookings.
- Curated and updated educational materials regarding viticulture to enhance the visitor experience, earning a feature in 'Best Wine Tours Magazine'.
- Developed a multi-lingual navigation app for self-guided tours around San Francisco landmarks, which was downloaded over 10,000 times within the first year.
- Organized special event tours around major festivals, such as the Chinese New Year parade, resulting in sell-out attendance each time.
- Collaborated with the city's tourism board to offer customized tours for business delegations, resulting in a long-term partnership and repeat business.
- Narrated and conducted boat tours along the Chicago River, highlighting architectural landmarks and contributing to a yearly 20% increase in tour frequency due to popular demand.
- Collaborated with a team to develop an award-winning educational program for school groups, recognized by the National Tour Association for its innovation.
- Acted as a spokesperson in local media to promote tourism in Chicago, which corresponded with a steady growth in tour sales.
- Initiated a night sky observation tour in the desert, attracting astronomers and enthusiasts, and generating a 25% increase in off-peak season bookings.
- Engaged with local astronomers to create accurate, compelling content for stargazing tours, which was well-received and increased repeat visitation.
- Managed the tour equipment, including telescopes and audio devices, ensuring optimal condition and resulting in a decrease in maintenance costs by 15%.
The following content includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top responsibilities present on the task lists for tour guide professionals.
Top Responsibilities for Tour Guide:
- Describe tour points of interest to group members, and respond to questions.
- Escort individuals or groups on cruises, sightseeing tours, or through places of interest, such as industrial establishments, public buildings, or art galleries.
- Monitor visitors' activities to ensure compliance with establishment or tour regulations and safety practices.
- Conduct educational activities for school children.
- Research various topics, including site history, environmental conditions, and clients' skills and abilities to plan appropriate expeditions, instruction, and commentary.
- Provide directions and other pertinent information to visitors.
- Select travel routes and sites to be visited based on knowledge of specific areas.
- Provide for physical safety of groups, performing such activities as providing first aid or directing emergency evacuations.
- Assemble and check the required supplies and equipment prior to departure.
- Greet and register visitors, and issue any required identification badges or safety devices.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- List the number of tours successfully conducted to demonstrate reliability and experience.
- Include the average number of participants per tour to show capability in managing large groups.
- State the percentage of repeat customers to highlight customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Mention any increase in tour sales or revenue to showcase a direct impact on business growth.
- Quantify the number of languages spoken, which evidences communication skills and cultural inclusivity.
- Detail the number of historical sites or attractions learned and covered to reflect extensive knowledge.
- Indicate the number of positive reviews or ratings received to emphasize a strong service record.
- Reference any training or certifications completed, specifying the number to establish professional development.
Action verbs for your tour guide resume
What to do if you don't have any experience
It's quite often that candidates without relevant work experience apply for a more entry-level role - and they end up getting hired.
Candidate resumes without experience have these four elements in common:
- Instead of listing their experience in reverse-chronological format (starting with the latest), they've selected a functional-skill-based format. In that way, tour guide resumes become more focused on strengths and skills
- Transferrable skills - or ones obtained thanks to work and life experience - have become the core of the resume
- Within the objective, you'd find career achievements, the reason behind the application, and the unique value the candidate brings about to the specific role
- Candidate skills are selected to cover basic requirements, but also show any niche expertise.
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PRO TIP
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.
Popular tour guide hard skills and soft skills for your resume
Apart from assessing your professional expertise, recruiters are on the lookout for whether your skills align with the job.
Your profile would thus be assessed in regard to your:
- Hard or technical skills - your ability to perform on the job using particular technologies or software
- Soft skills - how you adapt, communicate, and thrive in different environments.
Both types of skills - hard and soft skills - are important for your resume, so make sure to create a dedicated skills section that:
- Lists up to five or six skills that align with the job advert.
- Integrates vital keywords for the industry, but also reflects on your personal strengths.
- Builds up further your skills with an achievements section within which you explain what you've achieved thanks to using the particular skill.
- Aims to always quantify in some way how you've used the skill, as it's not enough to just list it.
What are the most sought out hard and soft skills for tour guide roles?
Check out the industry's top choices with our two dedicated lists below:
Top skills for your tour guide resume:
GPS Navigation
Audio Guide Systems
Tour Management Software
First Aid Certification
Public Address Systems
Booking and Reservation Systems
Virtual Tour Platforms
Photography Skills
Language Proficiency
Cultural Knowledge Databases
Communication
Storytelling
Interpersonal Skills
Adaptability
Problem Solving
Customer Service
Time Management
Teamwork
Empathy
Conflict Resolution
Next, you will find information on the top technologies for tour guide professonals from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Top technologies for Tour Guide’s resume:
- Email software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Pear Deck
- Centaur Systems Centaur Travel Business Management System TBMS
- TourTech Systems TourTools
PRO TIP
If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.
The basics of your tour guide resume certifications and education sections
Improve the education and certification sections of your tour guide resume by:
- Dedicating more prominent space to certificates that are more recent and have helped you update your skill set
- Keeping all the information you list to the basics: certificate/degree name, institution, and graduation dates
- Writing supplementary information in the details of your certification or education section, only if you lack experience or want to show further skill alignment
- Including your credential or license number, only if the information is valid to your application or certification
Within tour guide job adverts, relevant education, and certification are always listed within the key prerequisite for the role.
