Crafting a CV that accurately reflects your diverse skill set and experience in restaurant management can be daunting. Our guide provides clear instructions and powerful tips to help you highlight your achievements and tailor your CV to stand out in a competitive job market.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Structuring your restaurant general manager CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your restaurant general manager CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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Be mindful of white space; too much can make the CV look sparse, too little can make it look cluttered. Strive for a balance that makes the document easy on the eyes.
The top sections on a restaurant general manager CV
- Profile Summary offers a snapshot of leadership abilities.
- Work Experience showcases relevant management expertise.
- Key Achievements highlight successes and milestones.
- Skills Section details relevant managerial competencies.
- Education and Training outline academic and industry-specific knowledge.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your leadership and team management skills by emphasizing moments where you successfully led a team to meet ambitious business goals or handled high-pressure service situations.
- Showcase your financial acumen by providing examples of how you efficiently managed budgets, reduced costs, or increased a restaurant's profitability under your direction.
- Detail your experience with inventory management, including your ability to forecast needs, negotiate with suppliers, and ensure stock levels meet the demands of service.
- Emphasise your customer service ethos by sharing stories of how you improved customer satisfaction ratings, resolved complex complaints or implemented initiatives that enhanced the dining experience.
- Include certifications or courses in hospitality, business management, or food safety to illustrate your commitment to professional development and staying current with industry standards.
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Making a good first impression with your restaurant general manager CV header
Your typical CV header consists of Your typical CV header consists of contact details and a headline. Make sure to list your professional phone number, email address, and a link to your professional portfolio (or, alternatively, your LinkedIn profile). When writing your CV headline , ensure it's:
- tailored to the job you're applying for;
- highlights your unique value as a professional;
- concise, yet matches relevant job ad keywords.
You can, for examples, list your current job title or a particular skill as part of your headline. Now, if you decide on including your photo in your CV header, ensure it's a professional one, rather than one from your graduation or night out. You may happen to have plenty more questions on how to make best the use of your CV headline. We'll help you with some real-world examples, below.
Examples of good CV headlines for restaurant general manager:
- Seasoned Restaurant Manager | Hospitality Leadership | Revenue Growth | 10+ Years of Culinary Oversight
- Passionate Foodservice Director | Staff Development | Efficient Operations | Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management
- Dynamic General Manager | Customer Experience Expert | P&L Management | 15-Year Gastronomy Veteran
- Accomplished Restaurateur | Innovative Menu Planning | Certified in Food Hygiene | Multi-Site Coordination
- Proven Hospitality Strategist | Operational Excellence | Staff Mentorship | 12 Years at Forefront of Dining
- Expertise in Fine Dining Management | Guest Relations Aficionado | Hospitality & Business Degree | 8+ Years Leadership
What's the difference between a restaurant general manager CV summary and objective
Why should it matter to you?
- Your restaurant general manager CV summary is a showcasing your career ambitions and your unique value. Use the objective to answer why your potential employers should hire you based on goals and ambitions. The objective is the ideal choice for candidates who happen to have less professional experience, but still meet some of the job requirements.
Before you select which one will be more relevant to your experience, have a look at some industry-leading CV summaries and objectives.
CV summaries for a restaurant general manager job:
- With over 10 years of fine dining management experience, proven track record in staff development and revenue growth, and adept in orchestrating five-star guest experiences, my journey at award-winning venues has sharpened a strategic vision that secures repeat business and exceptional service ratings.
- As an accomplished leader in high-volume chain restaurants for the past 15 years, I have successfully initiated cost-saving protocols, maximised operational efficiency, and led teams of over 100 employees, while consistently achieving top quartile performance in customer satisfaction surveys.
- Transitioning from a 7-year tenure in high-end retail management, I am poised to bring exceptional organisational skills, a relentless drive for excellence, and a proven knack for building and motivating teams to the vibrant gastronomic sector, seeking to infuse my customer-first ethos into every dining encounter.
- Career pivot from hospitality training consultancy to restaurant management, bringing a fresh perspective intertwined with 5 years of cultivating hospitality excellence in others, deep understanding of employee engagement, and a commitment to fostering an environment where culinary creations and service merge seamlessly.
- Keen to leverage my profound passion for the culinary arts and dynamic people skills in an entry-level management role, aspiring to drive operational success, contribute to team harmony and customer satisfaction, and adapt rapidly to the fast-paced restaurant environment while learning from seasoned industry professionals.
- Embarking on a managerial career path in the restaurant industry with a solid foundation in business administration, I am determined to enhance customer experiences, streamline front and back-end operations, and absorb wisdom from the realm of gastronomic leadership to fuel a dedicated pursuit of operational distinction.
How to meet job requirements with your restaurant general manager CV experience
We've now reached the essence of your actual CV - your experience section. This is the space where you can list your career roles and on-the-job successes. Many candidates tend to underestimate just how much time and effort they should put into writing this CV section. Your experience shouldn't be a random list of your responsibilities, but instead:
- Match the job description with your skills, values, and accomplishments;
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb, followed up with one key skill and your outcome of applying this skill;
- Spotlight parts of your career history that are relevant to the job you're applying for.
