
How to Write a Resume According to Science in 2023
How do you write a resume? With so many conflicting opinions out there, we’ve set out to find the ultimate answer to this question.
Whether you’re a fast food manager or the head of an upscale establishment, you need a restaurant manager resume that whets the recruiter's appetite. Here’s how to do it right.
A restaurant owner will typically scan a resume for just 7 seconds. To score an interview, you’ve got to catch their attention in as little time as it takes to enjoy a hors d'oeuvre. Yes—you need a restaurant manager resume that's full of flavor.
In this guide:
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Maurizio Milano
Restaurant Manager
maurizio.milano@gmail.com
(661) 115-3368
linkedin.com/in/mauriziomilano
Summary of Qualifications
Personable, growth-oriented restaurant manager with 3+ years of experience supervising staff at busy eateries. Increased revenue by 10% year over year at two restaurants and optimized turnover rate for maximum occupancy. Seeking to leverage knowledge of FOH, BOH, accounting, and Italian cuisine to become the next restaurant manager at Paolo’s Place.
Work Experience
Restaurant Manager
June 2017–August 2019
Angelo’s on Allerby Street, Los Angeles, CA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
Restaurant Assistant Manager
April 2016–May 2017
Taste of France, Los Angeles, CA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
Education
Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management
California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA
Graduation: 2016
Relevant Coursework: Restaurant and Bar Management, Hospitality Management, Hospitality Employee Supervision, Food and Beverage Operations, Hospitality Leadership Fundamentals, Managerial Finance and Accounting, Alcoholic Beverage Procedures and Laws.
Food and Beverage Management Certificate
Cornell University Online, Ithaca, NY
Completion: 2017
Key Skills
Certifications
Memberships
Languages
Now—
Here’s how to write a restaurant manager resume yourself:
Mise en place—
In French cuisine, this is the method of arranging all your ingredients before you begin to cook. It’s more organized, more convenient, and way more professional.
Do the same on a resume.
A proper resume format ensures everything is as organized and logical as your restaurant management approach.
Here is how to format a restaurant manager resume template:
Stick to these resume guidelines, and you’ll have a resume as clarified as butter.
Expert Hint: Unless the restaurant’s job ad says otherwise, save the resume in the PDF format. The PDF version ensures your resume can be read on any device the restaurant owner chooses to view it on. A Microsoft Word document may look funny, depending on the screen.
At any fine dining establishment, you wouldn’t offer a guest their entree immediately. You’d suggest an appetizer, perhaps a soup or salad, to start them off.
However—
On a resume, this opening statement can make or break your chances for an interview.
Known as an objective or summary, its purpose is to quickly pitch the restaurant owner as to why you’re the best candidate for the role.
What are the differences between a summary and objective?
Use the resume summary statement when you have a large stock pot’s worth of foodservice leadership experience.
The career summary outlines your restaurant manager experience with your background, skills, and other key points. A numbered accomplishment proves your expertise to really have them hungry to learn more about you.
Here’s how to write a restaurant general manager resume summary:
The first one is cooked to perfection—
It has details. It has skills. It has numbers. And, unlike the second one, it is tailored specifically to one job description.
Now—
Use a resume objective statement when you have little to no experience in restaurant management jobs.
Unlike the summary, the objective replaces your previous experience with a statement about your career plans and goals. Numbers are important here, as well.
Here’s how to write a restaurant general manager resume objective statement:
Aside from the bad example above being not-at-all personalized, it also commits the other top resume crime—no numbers as proof of your success.
Weak sauce.
In the good example, however, we give quantifiable accomplishments and tailor it right to this one restaurant. On top of that, we took your most restaurant-related skills and duties, even though you’ve not yet had restaurant management experience.
Expert Hint: For a clean finish, write the resume heading statement at the end, even though it’s the first thing they’ll read. This way, you’ll better identify the right morsels of information that’ll be most effective to start with.
We’ve now come to the employment history section, the main dish of the multiple-course dinner that is the resume.
And—
Like any main dish, the restaurant manager job description on a resume is the largest portion and the likeliest to leave an aftertaste.
