Restaurant Manager Resume Example
Read this simple guide to learn how to write a perfect restaurant manager resume that will get you more interviews and job offers. Or, if you’re having trouble, reach out to us to get your resume written today, for free!
Marc Cenedella
Marc Cenedella is a nationally recognized thought leader on careers, resume writing, job search, career management and recruiting, Marc is frequently sought out by national media organizations for his expert commentary on employment, resumes, the job search and the job market.
How to write a great Restaurant Manager resume
Restaurant Managers know how to handle it all. Call-outs, schedule changes, 86s, tables that refuse to tip – you’ve seen it, you’ve dealt with it.
As a former restaurant host, you have my thanks.
And here’s how I want to pay you back – by helping you write your restaurant manager resume.
When it comes to writing a restaurant manager resume that will get you job interviews and job offers, there are some tips and tricks that you can follow that will help you stand out from the pack.
Take a look at our sample restaurant manager resume to get an idea of what will get hiring managers’ attention.
Interested in learning more – read on to find out why this resume template is so great at getting job interviews.
Why is my Restaurant Manager resume so important?
With so many job seekers gravitating towards work-from-home positions, you may think that competition is lower for customer-facing positions, meaning that you can skimp on the quality of your resume.
I’m here to tell you that’s not true.
Your resume is your first impression to your hiring manager. You need to put your best foot forward so that you stand out from the pack.
On average, each job posted on Indeed gets over 115 different applicants. That’s 115 different resumes for the hiring manager to go through.
You’ve worked in a restaurant before. When is the last time anyone in the hospitality field had enough time to really look at 115 of anything?
Never, right?
You need to make sure your resume gets your skills across clearly and quickly.
This is why you should consider using a professional to write your restaurant manager resume.
This is why you should consider Leet Resumes.
Leet Resumes will write you a clear, concise resume for free, though tips are appreciated.
How do I format my Restaurant Manager resume?
A restaurant manager resume doesn’t need any funny formatting, any weird fonts, or any photos.
It needs to convey why you’re right for the job. It just has to get you that interview.
We’ve developed a six-point resume formula that will help you rise to the top of the pack, and get you that interview.
But before we share that secret, let’s go over a few dont’s.
Don’t use any text boxes, images, weird fonts, or extra columns. These are distracting and are often confusing for resume reading software. If you’re applying through LinkedIn, Greenhouse, or anything other than old-school email, your resume is probably being read by software.
Do yourself a favor: stick to a simple format.
Now, let’s unpack the six-point structure for a winning restaurant manager resume. Name + contact Professional headline Professional summary Work experience Education Key words
Want to know what each of these looks like in-depth? Keep reading!
Name + Contact
This is the easiest part of your resume.
Put your name at the top, followed by your contact info.
Your contact info should include your phone number and your email address. Keep that email address professional-sounding. Avoid silly emails like “tequila5ever@gmail.com.”
These will get your resume sent into the reject pile faster than you can say “on the fly.”
Professional Headline
You’re a restaurant manager! You need to let the hiring manager know that.
Use this headline to identify yourself — your job, your seniority, and your work style. You’ll want to use 3-5 words.
Here’s one for you: “Team-oriented Restaurant Manager.”
Professional Summary
A great restaurant manager resume needs a professional summary.
Remember earlier when I mentioned that a hiring manager has to sift through 120 resumes?
The summary is a great way to sell your candidacy fast and early. You let the hiring manager know, “I am good at my job. You need to keep reading.”
You’ll use four lines formatted like this: Job titles you’re seeking Restaurant manager skills you possess Your restaurant manager achievements Relevant Promotions and Awards
Lines one and two are mandatory. These convey your value to the hiring manager, and let the HM know that you are seeking the job they’re hiring for.
Lines three and four depend upon your experience. As a restaurant manager, it is likely that you have been promoted from a more junior position (I was promoted from busser to host).
You should draw attention to your promotions. They will elevate your candidacy.
How’s it going? Are you following along all right?
If you’re feeling a bit lost, then you should consider hiring a professional to write your restaurant manager resume for you.
At Leet Resumes, we are ready to write your resume for free, though tips are appreciated.
Work Experience
Welcome to the main course of your resume.
This is where you really sell your experience to seal the deal and get that job interview.
As a restaurant manager, you may be tempted to simply put your daily job duties under your work experience.
When possible, I strongly urge you to avoid this. Instead, I want you to focus on your big wins.
Focus on successes, achievements, and accomplishments
Big wins show off the impact you’ve had at an organization, and make a hiring manager excited about hiring you.
Now, I know that hospitality careers are different than office jobs. At a restaurant, you may think, “but my big wins are just keeping the place from catching on fire every night.”
I get that.
But there are probably some big wins you’ve completed that you’re forgetting about.
Maybe you implemented a new scheduling software. Maybe you oversaw a hiring bonanza. Maybe you finally implemented that new POS system that let your waitstaff finally split checks with the touch of a button.
These are all big wins, and you need to call them out.
Start with a strong verb
Each bullet of your restaurant manager resume should start with a strong, active verb to sell your experience and qualifications. Managed, implemented, led, negotiated, hired. Each of these verbs shows your work experience in action, which will help get you that critical interview.
Quantify your experience
Put figures wherever you can: how much money you brought in, how many waitstaff you oversaw, what percentage of waste you cut.
These figures will help hiring managers see the value of adding you to their team, increasing the likelihood that you’ll get an interview.
Include your promotions
As a restaurant manager, the odds are that you may have been promoted once or more in your career.
You should include your promotions in your experience section of your resume.
Doing so will show a potential employer that you are able to learn and grow on the job – furthering the odds that you’ll get a job interview and ultimately receive a job offer.
Don’t forget dates
Lastly, you need to include dates on your resume. Even if you’ve had substantial gaps.
Maybe you took some time off to go back to school. Maybe you wanted to raise a family. Maybe you were unceremoniously let go (hey, it happens to the best of us). No matter the reason, you need to be upfront with your hiring manager by putting the dates on your resume.
If you skip out on the dates, it’ll make you look like you’re hiding something. That will make you far less likely to receive a job interview.
Education
This section of your resume is easy. All you need to do is put any degrees or certificates you have earned. Make sure to include your field of study as well as the program that conferred the degree.
Refrain from putting any programs that you haven’t yet graduated from, unless graduation is right around the corner. In that case, you can put the anticipated graduation date.
Key Words
The last part of your restaurant manager resume is your Key Words section.
What are Key Words?
They are hard skills, soft skills, and awards that are relevant to your job search.
This is the last section of your resume, so it represents your last and best chance to win your hiring manager over. Your hiring manager may even have a checklist of skills that an applicant has to meet.
This is why it benefits you to list as many applicable skills as you truly have. You want to stack the deck in your favor.
Here are some skills you may want to include: Leadership Teamwork Customer Service Menu Planning Recordkeeping Inventory Scheduling
Make sure to get in all those great restaurant manager skills to seal the deal and get that job interview!
Can I get someone to write my Restaurant Manager resume for me?
Overwhelmed by all this engineering resume advice? Do you need someone to help you out? Try Leet Resumes. We will write you a personalized Restaurant Manager resume for free (tips are appreciated).
You have nothing to lose and a whole career to gain.
