How To Write a Host and Hostess Resume

When you’re looking for a host or hostess job, it’s vital to network, as many restaurants hire more by referrals than standard applications. But what if you see a promising host or hostess job advertised? In those cases, you’ll need a resume ready so you don’t miss the chance for an interview.

Don’t worry, you can write a great host or hostess resume by focusing on your skill at engaging with customers, collaborating in teams, and supporting restaurant operations. The following tips and examples will show you how to achieve that focus so your resume helps you find your next host or hostess job.

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level
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1. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your host and hostess qualifications

As the person welcoming guests to a restaurant, you know the importance of first impressions. You can make a great first impression on hiring managers if you write a compelling profile summary of your skills as a host or hostess. For instance, describe your communication style and how that promotes a positive dining experience for new and returning customers. Or you might emphasize teamwork collaborating with diverse bussers, waitstaff, maître d’s, and restaurant managers.

Your profile is also a great place to mention if you have a background at a similar dining establishment. By showing your related experience in this way, you can assure restaurant managers that you’d train quickly.

Entry-Level Profile Example


Efficient hostess with two years of experience in privately owned restaurants. Skilled at providing courteous service, collaborating on a team, and making and updating reservations for guests. Thrive in dynamic and fast-paced work environments.

Mid-Career Profile Example


Host with eight years of experience in popular bars and restaurants. Skilled at managing customer databases, arranging for large parties, and answering calls and emails. Combine strong organizational skills with a friendly service style. Calm, professional, and focused on finding solutions in high-pressure work environments. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.

2. Outline your host and hostess experience in a compelling list

A strong experience section describes not just your relevant duties but also the positive impact of those duties. You can show your impact as a host or hostess by giving specific numbers on your performance, such as how many guests you served or where you ranked on your team.

Also, consider whether you created or improved any standard procedures in each restaurant where you have worked. For instance, maybe you developed a more efficient way to prepare orders for customers using new food delivery apps. Or perhaps you helped find a better system for reducing wait times during the restaurant’s busy summer season. Quantify improvements like these in terms of lower restaurant costs, higher productivity, or better guest satisfaction scores. When data isn’t available, you can still show results by describing how your work supported a generally positive dining experience for guests.

Mid-Career Experience Example


Host, The Galley Restaurant, Rochester, NY | March 2016 to January 2023

[Popular, award-winning seafood restaurant with 40 tables]

  • Maintained a warm and professional manner interacting with guests by phone and in person
  • Sat over 130 diners per night in three separate seatings while upholding restaurant’s high service standards
  • Reconciled cash in tills at end of each shift

Highlight:

  • Member of team that drove a 15% increase in customer satisfaction on monthly surveys, earning special recognition from corporate in 2019

Senior-Level Experience Example


Hostess, The Michelin Restaurant, Newport, RI | April 2018 to March 2023

  • Arranged approximately 40 party reservations per night
  • Answered incoming calls and emails in a warm and professional manner
  • Filed incident reports as needed

Highlight:

  • Implemented a new customer relationship management (CRM) database that raised customer satisfaction ratings by 20% in three years
  • Efficiently managed waitlist, helping reduce average wait times 10% and prevent overcrowding in server sections

3. Include host and hostess-related education and certifications

While host and hostess jobs typically don’t have formal education requirements, cite any degree you’ve earned, especially if the degree is focused on hospitality. Also, note any hospitality-related certifications you’ve gained. Finally, consider including any safe food handling permit you have since that’s required for restaurant workers in some states.

The following are templates and examples to help you format education or certification details on your resume. Note that optional template areas appear in [brackets].

Education

Template

  • Degree Name — [Major], School Name, City, ST | [Year]
  • [relevant coursework]

Example

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) — Hospitality Business, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • Select Coursework:
  • Hospitality Food Service Operations
  • Service Management Principles

Certification

Template

  • Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]

Example

  • Certified Guest Service Professional, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute

4. List key skills and proficiencies for host and hostess

Include a “key skills” or “areas of expertise” section on your host or hostess resume to show your core strengths, such as customer service, reservations management, or rapid problem-solving. You may also want to cite more technical skills, such as proficiency in point-of-sale systems used by the restaurants you’re applying to. Below are some common skills and keywords for hosts and hostesses:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Cash till reconciliation Conflict and complaint resolution
CRM databases Customer relations and satisfaction
Facilitating guest turnover Point-of-sale (POS) systems
Rapid problem-solving Reservations management
Restaurant operations support Task prioritization
Team collaboration Time management
Waitlist management Wait time estimates
Work scheduling  

How To Pick the Best Host and Hostess Resume Template

As with most vocations, hosts and hostesses should use a resume template that’s clear and straightforward. Opt for a visual format that lets the hiring manager quickly review your most impressive career details. Use a simple resume font, and avoid any template with overly colorful or elaborate designs.

