As a hostess, one significant resume challenge you might encounter is effectively showcasing your multitasking skills and ability to handle a fast-paced environment. Our guide can assist you by providing strategies to highlight these skills through quantifiable achievements and relevant experience, ensuring your resume stands out to potential employers.
- Sample industry-leading examples to learn how to write your best resume yet.
- Improve the experience, education, and achievements section of your resume with insights from resume-writing professionals.
- Curate your technical expertise and personality to stand out amongst the pool of candidates.
- Succinctly focus on your unique skill set all through your hostess resume.
If the hostess resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:
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- Fine Dining Resume Example
- Assistant Restaurant Manager Resume Example
- Server Bartender Resume Example
- High Volume Bartender Resume Example
- McDonalds Resume Example
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Optimize your hostess resume format to pass the recruiters' assessment
You may be wondering just how much time you need to spend on designing your hostess resume.What recruiters are looking for is systematised content that is clear and coherent. Thus, your hostess resume needs to answer requirements and why you're the best candidate for the role from the get-go.
Often, a clear layout consists of:
- Sorting your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your most recent and relevant roles. This is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals;
- Writing your contact information (e.g. personal phone number and email address) and your portfolio or LinkedIn link in your hostess resume header. If you're wondering to include a photo or not, always make sure that it's appropriate for the country you're applying in;
- Use the basic, most important hostess resume sections - your experience, education, summary, etc. Use your resume's real estate wisely to tell a compelling, professional story and match job description's keywords;
- Don't go overboard with the length of your resume. One page is absolutely fine if you happen to have under a decade of relevant experience.
Are you still wondering if you should submit your hostess resume in PDF or Word format ? The PDF has a few more advantages, as it doesn't change the format and the text can't be altered upon application.
Format matters most when your hostess resume is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS).
The ATS parses resumes, looking for specific keywords, skills or experience that match the job description.
P.S. We recently did a study on how the ATS works and were able to demystify three of the biggest misconceptions about how it assesses candidate resumes.
To pass the ATS evaluation, select any of the serif or sans-serif fonts. Popular choices that would help your hostess resume stand out include Raleway, Exo 2, Montserrat, etc.
Most traditionalists go for Arial or Times New Roman, but it's often the case that many candidates choose these fonts, and you'd thus lose points on the uniqueness front.
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Listing your relevant degrees or certificates on your hostess 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.
Recruiters' preferred hostess resume sections:
- A header with relevant contact information and headline, listing your current job title
- A resume summary or objective pinpointing what is most impressive about your expertise (that aligns with the role)
- An experience section highlighting the specifics of your responsibilities and achievements
- A skills sidebar to intertwine job advert keywords with your unique talents
- An education and certifications sections to serve as further accreditation to your professional experience
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven ability to manage reservations and seating arrangements efficiently.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with guests and providing exceptional service.
- Experience in multitasking and handling high-pressure situations during peak hours.
- Demonstrable skills in conflict resolution to address and resolve any customer complaints or issues.
- Knowledge of point-of-sale systems and basic administrative duties associated with guest management.
What is the resume experience section and how to write one for your past roles
The experience section in a hostess resume is critical for your profile and overall application. It should not only display your work history, but also highlight your achievements in previous roles.
Many candidates either simply list their duties or provide excessive details about past, irrelevant jobs. A more effective approach involves first examining the job advertisement for keywords - specifically, skills essential for the role. Then, demonstrate these key requirements throughout different parts of your resume, using accomplishments from your roles.
Format each bullet point in your experience section by starting with a strong action verb. Follow this with a description of your role and its impact on the team or organization.
Aim to include three to five bullet points for each role.
Finally, gain insights into how professionals have crafted their hostess resume experience sections by exploring some best practice examples.
- Greeted and managed restaurant seating for approximately 150-200 guests per shift, ensuring guest satisfaction and streamlining wait times by 20%.
- Coordinated with a service team of 10+ members to communicate wait times and special requests, enhancing team efficiency and customer service ratings.
- Implemented a new table management system to improve the seating process, which increased overall dining turnover by 15%.
- Skillfully handled phone reservations and inquiries, increasing booking efficiency by organizing schedules for peak dining hours.
- Assisted in planning and executing private events for up to 100 guests, contributing to a 25% rise in event-hosting revenue.
- Trained and supervised a team of new hostesses, leading to a reduction in guest wait time by an average of 10 minutes.
- Developed a rapport with regular customers by remembering their preferences, which contributed to a 30% increase in repeat business.
