In the hospitality industry, resumes never go out of fashion. Ensuring your master file is up-to-date at all times makes applying for new jobs easier and quicker. Recruitment firms such as Kamaxi Overseas Consultants are always on the lookout for skilled candidates to place in reputed companies.
Recruitment managers go through dozens of resumes a day, and many simply skim over to find what they’re looking for. It makes sense, therefore, to highlight these things so in the 6-7 seconds they glance through, you’ll stick out as one of the interesting candidates of the day. Here’s how:
LEARN ABOUT THE COMPANY & JOB PROFILE
It’s never a good idea to use one resume for all jobs. Learn about the company and job profile you’re applying for and edit your resume accordingly. Understanding what the company is looking for will help you tailor your application to meet their requirements. You should do this for every company or job profile you are applying for.
INCLUDE STATISTICS
Including vague information about your experience can make it difficult for recruiters to pick you out from the pack. Instead of pointing out that you have five years of experience, offer statistics of your accomplishments. You can show how you were a team player by detailing how you worked with a team of 15 people to cater to 500 guests on short notice. Using numbers and metrics helps recruiters more easily quantify how you made a difference at your previous workplace.
STRONG ACTION WORDS
Starting every bullet point with words like ‘Responsible for’ or ‘Handled’ will get boring. Look for action words that describe the difference you made in your role, such as ‘Achieved’, ‘Improved’, ‘Curated’, Organised’, ‘Created’, etc and pair them with relevant statistics and information. This will offer far more information in a single sentence or point than more vague terms such as ‘detail-oriented’, ‘professional’ or ‘results-driven’.
LIST YOUR SKILLS
Divide your skills into sections – say skills directly related to the job profile you are applying for, soft skills, leadership skills and any other additional skills. Knowing how to use the internet and Microsoft Word no longer stand out as special skills so consider others you might have – perhaps a foreign language, or even sushi skills if you are applying as a cruise ship chef at a Mexican restaurant.
RELEVANT EDUCATION ONLY
There’s no need to include your primary and secondary school education. Just the last one or two relevant qualifications are necessary – perhaps graduation from a culinary college and specialisation certificates.
BEST INFORMATION FIRST
Recruitment managers typically skim over documents from the top down so you must aim to hook them in the top half itself. Place all your best accomplishments in the top third of your resume as this is the section that will show up first on computer screens and mobile phones too.
BE BRIEF, EVEN IN BULLET POINTS
It’s no longer an employment necessity to fit resumes in a single page, but that doesn’t mean you should go on endlessly. Keep everything on your resume brief, including information in bullet points. Think about ways to include 2-3 skills in a single sentence. For example, stating that you successfully led a team of 15 to cater to 500 people at short notice showcases your professionalism, ability to work as part of a team and manage one, and ability to work under pressure. Include links to appropriately managed social media profiles or an online portfolio for a more in-depth look at your skills.
KEEP IT ERROR-FREE
There’s nothing that makes you look more unprofessional than errors in your resume. Read through every time you make a change and ensure there are no mistakes in spellings and punctuations. Get someone else to read it in case you missed something out.