As mentioned in Part 1 of this 5 part series, we’re covering all the aspects of applying for and attending a job interview in the hospitality industry.
To re-cap, the stages of preparation an applicant should go through are:
- Pre-Application – part 1
- Curriculum Vitae – part 2
- Research – part 3
- Presentation – part 3
- Interview – part 4
- Notes/Achievements – part 5
- Follow up – part 5
In part 1 we covered the pre-application process and gave practical steps for you to complete it. With this post, we will be covering step 2, creating your Curriculum Vitae.
In the age of the internet we have now access to so many resources and information that it would be almost considered a crime if we did not have a well written CV!
The main things to consider is to keep your CV to the point, cleanly laid out, categorised and no more than 2 pages (if possible). Remember to lay out the information in a clean and succinct manner. This is where it is very helpful to look at examples relevant to the Hospitality industry.
For your reference below are CVs examples for different job roles:
This site has many examples, this page in particular covers CVs for Chef (example 1), Chef (example 2), Chef (example 3) Sous Chef (example 1), Sous Chef (example 2) and Head/Executive Chef (example 1), Head Chef (example 2).
You could also consider using a resume builder service such as http://www.myperfectresume.com/ a great way to write and create your CV to perfection!
Other tips to note when writing up your CV:
- The CV is all about your skills, your successful achievements and your experiences. Ensure you put time aside to make sure this document highlights everything about you in a clear and easy to read manner
- Use consistent fonts – suggest one type of font for the headings and another for the content
- Don’t add photos
- Be honest with your experience
- Refer to the longer dates you’ve worked in places such as from 2009-2012
- If you had a break and it may look strange that you had no work experience for that time, be honest and say for example it was a break away to assess your career direction or to make sure you were making the right step in your career.
- Think of the competencies that an employer would want to see and ensure you use active words in your CV to highlight your wins and back up your achievements eg Successfully managed a team of 5 and delivered daily 3 course meals on time, quality and on budget for a high end restaurant. Saved 10% on operation costs by assessing and changing food preparation processes.
- Stick to the facts, don’t embellish your experience with your desires such as saying you are passionate about your work. This can be discussed in your interview.
- List all your industry certifications, but also list other certifications or relevant experience if it is industry related
- List any computer, finance, management or other experience as these are also valuable skills to have
- When you list a job you’ve worked at, list the role and time you worked there but also add the tasks you performed there, keep it succinct. Eg Managed team of 5, Managed ordering of food inventory and budgets.
- Make sure your email address is professional. If you’re personal email is too ‘cute’ don’t use it, create a new email account with just your name or similar.
- Remember to spell-check your work!
Hope these tips and examples give you enough to work with. If you do have any other suggestions or need more info, feel free to comment on this post and let us know, we’re happy to help!
In the next post of this series, we will cover Research and Presentation, see you again soon!