How To Write a Hotel Front Desk Resume
When you’re applying for a hotel front desk position, your resume should highlight your ability to uphold brand standards and dedication to providing an outstanding guest experience. Find out how to transform basic duties like answering phones and checking guests in and out into standout resume achievements to help you get your next job.
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
1. Write a brief summary of your hospitality hotel front desk qualifications
Focus your profile on your hospitality experience and how your skills fit the hotel’s brand. While all hotels want to ensure guests have a positive experience, establishments cater to various clientele. If you’re applying for a job at a luxury hotel in a tourist destination, highlight your knowledge of the local area and attractions. Skim the job description to determine what qualifications are a top priority for a hiring manager and sprinkle those in.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Hotel Front Desk Manager with 15+ years’ experience in luxury hotel complexes. Lead by example to ensure all guests receive a warm, professional welcome and top-caliber service. Strong awareness of different cultural norms and etiquette. Proven record of building and training world-class hospitality teams. Fluent in Spanish and English, and proficient in French and German.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Personable Hotel Front Desk Clerk with 2 years of experience in hospitality and customer-facing roles. Combine strong organizational skills with a polished customer service style both in person and over the phone. Promptly address various questions and concerns from customers, ensuring a positive guest experience and repeat business.
2. Outline your hospitality hotel front desk experience in a compelling list
As a hotel front desk associate, you are the establishment’s first impression when guests enter the door. Your resume’s professional experience section should focus on how you contribute to a welcoming atmosphere and help guests navigate check-in and check-out.
Show hiring managers the breadth of your experience by adding how many rooms the establishment has or how many guests you connect with per day. Include a career highlight or two, if relevant. For example, these are valuable resume additions if you were noted in a review as delivering exceptional service or had a 98% guest satisfaction rating.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Front Desk Manager, TM Hospitality Inc, Miami, FL | February 2011 to Present
- Lead front-of-house meetings and clearly communicate policies, procedures, and sales strategies to colleagues
- Manage guest check-in and satisfaction for a 300-room resort
- Supervise a large team to deliver prompt and welcoming service and coordinate operations between departments
- Conduct training for 150+ support staff to develop talent and ensure consistent quality
- Handle invoices and transactions, and resolve complaints and system problems promptly
- Oversee department budgets and forecast revenue and occupancy in collaboration with other managers
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Hospitality Host, The Sleeping Bear Inn, Providence, RI | May 2020 to January 2022
- Managed reservations at this 40-room boutique inn
- Promptly addressed and resolved all customer inquiries
- Provided quality customer service, helping drive an increase in repeat business
- Tracked guest satisfaction surveys to help maintain the inn’s 97% positive customer experience ratings
3. Add hospitality hotel front desk education and certifications
While having a college degree is not usually necessary for a hotel front desk position, highlighting your education is never a negative. It can also show hiring managers you may have the potential to move up into supervisory or management positions later. If your degree is in hospitality management, add it to your profile and the education section.
There are many certification opportunities in the hospitality industry; if you’ve already completed any, it’s an achievement worth its own resume section. Some examples of respected certifications include Certified Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP), Certified Front Desk Representative (CFDR), and Certified Front Desk Manager (CFDM).
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Associate of Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management
- Miami Dade College, Miami, FL | 2005
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- CFDR, AHLEI, 2016
4. Make a list of your hospitality hotel front desk-related skills and proficiencies
Most of the key skills needed for this position revolve around customer service, but it’s also important to be organized and graciously handle conflicts. Pick out the top skills from the job description and list any that match your experience in a bulleted list. This makes it easier for a hiring manager to see you’re a top candidate and can help you get past applicant tracking systems.
If you need specific ideas, start with the most relevant options from this list.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Conflict resolution | Creative problem-solving |
| Customer database management | Customer relations and service |
| Data entry | Payroll analysis |
| People management | Phone etiquette |
| Point-of-sale (POS) systems | Reporting and documentation |
| Reservations management | Revenue and profit growth |
| Scheduling | Staff training program development |
| Strategic planning | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Time management |
How To Pick the Best Hotel Front Desk Resume Template
A strong template for a hotel front desk resume starts with your name and contact information in a header and then divides everything else into sections. It should start with a profile and then move on to bullets for your skills and professional experience.
Use a traditional template with a well-known font, such as Arial or Times New Roman. Make sure the font is big enough that it’s easy to read as well. If a hiring manager has to squint to read it, it’s likely to get automatically tossed in the no pile.
Hotel Front Desk Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
Alice Lee
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
1 Main Street, Newport Beach, CA 09876
Profile
Courteous Hotel Front Desk Clerk with 8+ years of experience. Skilled at handling various administrative tasks while providing optimal customer service to ensure smooth hotel operations. Thrive in dynamic and fast-paced work environments.
Professional Experience
Front Desk Clerk, Milton Grand Hotel, Los Angeles, CA | December 2014 to Present
- Manage front desk for a 600-room, full-service 4-diamond hotel
- Cheerfully greet and assist all guests with check-in and check-out procedures
- Coordinate with housekeeping staff to ensure all rooms are cleaned and ready on time
- Ensure timely transport of guests on shuttle to and from hotel
Front Desk Clerk, Embassy Express Suites, Los Angeles, CA | October 2012 to December 2014
- Handled front desk operations for a 250-room hotel
- Took reservations and checked guests in and out
- Provided guests with information on available rooms, hotel amenities, and local restaurants and attractions
Education
Associate Degree in Hospitality Management, Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA | 2012
Graduate, Newport High School, Newport Beach, CA | 2010
Key Skills
- Conflict Resolution
- Creative Problem-Solving
- Customer Relations & Service
- Reporting & Documentation
- Team Collaboration
Certifications
Certified Front Desk Representative (CFDR), AHLEI | 2016
Frequently Asked Questions: Hotel Front Desk Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for hotel front desk resumes?-
Many everyday duties for front desk associates involve talking to customers but use engaging action verbs when describing your experience. For example, consider the difference between “talked to guests” and “greeted guests upon arrival” or “communicated hotel amenities to guests and provided upgrades when possible.”
The more specific your language is, the better. If you’re stuck, see what you can pull from the job description itself. Or try some of the options from this list:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Addressed | Analyzed |
| Assisted | Collaborated |
| Communicated | Coordinated |
| Documented | Ensured |
| Facilitated | Handled |
| Maintained | Managed |
| Monitored | Ordered |
| Organized | Processed |
| Promoted | Provided |
| Supervised | Trained |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
Job openings for hotel front desk associates have remained relatively steady, which could mean a more competitive job market. However, this industry often sees high turnover, and tourist areas may have more open positions. Tailoring your resume is one of the best ways to increase your chances of getting one of these jobs.
Pay attention to the company description as you craft your resume. Maybe you’ve worked for a similar-sized hotel or organization. If you’re applying for a job in a large or top-rated hotel, emphasize your background in these environments. Incorporating these details can make your document more relevant to the job opening you’re applying for.
What is the best hotel front desk resume format?-
Guest-facing hospitality positions require a blend of professional skills and the ability to work with people. A combination format resume is often the best choice to show both of these aspects.
This style divides your resume into two main sections: one for key skills and one for work experience. This gives the hiring manager a well-rounded view of your abilities and how well you fit the position. If your skills or experience are stronger, consider leading with that to make a good first impression.
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Once your resume is wrapped up and ready to send, create a customized cover letter. The letter introduces you to the hiring manager and is a valuable addition to your applicant packet.
It also allows you to show off a little more personality than your resume, giving hiring managers an idea of how you might communicate with guests. Look at our examples of hospitality hotel front desk cover letters to get started.
