Skills based resume, how to use it for the hospitality industry…

 

Here at Metropolitan, we offer our graduates one on one resume coaching, and as of late we are noticing students asking one particular question: “How do I write my resume so it deflects from the gaps and multiple job history”.

Whether you’re starting out in the hospitality industry or re-entrying, a resume format you might consider is the skills based style.  This is especially attractive if you have had gaps in your employment history or varied positions.

There are advantages and disadvantages to this style therefore, take a look at the pros and cons below to see if this works for you.

Happy tending!!

advantages:

1. If you want to emphasize abilities and achievements that have not been used in your most recent job(s).
2. If you are changing career direction.
3. If you have had a large number of jobs and you would prefer to describe the experience you have gained in total.
4. If you want to include voluntary/unpaid experience.
5. If your work history has been patchy in recent years, either through unemployment, redundancy, self-employment, ill health, etc.
6. If you have several completely different job targets and you need a resume for each.

disadvantages:

1. If you want to highlight promotions/career growth – you could include this sort of information on the second page of your resume, but it would not be as prominent as on a performance resume.
2. If your most recent employer is highly prestigious, because their name will not be prominently displayed on the first page. You can get round this by putting their name in both the profile and cover letter.
3. Unusual resume format – may not be liked by everyone.

Template

Jenny C Citizen
6/710 Main Road
Mytown NSW 2909

Telephone: 02 555 5575
Facsimile: 02 555 5555 for messages only
E-mail: careers@careersonline.com.au
Personal home page: http://www.careersonline.com.au

 

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CAREER OBJECTIVE

Include a short statement about what position you are applying for

Summary Of Qualifications

List the four or five of your top skills

• Create a bulleted list

• Choose skills that connect most closely to the job you are applying for

Skills Related to the Job Goal

• List up to three skills that you want to emphasize that relate to the job you are applying for.

For each one find examples of the following:

Any accomplishments you achieved while using this skill through a training program, work experience, or through volunteering

Any responsibility you had in a previous job or volunteer activity that required you to use this skill

Any special features you want to emphasize about your ability to use this skill

Any awards or certificates you received that relate to this skill

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

(Organize by highlighted skill: Guest services, Organizational etc..)

List up to three jobs and include the following for each one:

Dates employed with most recent first

Job title

Name of organization and location

Skill descriptions (What you did at the job & how you added to the company’s success)

EDUCATION

List any post secondary training program, the date it was completed and name and location of the organization providing the training.

REFERENCES

For any references you list, include correct name, name of the organization that the person works for, and his/her contact information such as full telephone number, any extension, and an e-mail address.