Restaurant Manager Resume Example
A career as a restaurant manager typically involves overseeing daily operations and managing staff schedules. If you want to stand out with your restaurant manager applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll highlight tips and examples for creating a restaurant manager resume that makes a winning impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
After reading this article, you'll feel confident creating a restaurant manager resume that effectively showcases your relevant skills and experience. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Continue reading to find the best restaurant manager resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
Main sections of a restaurant manager resume
Most resumes contain similar key sections, with a restaurant manager resume being no different.
A functional or skills-based resume format might be best for applications where you have little or no relevant restaurant manager experience. This layout prioritizes your skills and education sections above your work experience. Likewise, an entry-level resume might focus more on soft and transferable skills, as well as details about internships, voluntary work or relevant training you've completed.
For those with some prior experience as a restaurant manager work experience is the most important element of a resume. Use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format to emphasize your career timeline and achievements. By using this resume format you can focus on showing how your experience has helped you develop the required skills for the job. Review the job description to understand which key skills and experience to focus on.
As a highly experienced candidate, you'll want your restaurant manager resume to showcase your depth of relevant work experience, as well as other achievements. Use a reverse-chronological format and add additional sections to prove you're a strong candidate. Senior resumes are often longer than resumes for junior roles. This is because you may choose to include extra sections, such as awards, professional memberships, publications, conferences or certifications on your resume.
You will have some choice over your resume layout and structure, but be sure to include these sections as the core of your document:
Resume Header and Personal Information
Your restaurant manager resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make sure your resume header is as brief as possible and doesn't take up too much valuable space. Choose a clear, professional design that sets the tone for your application.
Make sure the email address you list in your header is professional-looking and doesn't contain any inappropriate content such as nicknames or unsuitable language. Opt for an email address based on your name or profession, or a combination of both. Finally, check your contact details before sending your resume, to ensure everything's up-to-date.
Samantha Ramirez
samantha.ramirez@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
123 Sesame Street, New York, NY
linkedin․com/in/samantha–ramirez123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. Additionally, make sure your resume summary reflects the job description and focuses on qualities that are relevant to working as a restaurant manager.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why restaurant manager roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A good resume summary is short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description, with evidence to back it up. It will also help the reader to form their first impressions of you by providing an insight into your personality and unique qualities. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your restaurant manager resume summary.
Good example:
Dynamic and results-driven Restaurant Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and extensive experience as a Restaurant Operations Manager. Proven track record in optimizing operational efficiency, enhancing customer satisfaction, and leading high-performing teams. Adept at strategic planning, inventory control, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Skilled in financial management, staff training, and implementing innovative solutions to drive revenue growth. Passionate about delivering exceptional dining experiences and fostering a positive workplace culture
Bad example:
Restaurant manager with some experience in hospitality and running restaurant operations. Worked in roles where I improved processes and customer experiences. Have led teams and planned strategically, managed inventory, and followed health guidelines. Experienced in handling finances, training staff, and finding new ways to increase revenue. Focused on creating good dining experiences and maintaining a positive work environment
Conversely, an ineffective resume summary would include generic, unspecific information on your skills and experience, while failing to provide any useful information on what makes you a unique and interesting candidate. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your restaurant manager resume summary
Work History
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a restaurant manager. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to restaurant manager roles.
The best resume work experience sections focus only on the most relevant previous jobs, and link each bullet point back to a skill or experience listed in the job description. It's also critical to provide evidence that shows the value you added to each role in a quantifiable way, such as project outcomes, key performance indicators or feedback from customers, colleagues or managers. Review some strong examples of resume work experience sections in the graphic below.
Good example:
Restaurant Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Whispering Pines Bistro, Dallas
- Increased annual revenue by 25% through strategic menu planning and cost control measures
- Implemented staff training programs, reducing employee turnover by 40%
- Enhanced customer satisfaction scores by 30% through improved service standards and quality control
Bad example:
Restaurant Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Whispering Pines Bistro, Dallas
- Improved restaurant operations through various initiatives and strategies
- Contributed to team development and staff efficiency
- Enhanced customer experience with new service approaches
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. Ineffective work experience sections tend to focus too much on everyday responsibilities over skills and achievements. If you use vague descriptions of activities and fail to back up your achievements with evidence, you're likely to fail to make an impact on the reader.
Education
Your resume's education section provides space for you to list your highest and most relevant qualifications for restaurant manager roles.
To work as a restaurant manager, employers tend to require candidates to have a specialist degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. If you have this degree, focus on it in your education section, while also mentioning any educational achievements that show your food safety certification or staff training programs.
List every relevant qualification, including the name and level of the course, the name of the school, college or university, its location and your graduation date. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
If you were a member of any clubs or societies, or volunteered for any causes while studying, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, 2017 - 2020
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to restaurant manager positions. Consider adding financial statement analysis, communication skills or any other necessary skills for the job. Again, refer to the restaurant manager job description for an indication of the types of skills the employer is looking for, and make sure your skills section reflects these.
Listing hard skills on your restaurant manager resume
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as a restaurant manager. Furthermore, these skills are essential for a restaurant manager resume as they showcase your expertise in the field. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
You'll make more impact with your resume hard skills list if you focus on technical skills that reflect your unique expertise and specialism, and that match the key requirements in the job description. See the graphic below for some tips on hard skills for a restaurant manager resume.
- Inventory management system
- POS system proficiency
- Financial statement analysis
How to list soft skills on your restaurant manager resume
Soft skills are your transferable skills and personal qualities that make you a good match for a restaurant manager position and the organization. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, and can often apply to multiple jobs and industries. Indeed, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to restaurant manager roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. In this section, add four of five transferable skills that match the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a restaurant manager resume.