Aim for a pleasant flavor balance over rancid taste profile by documenting it correctly.
Here’s how to craft a restaurant manager job description for a resume:
Now, here are two restaurant manager resume examples of job descriptions:
Restaurant Manager
June 2017–August 2019
Angelo’s on Allerby Street, Los Angeles, CA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
Restaurant General Manager
June 2017–August 2019
Angelo’s on Allerby Street, Los Angeles, CA
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Though we’re exaggerating a bit on the bad example, the point is that you can’t just simply list restaurant duties.
That’s no good—
They’ll slice this resume up Julienne style and toss it straight into the garbage disposal.
The good example, however, details previous work responsibilities and adds numbered achievements to show them you’re a top shelf choice.
If you have a track record as a Restaurant Manager, your resume should include specific, relevant facts and figures to demonstrate your management ability. For example:
- Given that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the employee turnover rate in the restaurant industry annually exceeds 70%, if you kept your own turnover below 25% that's a noteworthy accomplishment because hiring and training replacements eats up time and money.
- If your unit's sales increased 9% while menu prices remained steady, that's also notable.
- How about profits? Have they increased during your tenure? If so, provide the numbers.
- If your unit won any significant awards during your tenure, that also belongs in your resume.
One other thing—
Larger restaurants, particularly chains, use a digital applicant tracking system, or ATS, to help them sort the many resumes they receive.
The ATS helps filter through resumes by scanning them for specific resume keywords.
Don’t have the keywords they’re looking for, you won’t get the job.
To find the right keywords, return to the job advertisement.
The restaurant manager job ad is like an ingredient list to bake the perfect resume. Head to the job responsibilities section to locate exactly the candidate they’re looking for (and the keywords you’re looking for).
Now—
The skills to put on your resume.
Skills on a resume are like drinks on a menu—
Though it’s just a small section compared to the rest of the resume, choosing the right food service skills and restaurant management abilities can make or break the deal.
In the United States, food service managers, including fast food supervisors and diner assistant managers, will increase by 9% (27,600 jobs) by 2026.
How can your resume stand out in a sea of eligible job applicants?
With the perfect restaurant manager skills resume section.
Here are 10+ skills that restaurant managers need:
However—
As when you order foods to replenish your kitchen’s stock, don’t add unnecessary inclusions.
Select a few key skills by scanning the work responsibilities area to determine the talents and abilities they seek in a restaurant manager.
Expert Hint: To cook up the perfect plate of restaurant skills and management abilities, throw in just the right amount of both soft skills (e.g., empathy, communication) and hard skills (e.g., managerial accounting).
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Many restaurant manager positions require some college education, even on a fast food manager resume.
So—
Here is how to write a restaurant management resume education section:
Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management
California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA
Graduation: 2016
Relevant Coursework: Restaurant and Bar Management, Hospitality Management, Hospitality Employee Supervision, Food and Beverage Operations, Hospitality Leadership Fundamentals, Managerial Finance and Accounting, Alcoholic Beverage Procedures and Laws.
And here’s the formula for a great education section:
Expert Hint: Relevant coursework is always a helpful subsection to add in your education section. Remember that you can include both leadership classes and those related to food service.
By now, your resume resembles a basic cake—it’s technically complete, but not so appealing.
To really create a tempting dessert, add the frosting, the sprinkles, and the filling.
On a resume, these are extra sections. They help you stand out from the crowd of applicants by showing you’re a well-rounded restaurant management candidate.
Here are some restaurant manager resume samples of additional sections to include:
Restaurant Organizations & Associations
Management Organizations & Associations
Foreign Language Proficiency Levels
Expert Hint: No resume is complete without a restaurant manager cover letter. More than 80% of employers say it’s necessary, so you should submit a cover letter for restaurant manager jobs along with your job application.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
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Let’s sum it all up—
Here’s how to write a restaurant manager resume:
Looking for more restaurants manager resume examples? Need help writing a tailored restaurant manager job description for resumes? Leave a comment below, and we can discuss it. Thanks for reading!
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