Ensure you meet all job requirements with some of the leading certificates in the industry:
The top 5 certifications for your tour guide resume:
- Certified tour guide (CTG) - Professional tour guide Association of Australia (PTGAA)
- National tour guide Certification (NTGC) - Institute of Certified Tourist Guides (ICTG)
- World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations Certification (WFTGA) - World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations
- Professional tour guide Certification (PTGC) - International Association of Tour Managers (IATM)
- Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) - National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
The content below includes information from "O*NET OnLine" by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data represents the top associations for tour guide professionals.
Top US associations for a Tour Guide professional
- American Alliance of Museums
- International Air Transport Association
- International Longshore and Warehouse Union
- National Art Education Association
- National Association for Interpretation
PRO TIP
The more trusted the organization you've attained your certificate (or degree) from, the more credible your skill set would be.
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Tour guide resume summary or objective? the best choice is based on your experience
If you're wondering about the relevancy of the resume summary or the resume objective to your tour guide application - here's the truth.
The summary and objective provide recruiters with your expertise and accomplishments at a glance, within an up-to-five-sentence structure.
The difference is that the:
- Resume objective is also more focused on emphasizing your career goals. The objective is the perfect fit for (potentially more junior) candidates who'd like to balance their relevant experience with their career goals.
- Resume summary can provide you with space to also detail the unique value of what it's like to work with you. Tour guide candidates who have many noteworthy accomplishments start from the get-go with their summary.
Ensure that either type of resume introduction presents your tour guide expertise in the best light and aligns it with the job advert.
The more details you can provide with numbers, the more compelling your resume summary or objective will be.
Real-world tour guide candidates follow these frameworks in writing their resume summaries and objectives.
The end results are usually as such:
Resume summaries for a tour guide job
- With over five years of experience as a charismatic tour guide, I bring to the table a deep knowledge of European history, fluency in Spanish and English, and a notable accomplishment of being awarded 'Best tour guide' by Tourist Awards 2021. My expertise lies in creating engaging narratives that bring ancient cities to life.
- As a passionate historian with ten years of lecturing at the university level, I am eager to apply my storytelling skills and extensive knowledge of Mediterranean civilizations in a more dynamic environment where I can interact closely with history enthusiasts and travelers alike.
- Armed with a BA in Performing Arts and a zest for cultural exploration, I am ready to transition from the stage to the streets, aiming to leverage my performance experience to deliver unforgettable and educational tours around New York's theatrical landmarks.
- Seasoned hospitality professional with 8 years of experience in customer service at 5-star resorts now seeking to bring a worldly perspective and unparalleled guest service skills to leading memorable and personalized tours across the multicultural landscape of Los Angeles.
- Eager to embark on a career as an urban adventure guide, leveraging my passion for city exploration and storytelling, I am committed to learning and sharing the architectural and cultural secrets of Chicago's skyline, fostering a memorable and insightful experience for every guest.
- With no prior industry experience but a lifetime enthusiasm for wildlife and conservation, my objective is to contribute to eco-friendly tours in the Amazon, where I can utilize my Bachelor's in Environmental Science to educate visitors on biodiversity, fostering sustainable tourism practices.
Average salary info by state in the US for tour guide professionals
Local salary info for Tour Guide.” Source: My Next Move, National Center for O*NET Development. Accessed 10/15/2024
| State | Average Salary (in USD) |
|---|---|
| US National Average | $36,060 |
| California (CA) | $39,930 |
| Texas (TX) | $34,450 |
| Florida (FL) | $34,410 |
| New York (NY) | $38,320 |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $33,140 |
| Illinois (IL) | $35,910 |
| Ohio (OH) | $29,500 |
| Georgia (GA) | $31,620 |
| North Carolina (NC) | $33,280 |
| Michigan (MI) | $32,590 |
Additional valuable tour guide resume sections to stand out
When assessing candidate applications, recruiters are often on the lookout for elements that go beyond meeting standard requirements and technical expertise.
This is where extra sections could play a key role in showcasing your unique skill set and personality.
Make sure to include sections dedicated to:
- How you spend your free time, outside of work. The interests resume section also goes to show your personality and transferrable skills; and may also serve to fill in gaps in your experience;
- Most innovative work. The projects resume section brings focus to what you're most proud of within the field;
- How you're able to overcome language barriers. The language resume section is always nice to have, especially if communication would be a big part of your future role;
- Industry-wide recognitions. Remember that the awards resume section should highlight your most noteworthy accolades and prizes.
Key takeaways
- Ensure your tour guide resume uses a simple, easy-to-read format that reflects upon your experience and aligns with the role;
- Be specific within the top one-third of your resume (header and summary or objective) to pinpoint what makes you the ideal candidate for the tour guide role;
- Curate information that is tailored to the job by detailing skills, achievements, and actual outcomes of your efforts;
- List your certifications and technical capabilities to demonstrate your aptitude with specific software and technologies;
- The sections you decide on including on your tour guide should pinpoint your professional expertise and personality.