Host & Hostess Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Entry-Level
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior-Level

Will Harrison
(752) 814-7263 | [email protected] | Rochester, NY 14610 | www.linkedin.com/example

Profile

Host with eight years of experience in popular bars and restaurants. Skilled at managing customer databases, arranging for large parties, and answering calls and emails. Combine strong organizational skills with a friendly service style. Calm, professional, and focused on finding solutions in high-pressure work environments. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.

Key Skills

  • Cash till reconciliation
  • CRM databases
  • Customer relations and satisfaction
  • Task prioritization
  • Time management
  • Wait time estimates

Professional Experience

Host, The Galley Restaurant, Rochester, NY | March 2016 to January 2023

[Popular, award-winning seafood restaurant with 40 tables]

  • Maintained warm and professional manner interacting with guests by phone and in person
  • Sat over 130 diners per night in three separate seatings while upholding restaurant’s high service standards
  • Reconciled cash in tills at end of each shift

Highlight:

  • Member of team that drove a 15% increase in customer satisfaction on monthly surveys, earning special recognition from corporate in 2019

Restaurant Host, The Hilton Hotel, Providence, RI | September 2014 to February 2016

  • Charged with setting table arrangements and booking reservations
  • Efficiently handled restaurant POS software
  • Greeted and escorted all guests to their designated tables

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) — Hospitality Business, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Select Coursework:

  • Hospitality Food Service Operations
  • Service Management Principles

Professional Development

Certified Guest Service Professional, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute

Language 

Fluency in Spanish

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Expert Advice
Advice From a Recruiter: Chris Shatto

Chris Shatto - Hospitality Recruiter and Expert Contributor, Linkedin

Meet our Expert: Chris is a respected hospitality leader with over 20 years of experience in upscale and luxury hotels and clubs and is the owner of Gecko Hospitality, a renowned recruiting firm.

1. What are the most in-demand skills for hosting that should be featured on a candidate’s resume? -

For a hosting position, hard skills might include familiarity with reservation software, knowledge of health and safety regulations, and perhaps language skills if the establishment caters to a multi-lingual clientele. Soft skills are equally important: a host needs excellent communication and customer service skills, the ability to maintain composure during peak hours, and a welcoming demeanor that can set the tone for a guest's entire dining experience.

2. What work experience and other accomplishments are hiring managers looking for in a hosting candidate?-

Hiring managers typically look for previous experience in a customer service-oriented role, particularly within the hospitality industry. However, any examples of dealing with the public or managing situations under pressure can be relevant. Achievements that demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team, resolve customer complaints effectively, or manage multiple tasks concurrently will stand out.

3. What else in addition to a resume should a hosting candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers? -

While a resume is crucial, a cover letter can distinguish a candidate by showing personality and genuine interest in the job and establishment. If applicable, candidates might also provide references or letters of recommendation from previous employers that can attest to their reliability and work ethic.

4. What advice would you give a hosting candidate about their job search?-

First, target your applications to establishments where you can see yourself fitting in, as cultural fit is critical in hospitality roles. Then, customize your resume and cover letter to each job, highlighting the most relevant skills and experience. Lastly, remember that in hospitality, personality and attitude can be as important as experience, so let your enthusiasm for the role and the industry shine through in every interaction you have with potential employers.

Frequently Asked Questions: Host and Hostess Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for host and hostess resumes?-

The following verbs list will help you brainstorm and write about the various ways you’ve made an impact in your service-industry experience:

Action Verbs
Assisted Attended
Collaborated Coordinated
Enhanced Generated
Greeted Improved
Increased Listened
Managed Monitored
Organized Oversaw
Prevented Produced
Ranked Resolved
Scheduled Supervised
Supported Trained
Welcomed Won
How do you align your host and hostess resume with a job posting?-

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for hosts and hostesses will increase by about 15% (or 52,600 jobs) between 2021 and 2031. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all U.S. jobs.

You can get more interviews in this growing field if you tailor your resume for each application you send. One great way to tailor your resume is by adding descriptions of restaurants you’ve worked in in brackets right below the restaurant name in your experience section.

Restaurant descriptions let you show any similarity between the places you’ve worked at and the place you now want to work. For instance, maybe you’ve worked in the same type of cuisine or for a similar size facility. And if you’re applying to a high-volume or top-rated restaurant, you can use restaurant descriptions to emphasize any background you have in these environments. By including these details on your resume, you’ll make it much more relevant to the job opening.

What is the best host and hostess resume format?-

In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience. It’s also easiest for you to modify based on your job goals.

With the Combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your experience or work history section and an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) As noted above, your resume intro should include a profile summary and a key skills section. You may also add a career highlights or awards section. Choose the details for these sections carefully. Make sure each point shows you have the service skills to help a restaurant succeed.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume

To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure you write a strong cover letter. The key to writing an effective letter is customizing it based on each employer you apply to. Read our food service cover letter guide to learn how. See our server and hotel front desk cover letter guides for other related examples.

Jacob Meade headshot

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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