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Team leadership
Certifications and Training
Your certifications section is the place to mention any relevant professional restaurant manager certifications, licenses or qualifications. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a restaurant manager. Therefore, list any official licenses and certifications, along with their dates, so employers can assess whether you've got the necessary qualifications to work as a restaurant manager.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for a restaurant manager resume:
- ServSafe Manager, 2022
- HACCP Certification, 2022
- Food Safety Manager, 2022
Expert Tip:
Optional Resume Sections
In addition to the core sections of a restaurant manager resume, there are several optional sections you could include to enhance your chances. Choose any optional sections that showcase essential or desirable skills or experience for restaurant manager jobs.
Hobbies
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world restaurant manager experience. Don't include hobbies and interests in your resume unless they showcase a specific interest or aspect of your personality. You'll want them to add something to your application that you can't add elsewhere.
Volunteer Experience
This section can be valuable for a restaurant manager resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
Standard restaurant manager resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Only include referees that you've had prior approval from, and notify them to expect contact from the employer.
References are available upon request.
Best action words for your restaurant manager resume
Using strong action words to make your resume resonate with the employer. Choose from the list of words below to make the best possible impression.
- Manage
- Oversee
- Coordinate
- Implement
- Supervise
- Train
- Optimize
- Strategize
- Enforce
- Evaluate
Jobseeker's resume templates were created by careers experts to help you produce a professional resume in minutes. You can also find cover letter templates to complete an eye-catching job application that gets you noticed.
Sample resume for restaurant manager positions
The restaurant manager resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
123 Sesame Street, New York, NY
•
samantha.ramirez@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/samantha–ramirez123
Experienced Restaurant Manager with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. Proven track record as a Restaurant Operations Manager, skilled in overseeing daily operations, managing staff, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Adept at optimizing processes, controlling costs, and driving revenue growth. Strong leadership abilities and a commitment to maintaining high standards of service and quality
Restaurant Operations Manager
2020
-2022
Epicurean Enterprises Inc (Los Angeles)
- Increased annual revenue by 25% through strategic menu optimization and targeted marketing campaigns
- Reduced operational costs by 15% by implementing efficient inventory management and supplier negotiation techniques
- Achieved a 95% customer satisfaction rate via staff training programs and enhanced service protocols
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
2017
-2020
Villanova University (Villanova, PA)
Inventory management system
POS system proficiency
Financial statement analysis
Communication skills
Problem-solving abilities
Team leadership
ServSafe Manager
HACCP Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Quick tips for a restaurant manager resume
Tips to write the best resume
- List your qualifications in your education section, including any necessary degrees or certifications, along with high grades.
- Use reverse-chronological order for your work and education, starting with your most recent employment and education.
- Keep your restaurant manager resume as brief as possible. A single page is ideal for junior applicants, while two sides is acceptable for senior jobs.
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each restaurant manager role (e.g. 'implement', 'supervise', 'train').
- Mention key skills that show you're suited to the job throughout your resume, as well as in the dedicated skills section.
Keep away from these common resume mistakes
- Don't use elaborate formatting or layouts. These can make your restaurant manager resume less readable and harder for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan.
- Don't mention hobbies or interests unless they help you prove a skill required for the role, that you haven't included elsewhere.
- Don't fill your resume with unnecessary details. Focus everything on showing you're right for the job.
- Don't lie or exaggerate about your restaurant manager experience or achievements as it can harm your chances in the long term.
- Don't use jargon or acronyms when you can use simple, straightforward language to say the same thing.
Making an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly taking responsibility for the management and processing of job applications, helping hiring practices to become more efficient. This can include screening resumes by scanning and ranking each application according to how closely it matches the job description. If you follow a few simple tips when writing your restaurant manager resume, you'll give yourself a better chance of ranking highly in the ATS screening and progressing to the next stage.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Use simple, concise language to keep your resume to a maximum of one to two pages in length. This will make it easier for ATS software to read.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
A restaurant manager resume FAQs
Alongside your restaurant manager resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
For a full, traditional cover letter, follow formal letter-writing conventions with your header, address line and greetings. The main text of the letter tends to be split into three short paragraphs. Firstly, introduce yourself, confirm the role you're applying for and explain why you're applying for the restaurant manager role. In the second paragraph, highlight your skills and experience that are most relevant to the job description. The third paragraph gives you the opportunity to express your enthusiasm for the role and your gratitude to the employer, while leaving a call to action which encourages them to make contact with you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your restaurant manager resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Additional resume sections such as volunteer work, hobbies and interests, certifications and internships can all help you showcase your relevant skills. These can be more prominent in your resume if you haven't got a lot of work experience.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your restaurant manager applications. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a short, snappy heading for your resume including the job title and a reference to your experience, your track record or one or two of your key skills.
Here's an example of a strong resume headline:
- Assistant Restaurant Manager Seeking Growth
- Experienced Restaurant Operations Manager
- Seasoned Restaurant Operations Expert
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Once you have some relevant work experience, and for senior positions, a reverse chronological resume format is typically best. This emphasizes your work experience, which will probably be the key thing employers want to know about.
Takeaways for your restaurant manager resume
The key to a strong resume is to showcase your relevant skills and achievements through your work experience and other activities. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Use Jobseeker's resume templates, other tools and resources to create an application that impresses employers. Sign up today to access a wealth of valuable resume and cover letter resources. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
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