Crafting your CV as a hostess can often be daunting when it comes to articulating your diverse skill set in a compelling way. Our guide provides you with tailored tips and examples to help present your hospitality experience effectively, ensuring your application stands out to potential employers.
- Answer job requirements with your hostess CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your hostess CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Formatting your hostess CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional hostess CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional hostess CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
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Use font size and style strategically to create a visual hierarchy, drawing the reader's eye to the most important information first (like your name and most recent job title).
The top sections on a hostess CV
- Personal statement summarises your career goal as a hostess.
- Employment history shows previous hostess or related roles.
- Key skills highlight abilities pertinent to the hostess position.
- Educational background includes relevant hospitality training.
- Additional languages spoken relevant for diverse clientele.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight any experience in customer service or hospitality to demonstrate your ability to engage with guests and create a welcoming atmosphere.
- Focus on your communication skills, mentioning any multilingual abilities that can help accommodate a diverse clientele.
- Include specifics about your organisational skills and ability to manage reservations and seating arrangements efficiently.
- Detail any past experience with point of sale systems or other relevant technology used in a hostess role to show your technical proficiency.
- Emphasise your flexibility and adaptability by mentioning your experience with working in fast-paced environments and your ability to handle stress during peak dining hours.
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How to present your contact details and job keywords in your hostess CV header
Located at the top of your hostess CV, the header presents recruiters with your key personal information, headline, and professional photo. When creating your CV header, include your:
- Contact details - avoid listing your work email or telephone number and, also, email addresses that sound unprofessional (e.g. koolKittyCat$3@gmail.com is definitely a big no);
- Headline - it should be relevant, concise, and specific to the role you're applying for, integrating keywords and action verbs;
- Photo - instead of including a photograph from your family reunion, select one that shows you in a more professional light. It's also good to note that in some countries (e.g. the UK and US), it's best to avoid photos on your CV as they may serve as bias.
What do other industry professionals include in their CV header? Make sure to check out the next bit of your guide to see real-life examples:
Examples of good CV headlines for hostess:
- Head Restaurant Hostess | Exceptional Customer Service | Hospitality Management Certificate | 8 Years of Experience
- Senior Event Hostess | VIP Guest Relations | Team Leadership | Health & Safety Awareness | 5+ Years' Expertise
- Lead Reception Hostess | Bilingual: English/Spanish | Front of House Specialist | 7 Years in Industry
- Junior Hostess Professional | Customer Engagement | Entry-Level | Hospitality NVQ Level 2 Qualified
- Cruise Ship Hostess | International Guest Experience | Event Coordination | 4 Years at Sea
- Professional Club Hostess | Nightlife Entertainment Expert | Dynamic Environment Adaptability | 6 Years High-End Venues
Opting between a hostess CV summary or objective
Within the top one third of your hostess CV, you have the opportunity to briefly summarise your best achievements or present your professional goals and dreams. Those two functions are met by either the CV summary or the objective.
- The summary is three-to-five sentences long and should narrate your best successes, while answering key requirements for the role. Select up to three skills which you can feature in your summary. Always aim to present what the actual outcomes were of using your particular skill set. The summary is an excellent choice for more experienced professionals.
- The objective is more focused on showcasing your unique value as a candidate and defining your dreams and ambitions. Think about highlighting how this current opportunity would answer your career vision. Also, about how you could help your potential employers grow. The objective matches the needs of less experienced candidates, who need to prove their skill set and, in particular, their soft skills.
Still not sure about how to write your CV opening statement? Use some best industry examples as inspiration:
CV summaries for a hostess job:
- With over 5 years of dedicated experience as a professional restaurant hostess at a Michelin-starred establishment in London, I possess expert-level knowledge of dining room management and exceptional customer service skills. Most notably, I orchestrated a guest flow management system that increased seating efficiency by 20%.
- Enthusiastic former retail manager with a strong background in customer service and team leadership, seeking to transfer a decade of expertise into the hospitality industry. Adept at managing high-volume environments and renowned for elevating customer satisfaction ratings within a retail setting by 25% through personalised service strategies.
- Seasoned front desk coordinator from the luxury hotel sector, eager to leverage extensive experience in premium client relations and operational coordination to thrive in a high-end restaurant ambiance. Key achievements include revamping the guest check-in protocol to streamline efficiency, recognised by a National Hospitality Service Award.
- An accomplished event planner with 7 years of experience, aiming to excel in a dynamic hostessing role by bringing a sophisticated understanding of client needs and bespoke event management skills. Proven ability to enhance client experiences and maintain the utmost professionalism under pressure was demonstrated by winning the 'Top Event Architect' award in 2020.
- As a determined individual with a genuine passion for the hospitality industry, I am eager to develop the skills necessary to become an exemplary hostess. My objective is to contribute fresh perspectives and a hard-working attitude to a team, while absorbing industry best practices and delivering first-class patron experiences.
- I am a recent graduate with strong intercultural communication skills and a fervent desire to start a career in hospitality. My academic background in business administration and volunteer experience organising local community events form the foundation of my objective to provide exceptional guest service while mastering the intricacies of restaurant management.
