Writing a CV or resume for a hotel manager position requires a careful blend of professional experience, skills, and personal qualities. This article will guide you through the essential steps of crafting a compelling hotel manager CV or resume. We’ll provide clear instructions, highlight the key elements to include, and showcase examples to help you understand how to effectively present your qualifications.
Contents
Read The Job Description / Advert
The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.
When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.
Hotel Manager Job Description Example
Hotel Manager – Exciting Opportunity in the Hospitality Industry
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Hotel Manager to lead our team and ensure the highest standards of guest satisfaction. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of hotel operations, maintaining an exceptional level of service, and driving business success.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage daily hotel operations, ensuring compliance with all hotel policies, procedures, and quality standards.
- Lead and inspire the hotel team to deliver outstanding customer service, addressing any guest queries or concerns promptly and professionally.
- Develop and implement strategies to maximize room occupancy, revenue, and profitability.
- Monitor budget and control expenses, including staffing costs, supplies, and utilities.
- Coordinate with various departments (housekeeping, maintenance, front office, food and beverage, etc.) to ensure seamless operations and high-quality guest experiences.
- Oversee the recruitment, training, and development of staff, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
- Ensure strict adherence to health and safety regulations, and maintain the hotel’s cleanliness and upkeep to the highest standards.
- Engage with the local community and build relationships with vendors and partners to enhance the hotel’s reputation and offerings.
- Analyze market trends and competitor activity to recommend improvements and adjustments to services or offerings.
Qualifications and Skills:
- Proven experience in hotel management or a similar role in the hospitality industry.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage a diverse team.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills.
- Sound knowledge of hotel operations, including budgeting, sales, and marketing.
- Ability to work under pressure and handle challenging situations.
- Proficiency in hotel management software and systems.
- A degree in Hospitality Management or related field is preferred.
We offer a competitive package, opportunities for professional growth, and a chance to be part of a leading team in the hospitality industry. If you have a passion for service excellence and the skills to lead our hotel to new heights, we would love to hear from you.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Research The Company
Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.
- Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
- Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
- Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far
See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.
Find A Good CV Template
When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.
This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)
Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’
A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.
Hotel Manager Professional Summary Example
- Boasting over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry with a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management; adept in overseeing hotel operations, skilled in using hotel management software like OPERA and RMS to enhance guest experience and operational efficiency.
- Pioneered a customer service initiative that resulted in a 30% increase in guest satisfaction scores and a 25% increase in repeat customer visits, by implementing a personalized guest engagement program and staff training using the latest CRM tools.
- Recently managed a 200-room luxury hotel, leading a team of 50+ staff, and successfully executed a cost-reduction strategy that decreased operational expenses by 15% without compromising service quality, utilizing advanced analytics and performance tracking systems.
Detail Your Employment History
Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.
As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.
When writing about your responsibilities in your CV, focus on how you’ve excelled in those duties. For example, rather than simply stating “Managed hotel operations,” you could say “Effectively oversaw the daily operations of a 150-room hotel, enhancing guest satisfaction ratings by 20%.” This approach not only shows that you were in charge of hotel operations, but also demonstrates your success in improving guest experience. Make sure to highlight specific achievements like increasing revenue, improving team efficiency, or implementing new customer service strategies. This way, you’re not just listing what you did, but also showcasing the positive impact of your work.
Detail Your Education History
Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.
Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.
Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.
CV Structure
Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.
We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.
A fairly typical structure would go:
- Name and contact info
- Professional Summary
- Current (or most recent employment)
- Education & Professional Qualifications
- Employment History
WHAT NOT TO DO
Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.
- Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
- Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
- Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
- Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
- Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
- Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.
Hotel Manager CV Tips – Recap
Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:
Tailor Your CV to the Hospitality Industry
Make sure your CV reflects skills and experiences relevant to hotel management. Highlight your understanding of the hospitality sector and how you’ve contributed to it.
Highlight Leadership and Management Skills
Showcase your ability to lead and manage teams. Include examples of how you’ve successfully overseen staff, resolved conflicts, or improved team performance.
Demonstrate Customer Service Excellence
Highlight instances where you’ve enhanced guest satisfaction. Mention any awards or recognition you’ve received for customer service.
Include Relevant Qualifications
List your degrees or certifications in hospitality management or related fields. Mention any additional training specific to hotel management.
Showcase Financial Acumen
📈 Detail your experience in budget management, cost reduction, and revenue growth. Provide specific examples and figures where possible.
Detail Technological Proficiency
Mention your familiarity with hotel management software and technology used in the hospitality industry.
Use Action Words
Start bullet points with action verbs like ‘managed’, ‘improved’, ‘developed’, to make your experiences sound dynamic and impactful.
Keep It Concise
📋 Your CV should be clear and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details that don’t add value to your application for a hotel management role.
Proofread for Errors
🔍 Double-check for spelling and grammatical mistakes. A well-written, error-free CV reflects your professionalism.
Update Regularly
Keep your CV up-to-date with your latest experiences and accomplishments in the hospitality industry.
Hotel Manager CV Sample
Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.
