Did you just graduate or will soon graduate as a hospitality professional? Congratulations! We are glad you made it thus far, it’s definitely a huge achievement for you.

Upon graduation, the need to get a rewarding hospitality job will be the next priority for you. And to be successful in this new journey, you need to curate a strong resume that will make you stand out. Remember that you have little to no work experience as a “soon-to-be-graduate” or a fresh graduate, so you need to put every detail into strong consideration.

What is a Resume?

A resume is your personal marketing material. It is intended to get you an interview, where you will have a chance to further describe what you can contribute to an organization and differentiate yourself from the competition.

The key is to keep your resume well organized, concise, and accomplishment-focused.

How Should You Begin Writing Your College Resume?

Begin by brainstorming a list of experiences and skills that you might want to include in a resume. Consider your academic background, paid and volunteer work or internships, research projects, extracurricular activities, awards, and special skills. Once you have compiled your list, you can start organizing this information into the appropriate categories and focus on tailoring the information you include to your target industry.

What Sections Should You Include in Your College Resume?

It depends. Everyone’s experience is unique, so your resume will likely look different than some of your colleagues.

Below are some common sections that we typically recommend for new hospitality graduates and soon-to-be graduates. However, many of these may overlap and it is not wise to include all of these sections. Be sure to peruse appropriately:

• Education

• Relevant coursework

• Relevant projects/research

• Work/internship experience

• Leadership experience

• Activities

• Community involvement

• Awards & honors

• Certifications

Developing Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important information on your resume, as they serve as the vehicle in which you can display the skills and experiences employers are seeking. Crafting the perfect bullet point takes time and effort as you highlight your experiences/skills as they relate to the position. Your bullet points should be tailored to the job description in order to put you in the best position to be selected for an interview.

It is important to diversify your bullet points and to align them with the job description. Do not repeat yourself, even if your experiences are similar. Focus on different experiences, activities, and skills that can display how you meet all of the requirements listed.

Writing a Resume: The Dos

  • Keep your resume to 1 page!
  • Use consistent formatting throughout
  • Use bullet points
  • Tailor your resume to each position
  • Update your resume at least once per semester
  • Use bold, underline, and italics sparingly
  • Use a clean, easy to read sans-serif font
  • Use at least a 10pt font size for your bullet points.
  • Use at least a 12pt font size for your contact info.
  • Use narrow margins (.5”) in order to fit more content in and allow it to be easily printed
  • Send your resume in a PDF format
  • Include both month and year when writing your dates
  • Use simple, everyday language
  • Be 100% honest on your resume
  • Print your resume on quality paper when distributing in person
  • Have a career counselor or trusted contact review your resume

Writing a Resume: The Don’ts

  • Use an unprofessional email address
  • Use different formats (12/16 | Dec 16 | 12.2021)
  • Describe your experience in paragraph form
  • Use one resume for all applications
  • Use bold, underline, and italics frequently and/or together
  • Ever, ever use a font size below 10pt….no one can read it
  • Create custom margins that go below .5”, as it will not print well
  • Send your resume in a .doc or .docx format, unless specifically requested
  • Use overly technical language that may confuse the reader
  • Lie or embellish your accomplishments
  • Send out your resume without a critique.

Following these tips will help you land your first hospitality job faster than imagined.