More detailed look into your work history: best advice on writing your hostess CV experience section
The CV experience is a space not just to merely list your past roles and responsibilities. It is the CV real estate within which you could detail your greatest accomplishments and skills, while matching the job requirements. Here's what to have in your experience section:
- Prove you have what the job wants with your unique skill set and past successes;
- Start each bullet with a strong, action verb, and continue with the outcome of your responsibility;
- Use any awards, nominations, and recognitions you've received as solid proof of your skill set and expertise;
- align your experience with the role responsibilities and duties.
For more help on how to write your CV experience section, check out the next section of our guide:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Efficiently managed a busy reservation system, accurately booking and confirming dining reservations, resulting in a 30% decrease in guest wait times.
- Greeted and welcomed guests with a warm and friendly demeanour, consistently receiving positive feedback and contributing to a 20% increase in repeat customer visits.
- Maintained a high level of professionalism and poise during peak service hours, ensuring a smooth and efficient dining experience for up to 100 guests per shift.
- Developed a thorough knowledge of the menu, special dietary requirements, and allergens, enabling tailored guest recommendations and enhancing overall satisfaction.
- Coordinated with the kitchen and service teams to manage guest flow, reducing table turn times by 15% without compromising service quality.
- Implemented an effective seating strategy that maximised dining room occupancy and contributed to a 10% increase in daily covers.
- Handled customer enquiries and complaints with empathy and resolution-oriented approach, successfully defusing potential issues and maintaining the establishment's reputation.
- Assisted in training new hostess staff, creating a mentorship programme that improved the onboarding process and team collaboration.
- Employed strong organisational skills to keep the hosting area clean and well-stocked with materials, ensuring seamless operations and a tidy entrance for guests.
- Coordinated seating for an average of 400 guests per shift at a high-volume TGI Fridays, enhancing customer satisfaction through efficient management.
- Assisted in training and mentoring 5 new hostesses, ensuring compliance with company policies and consistency in guest experience quality.
- Implemented a new reservation system that decreased wait times by 20%, directly contributing to a 15% increase in peak-hour revenue.
- Oversee front-of-house operations and lead a team of 10 host staff at The Cheesecake Factory, maintaining high quality service standards.
- Pioneered the introduction of a digital waitlist application, resulting in streamlined seating operations and enhanced customer satisfaction ratings by 25%.
- Orchestrated a guest relations training program which improved customer feedback scores by 30% within six months.
- Improved the greeting protocol at Olive Garden, leading to a 10% better patron first impression as measured by secret shopper reports.
- Contributed to promotional event planning, which increased special event bookings by 40% compared to the previous year.
- Streamlined communication between the front desk and kitchen staff, reducing errors in guest wait-time estimations by 35%.
- Managed guest flow for an upscale steakhouse, Ruth's Chris, ensuring dining satisfaction for parties up to 50 people.
- Devised and executed a staff schedule that limited overtime costs by 15%, while maintaining exemplary guest services.
- Facilitated a weekly feedback session with the hosting team to identify areas of improvement, enhancing overall operational efficiency.
- Expanded repeat customer base by 20% at Applebee's through personalized service and consistent follow-up on special requests and preferences.
- Reduced seating turnaround time by implementing a strategic seating chart and flow, balancing workload and guest comfort.
- Collaborated with the marketing team to support local event nights, helping increase mid-week attendance by 25%.
- Played a key role at Red Lobster in elevating the rate of guest satisfaction from 85% to 94% within 1 year through dedicated customer service.
- Developed and maintained a relationship with frequent diners which contributed to a loyal customer base and a 15% increase in referrals.
- Initiated and implemented weekly staff briefings at Red Lobster to discuss upcoming reservations and special requests, boosting team preparedness.
- Handled initial customer service complaints and successfully defused potential negative reviews by 30% at Buffalo Wild Wings.
- Actively engaged with patrons during wait times, which reduced walkaways by 40% when the restaurant was at capacity.
- Participated in cross-training for server and bartender roles to provide additional support during peak hours, improving the flexibility of the workforce.
- Cultivated an attractive and organized host stand at Outback Steakhouse, enhancing the ambiance and first impression of incoming guests.
- Monitored and directed the flow of guests, resulting in a 25% improvement in table turnover during prime dining hours.
- Instrumental in organizing charity fundraising events which contributed to Outback Steakhouse's community outreach and increased brand awareness.
What to add in your hostess CV experience section with no professional experience
If you don't have the standard nine-to-five professional experience, yet are still keen on applying for the job, here's what you can do:
- List any internships, part-time roles, volunteer experience, or basically any work you've done that meets the job requirements and is in the same industry;
- Showcase any project you've done in your free time (even if you completed them with family and friends) that will hint at your experience and skill set;
- Replace the standard, CV experience section with a strengths or achievements one. This will help you spotlight your transferrable skills that apply to the role.
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Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your hostess CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your hostess CV:
Customer Service
Reservation Management
POS Systems Proficiency
Seating Arrangement Coordination
Telephone Etiquette
Basic Accounting
Computer Literacy
Menu Knowledge
Food Safety Understanding
Bilingual or Multilingual Communication
Excellent Communication
Personable Demeanour
Active Listening
Patience
Problem-Solving
Adaptability
Multitasking
Attention to Detail
Stress Management
Teamwork
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Order your skills based on the relevance to the role you're applying for, ensuring the most pertinent skills catch the employer's attention first.
Further professional qualifications for your hostess CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your hostess CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
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Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional hostess CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
