Hospitality CV Tips: How to Get Your CV Noticed by Lodge and Hotel Recruiters
Hospitality CV Tips: How to Get Your CV Noticed by Lodge and Hotel Recruiters
Your CV is often your first introduction to a recruiter or potential employer.
For hospitality professionals applying for hotel, lodge, resort or safari positions, your CV needs to communicate more than where you have worked.
It needs to show what type of hospitality professional you are and what you can bring to your next employer.
A recruiter should be able to understand your experience, responsibilities, qualifications and suitability quickly.
Why Your Hospitality CV Matters
Hospitality recruitment can be competitive, particularly for desirable positions at luxury lodges, five-star hotels and premium resorts.
A generic CV can make it difficult for recruiters to identify your strengths.
Your hospitality CV should therefore be:
- Accurate
- Current
- Easy to read
- Professionally presented
- Relevant to the position
- Clear about your experience
Start With a Strong Professional Profile
The opening section should immediately communicate who you are.
For example:
Experienced Lodge Manager with eight years’ experience in luxury safari operations, guest relations, staff management and lodge administration.
This is much stronger than:
Hardworking individual looking for a new opportunity.
Your opening profile should quickly tell the recruiter what you specialise in.
Include Complete Employment Dates
This is one of the most important details on a hospitality CV.
Use:
March 2023 – August 2026
rather than:
2023 – 2026
Exact dates make it easier for recruiters to understand your career history.
Eagle’s Recruitment also asks candidates to provide current and accurate CV information when applying for hospitality opportunities.
Explain Where You Worked
Do not simply write:
Lodge Manager – ABC Lodge
Give the recruiter context.
For example:
Lodge Manager – Luxury 5-Star Safari Lodge, Greater Kruger
This tells the recruiter more about the environment in which you gained your experience.
Highlight Your Responsibilities
Avoid vague statements such as:
Managed staff.
Instead, explain your actual responsibility.
For example:
Managed a multidisciplinary lodge team across front office, housekeeping, food and beverage and maintenance departments.
Specific information makes your experience much easier to assess.
Show Achievements Where Possible
Responsibilities tell employers what you were expected to do.
Achievements show what you actually delivered.
For example:
- Improved guest satisfaction scores
- Reduced food costs
- Improved stock control
- Increased direct bookings
- Developed new menus
- Improved staff retention
- Managed successful events
Only include genuine achievements.
Include Your Qualifications
List relevant qualifications clearly.
Depending on the position, these could include:
- Hospitality qualifications
- Culinary qualifications
- Management qualifications
- Conservation qualifications
- Guiding qualifications
- First aid
- Food safety
- Relevant software training
- Industry certifications
Make sure qualification names are accurate.
Include Relevant Hospitality Systems
If you have experience with hospitality systems, list them.
Depending on your role, these may include:
- Property-management systems
- Reservation systems
- Point-of-sale systems
- Stock-control systems
- Microsoft Office
- Accounting systems
Only list systems you have genuinely used.
References Can Strengthen Your Application
References can be valuable, particularly for senior hospitality positions.
Before including someone as a referee, make sure they have agreed to be contacted.
Check that:
- Their contact details are correct
- They are still reachable
- Their relationship to you is clear
- They can accurately discuss your previous employment
Should You Include a Photograph?
Some hospitality employers request a professional photograph, particularly for guest-facing roles.
If you include one, use a current professional photograph.
Avoid:
- Holiday photographs
- Selfies
- Group photographs
- Heavily edited images
- Casual social-media photographs
Always follow the specific requirements of the vacancy.
Tailor Your CV to the Position
Do not send exactly the same CV for every position.
A Head Chef application should emphasise:
- Culinary leadership
- Menu development
- Kitchen management
- Food costs
- Team management
A Lodge Manager application should emphasise:
- Lodge operations
- Guest relations
- Leadership
- Staff management
- Financial management
- Administration
A conservation application should emphasise:
- Relevant qualifications
- Field experience
- Conservation knowledge
- Guiding or wildlife experience
The more relevant your CV is to the position, the easier it is for a recruiter to understand your suitability.
Keep Your Hospitality CV Updated
Do not wait until your ideal vacancy appears before updating your CV.
Keep a master version and update it whenever you:
- Change jobs
- Receive a promotion
- Complete a qualification
- Gain a new certification
- Take on additional responsibilities
- Change your contact details
Then you can apply quickly when the right opportunity becomes available.
Looking for Hospitality Jobs in South Africa?
Eagle’s Recruitment specialises in hospitality recruitment throughout Southern Africa, with current vacancy categories including lodge management, chefs, conservation, food and beverage, front office, housekeeping and other hospitality positions.
View the latest hospitality vacancies or submit your CV to Eagle’s Recruitment.
Make Your CV Tell Your Career Story
The strongest hospitality CVs are not simply lists of previous jobs.
They tell a clear story:
Where have you worked?
What type of properties have you worked at?
What level of responsibility have you held?
What skills have you developed?
What can you bring to your next employer?
Make those answers obvious.
A recruiter should not have to search through three pages to understand why you are suitable.
Your Next Hospitality Opportunity Could Start With Your CV
A professional CV does not guarantee a job, but it can make it much easier for recruiters and employers to understand your experience.
If you are ready to explore new hospitality opportunities, make sure your CV is accurate, current and tailored to the type of position you want.
Ready to submit your CV?
Submit your CV to Eagle’s Recruitment and check the latest hospitality vacancies regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a hospitality CV be?
There is no universal page limit. Your CV should contain enough relevant information to demonstrate your experience without unnecessary detail.
What should I include on a lodge CV?
Include employment dates, property types, job titles, responsibilities, achievements, qualifications, relevant skills and references.
Should I tailor my CV for every hospitality job?
Yes. Highlight the experience and skills most relevant to the specific vacancy.
Should I include references?
For many hospitality positions, particularly senior roles, accurate and contactable references can strengthen your application.
Should I include a photograph on my hospitality CV?
Follow the requirements of the specific vacancy. If a photograph is requested, use a recent and professional image.
Where can I submit my hospitality CV?
You can submit your CV through Eagle’s Recruitment and browse current hospitality vacancies on the website.