Before we move on, make sure to check out some professional CV experience sections.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Managed a team of 30+ staff members, ensuring all employees were trained in customer service excellence and adhered to restaurant operational standards.
- Implemented a dynamic scheduling system to manage peak hours effectively, reducing labour costs by 15% while maintaining high service levels.
- Developed and executed strategic marketing campaigns that increased footfall by 25%, by leveraging social media platforms and local food events.
- Overhauled the inventory management process, resulting in a 20% reduction in waste and improved the cost-effectiveness of the food ordering system.
- Negotiated with vendors and suppliers to secure more favourable terms, improving the restaurant's gross margin by 10% within a fiscal year.
- Championed a customer feedback initiative which raised our average online review rating from 3.5 to 4.5 stars, reflecting improved guest satisfaction.
- Implemented a staff training programme focused on upselling techniques, contributing to a 30% increase in average per-table revenue.
- Directed the planning and execution of a kitchen remodel, minimising downtime and relaunching successfully within budget, resulting in a 40% increase in kitchen efficiency.
- Conducted comprehensive business analysis to track performance metrics, enabling data-driven decisions that enhanced overall restaurant profitability by 18%.
- Oversaw the launch of a new flagship restaurant, leading a team of 50 employees and securing a 30% increase in quarterly revenues compared to the previous location.
- Implemented a comprehensive staff training programme, improving customer service scores by 25% within the first six months.
- Negotiated with vendors to lower supply costs by 15%, allowing the redirection of savings towards marketing initiatives that increased brand visibility.
- Piloted a technology overhaul incorporating a state-of-the-art POS system that reduced order processing time by 20%.
- Launched an exclusive partnership with a local farm-to-table supplier, enhancing menu quality and attracting a 35% surge in health-conscious customers.
- Championed a sustainability project that cut waste by 40%, aligning with environmental goals and improving community relations.
- Increased annual profits by 18% through strategic menu redesign and effective cost-management practices.
- Initiated a customer loyalty programme that grew repeat customer visits by 50%, enhancing public relations and customer satisfaction.
- Orchestrated a series of pop-up events, broadening brand exposure and generating a 10% increase in off-peak season sales.
- Conceptualised and launched a new tapas-style menu that increased cover turnover by 30%, contributing to a more dynamic dining environment.
- Directed the renovation of the dining area, delivering the project 10% under budget whilst creating a more inviting atmosphere.
- Mentored a team of assistant managers, providing leadership training that produced two subsequent general managers for the restaurant chain.
- Executed a strategic brand partnership with a renowned wine distributor, culminating in a signature line that boosted beverage sales by 20%.
- Implemented a kitchen efficiency programme that decreased food preparation times by 15%, while maintaining high quality standards.
- Steered the restaurant through a critical rebranding phase, retaining a core customer base and attracting new demographics resulting in a 15% overall growth.
- Led a cross-functional team to win the 'Best Restaurant Service' award in a city-wide hospitality competition, solidifying the brand's reputation.
- Managed inventory with a novel AI-based supply chain system, reducing food spoilage by 60% and cutting costs.
- Collaborated with renowned chefs to host monthly culinary workshops, resulting in a 25% increase in weekday patronage.
- Facilitated restaurant expansion by adding a new bar area, which diversified the customer experience and increased evening sales by 40%.
- Developed a multicultural event calendar that resonated with the diverse local community and boosted customer engagement.
- Revitalised the restaurant's social media presence, achieving a 300% increase in online engagement and a significant rise in bookings.
- Launched an innovative locally-sourced menu initiative that strengthened ties with regional farmers and attracted media attention, resulting in a 22% increase in weekend footfall.
- Presided over a successful bid to cater major city events, which expanded the restaurant's reach and increased corporate event bookings by 50%.
- Spearheaded a customer service excellence programme that elevated the establishment's ratings in the Michelin Guide.
How to ensure your restaurant general manager CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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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.
Key restaurant general manager CV skills: what are hard skills and soft skills
Let's kick off with the basics. You know that you have to include key job requirements or skills across your CV. For starters, take individual skills from the job description and copy-paste them into your CV, when relevant. Doing so, you'll ensure you have the correct skill spelling and also pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. There are two types of skills you'll need to include on your CV:
- Hard skills - technical abilities that are best defined by your certificates, education, and experience. You could also use the dedicated skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies you're apt at using that match the job requirements.
- Soft skills - your personal traits and interpersonal communication skills that are a bit harder to quantify. Use various CV sections, e.g. summary, strengths, experience, to shine a spotlight on your workspace achievements, thanks to using particular soft skills.
Remember that your job-winning CV should balance both your hard and soft skills to prove your technical background, while spotlighting your personality.
Top skills for your restaurant general manager CV:
Financial Management
Inventory Control
Operational Efficiency
Food and Beverage Knowledge
Health and Safety Regulations
Customer Service Standards
HR and Staff Management
Marketing and Promotion
POS Systems Expertise
Supply Chain Management
Leadership
Teamwork
Problem-Solving
Communication
Decision-Making
Adaptability
Conflict Resolution
Time Management
Attention to Detail
Stress Management
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If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your restaurant general manager CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your restaurant general manager CV:
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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
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your restaurant general manager CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