- Managed guest flow during high season by efficiently balancing walk-ins and reservations, decreasing table turnover time by 18%.
- Liaised with kitchen staff to ensure timely delivery of food, leading to a 10% improvement in customer feedback regarding meal pacing.
- Designed and maintained an organized seating chart, which maximized space usage and decreased guest wait time by 15 minutes.
- Enhanced the customer experience by personalizing greetings for VIP clients, securing an upsell rate of 20% on premium seating.
- Collaborated with management to identify and implement strategies that resulted in a 5% revenue growth in the fiscal year 2015.
- Improved guest satisfaction metrics by consistently delivering a friendly and efficient seating service, reducing complaints by 40%.
- Pioneered a feedback collection initiative, leading to actionable improvements in customer service that reduced negative online reviews by half.
- Facilitated communication between kitchen and front-of-house teams, enabling more accurate wait time predictions and a 10% drop in walk-aways.
- Contributed to brand reputation by maintaining high standards of customer service during peak hours, serving over 5000+ customers a month.
- Participated in the development of a loyalty program that incentivized repeat visits, achieving a subscriber base growth of 35%.
- Initiated a bilingual greeting protocol that improved guest inclusivity and increased the satisfaction score among international patrons by 25%.
- Mastered the use of advanced reservation software to efficiently manage bookings and reduce overbooking incidents by 90%.
- Curated a monthly event calendar to engage guests, driving a 20% uptick in repeat visitations.
- Spearheaded a guest recognition program, acknowledging frequent patrons and personalizing service, which bolstered customer satisfaction by 22%.
- Directed a customer service training workshop for new staff, contributing to the restaurant winning a local 'Best Service' award in 2016.
- Innovated a theme-night initiative on weekends that drew in 30% more diners compared to regular nights.
- Actively managed Yelp and Google reviews, addressing concerns and thanking patrons for feedback, cultivating a trustworthy brand image.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- List the number of guests you efficiently managed per shift, showing your capability to handle volume and maintain quality service.
- Mention the percentage by which you helped increase customer satisfaction scores, reflecting your dedication to guest experience.
- Quantify the number of reservations you handled daily, demonstrating your organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Include the number of team members you trained, indicating your leadership abilities and knowledge sharing.
- State any measurable reduction in guest wait times due to your effective management, showcasing your problem-solving skills.
- Highlight the number of special events or large parties you've successfully coordinated, proving your capability to plan and execute.
- Report any increases in repeat customer visits during your tenure, showing your contribution to business growth.
- Detail the number of menu items you are familiar with, if applicable, to display your extensive knowledge of the establishment's offerings.
Action verbs for your hostess resume
No experience, no problem: writing your hostess resume
You're quite set on the hostess role of your dreams and think your application may add further value to your potential employers. Yet, you have no work experience . Here's how you can curate your resume to substitute your lack of experience:
- Don't list every single role you've had so far, but focus on ones that would align with the job you're applying for
- Include any valid experience in the field - whether it's at research or intern level
- Highlight the soft skills you'd bring about - those personality traits that have an added value to your application
- Focus on your education and certifications, if they make sense for the role.
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If you failed to obtain one of the certificates, as listed in the requirements, but decide to include it on your resume, make sure to include a note somewhere that you have the "relevant training, but are planning to re-take the exams". Support this statement with the actual date you're planning to be re-examined. Always be honest on your resume.
In-demand hard skills and soft skills for your hostess resume
A vital element for any hostess resume is the presentation of your skill set.
Recruiters always take the time to assess your:
- Technological proficiency or hard skills - which software and technologies can you use and at what level?
- People/personal or soft skills - how apt are you at communicating your ideas across effectively? Are you resilient to change?
The ideal candidate presents the perfect balance of hard skills and soft skills all through the resume, but more particular within a dedicated skills section.
Building your hostess skills section, you should:
- List up to six skills that answer the requirements and are unique to your expertise.
- Include a soft skill (or two) that defines you as a person and professional - perhaps looking back on feedback you've received from previous managers, etc.
- Create up to two skills sections that are organized based on the types of skills you list (e.g. "technical skills", "soft skills", "hostess skills", etc.).
- If you happen to have technical certifications that are vital to the industry and really impressive, include their names within your skills section.
At times, it really is frustrating to think back on all the skills you possess and discover the best way to communicate them across.
