Making a Change in your Hospitality Career

So, you’re thinking about taking a new direction and starting the hunt for another job. You’re looking at job boards and researching recruiters, but are you prepared for when an opportunity presents itself? It’s tough to make the shortlist when your resume is a mess and you don’t do your research before an interview!

Whether you’ve been out of the job market for a while or want to brush up your resume or interview skills, take a look at these resources to get the leg up on the competition. Feel free to download and use any of these resources we’ve provided!

Hospitality Resume Essentials

Creating an Effective Hospitality Resume
A great resume won’t guarantee you a job offer, but a bad one can cost you the opportunity to even be considered! This is true for almost any hospitality management role, regardless of if you’re managing a kitchen or running an entire company.This video will help make resume preparation a less daunting task, and provide some tips on formatting and selecting content to help get you started.

Feel free to download and use any of the templates below to create your custom resume.

More Resume Tips

Be prepared to provide both a paper and a digital copy of your resume. Employers use a wide variety of organization methods and software for their recruitment process. If you aren’t able to provide your information in a way that works with their system, it’s going to be difficult to have it seen by anyone!

Also, a resume is not a personal statement or just a history of your past movements. It should focus on the skills and experiences that can benefit the prospective employer and why they should hire you. If you keep this in mind when writing your resume, the final product will be much more informative and persuasive than if you simply catalog your job history.

Finally, don’t forget about your LinkedIn profile! Social media has become an essential resource for hiring managers to find and evaluate candidates, and LinkedIn is easily the most valuable for this purpose. An effective profile will not only compliment the information on your resume, but can also show your deeper connection and involvement within the hospitality industry. Find some tips on how to build and maintain an effective LinkedIn profile here.

Preparing for the Interview

The interview is where you will make the most impact in the hiring process. Not only will the employer learn information about you that a resume just can’t provide, they’ll also be able to assess if you’ll be a good fit with the company culture. It’s also an opportunity for you to figure out if this opportunity is in line with your own career goals.

Take a look at this 10 minute video for some tips on getting the most out of your next interview

More Interview Tips

Interview Prep

  • Research the company and the people you are meeting with
  • Get a job description and learn as much as possible about the role
  • Prepare a list of questions about the job and company to ask. For example: What is your current vision for the company? What does the opportunity for growth look like for my position? How does your business philosophy differ from your competition? What is the next step in the interview process?
  • Be prepared to answer the questions mentioned in the Interview Preparation Guide video above
  • Create a list of your strengths, with specific examples, and how they will be an asset to the company
  • Have the recruiter and the interviewer’s contact information on hand, in case you are running late or unable to find the interview location

During the Interview

  • Arrive on time! If a true emergency does occur, let your recruiter and interviewer know as soon as possible.
  • Always be professional (no course language, derogatory speak, or inappropriate jokes), but don’t be afraid to show your personality
  • When answering situational questions, focus on solutions and results.
  • Close by asking about the next steps and thanking the interviewers for their time.

What to Wear

Reach out to your recruiter if you are unsure of the structure of your interview and what to wear (whether it is a working interview or a sit-down meeting). But if it is just a sit-down interview, the following are generally safe rules to follow:

  • Stick to dark and neutral colored suits
  • Keep hairstyles and make-up subtle
  • Avoid wearing overly strong cologne or perfume

No matter what kind of interview you are preparing for, presenting a clean and neat appearance shows an employer that you have respect for yourself and the company.

After the Interview

Always send a follow-up thank you letter. This small gesture can make a huge impact on a potential employer. It is very important, however, that the grammar, spelling, and punctuation be perfect. If this is not your strength, have someone proofread your letter. Feel free to use the following sample as a starting point:

Finally, follow up with your recruiter! They want to know your impression and if you have any unanswered questions. They will also provide candid feedback and advice for next steps.

Preparing to Submit Your Resignation

This 12-minute video will help you create a smooth resignation process. We are pleased to offer this video to our clients and candidates and is part of our search process. Our recruiters are always available as a resource to you.

Relocation Tools

Relocating for a new job is a big decision. Feel free to use these resources to not only assess if pursuing a job in another city is right for your current career and personal situation, but if a current relocation package being offered is sufficient for your needs:

Salary Calculator – Find out how much you would need to make in your new city to keep your current lifestyle.

Moving Calculator – Use the moving calculator to help you budget for your upcoming move.

Free City Reports – Get your side-by-side reports with comparisons of up-to-date information on demographics, cost of living, helpful local contacts and more.

Free School Reports – Obtain in-depth reports on over 12,000 public school districts and local child care.

Mortgage Qualifier – Figure out how much you can expect at today’s mortgage rates.

Ready to Start the Next Chapter in Your Career?