We understand this challenge - that's why we've prepared two lists (of hard skills and soft skills) to help you build your next resume, quicker and more efficiently:
Top skills for your hostess resume:
Reservation Management
Seating Arrangement
Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems
Basic Accounting
Menu Knowledge
Health and Safety Regulations
Customer Service
Multitasking
Phone Etiquette
Conflict Resolution
Communication
Interpersonal Skills
Patience
Active Listening
Problem Solving
Attention to Detail
Adaptability
Teamwork
Time Management
Empathy
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Highlight any significant extracurricular activities that demonstrate valuable skills or leadership.
Listing your education and certifications on your hostess resume
Don't underestimate the importance of your resume education section . As it may hint at various skills (and experience) that are relevant to the job. When writing your education section:
- Include only higher education degrees with information about the institution and start/end dates
- If you're in the process of obtaining your degree, include your expected graduation date
- Consider leaving off degrees that aren't relevant to the job or industry
- Write a description of your education if it presents you with an opportunity to further showcase your achievements in a more research-focused environment
When describing your certifications on your resume, always consider their relevancy to the role. Use the same format to describe them as you would for your education. If you're wondering what the best certificates out there are for hostess roles, check out the list below.
The top 5 certifications for your hostess resume:
- Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
- Food Handler Certificate (FHC) - State or Local Health Departments
- Training for Intervention Procedures (TIPS) - Health Communications, Inc.
- Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
- National Restaurant Association ServSafe Certification - National Restaurant Association
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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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Hostess resume summaries or objectives: real-world samples for best industry practices
Grasp recruiters' attention from the get-go of your application with a professional Hostess resume summary or objective.
It's wise to select the:
- Resume objective , if you don't happen to have much experience alignment and would like to more prominently feature your dreams and personality.
- Resume summary , if you'd like to have a more standard approach to your application and feature up to five career highlights to help you stand out.
Writing your resume summary or objective should be tailored to each role you apply for.
Think about what would impress the recruiters and go from there.
But, if you need further help with this introductory section, check out some real-world samples in the next part of this guide:
Resume summaries for a hostess job
- With over 5 years of experience as a dedicated hostess at a high-volume Michelin-starred restaurant in New York, I possess polished communication skills, exceptional organizational prowess, and a proven track record of enhancing customer satisfaction through impeccable service management and a warm, welcoming demeanor.
- Seasoned customer service professional with a decade-long background in the retail industry seamlessly transitioning to hospitality, bringing forth strong interpersonal abilities, adeptness in managing fast-paced environments, and a passion for providing memorable guest experiences in a hostess capacity at a reputable dining establishment.
- Dedicated professional with 3 years of experience in corporate event coordination looking to leverage profound organizational skills, expertise in handling diverse clientele, and strong multitasking abilities in contributing to the success of a prestigious restaurant's front-of-house team as an enthusiastic hostess.
- An enthusiastic advocate for healthy lifestyles and nutrition, I am eager to apply my 4 years of experience in fitness center management to cultivating a positive and energetic first impression for guests as a hostess at a health-conscious restaurant, aiming to synchronize guest experiences with their well-being goals.
- Keen to embark on a career in hospitality, I am committed to offering top-tier customer service and mastering the intricacies of guest relations, hoping to shape a foundation for exemplary performance as a hostess while maximizing client satisfaction and contributing to the ambient allure of the establishment.
- A recent graduate with a degree in Hospitality Management and a passion for the culinary arts, I am seeking to jumpstart my career by providing a welcoming smile and a meticulous eye for detail to ensure patrons of a busy urban eatery are greeted and seated with efficiency and care.
Other hostess resume sections to support your expertise and skills
Recruiters are always on the lookout for that hostess candidate who brings about even more value to the role.
This can be either via their personality or additional accreditations they have across the industry.
Add to your resume any of the four sections that fit your profile:
- Projects for your most impressive, cutting-edge work;
- Awards or recognitions that matter the most;
- Publications further building up your professional portfolio and accreditations;
- Hobbies and interests to feature the literature you read, how you spend your time outside of work, and other personality traits you deem may help you stand out .
Key takeaways
- The format and layout of your hostess resume should reflect on both your career and what matters most to the job you're applying for;
- Use the resume summary and objective to hint at your most prominent accomplishments;
- Always be specific about your experience and consider what value each bullet you curate adds to your hostess application;
- Consider how your academic background and technical capabilities could further showcase your alignment to the role;
- Your soft skills should contribute to your overall hostess profile - aligning your personality with skills and results.
