You can write a great restaurant manager resume by focusing on how you’ve improved dining operations. Highlight your skills in managing restaurants and waitstaff, handling customer issues, and more. Include information about your previous jobs to demonstrate your expertise. The following tips and examples will help you explore this topic and find the best career details to show on your restaurant manager resume.
“Restaurant manager resumes should reflect team leadership, customer service, and cost control. Show how you create a smooth, high-quality dining experience.”
— Carolyn Kleiman, Resume and Career Advisor
Most Popular Restaurant Manager Resumes
Fast Food Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume highlights measurable improvements in staff retention and cost reduction, two core challenges in fast food management. The candidate demonstrates leadership by showcasing how they improved team performance and compliance. For help creating your own resume, visit How To Make a Resume.
Fine Dining Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is strong because it focuses on the nuances of fine dining — emphasizing hospitality, upscale customer service, and specialized dining experiences. The candidate’s contributions to revenue and retention are clearly defined. To write a strong summary like this one, visit Resume Summary Examples.
Hotel Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume stands out for its focus on the hospitality and service expectations unique to hotel dining. It’s clear the candidate can lead multiple service types and adapt to different guest needs. For more on formatting like this, check out Best Resume Formats.
Multi-Unit Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume shows the candidate’s ability to manage large teams and multiple store operations, which is crucial for multi-unit roles. By quantifying success and highlighting leadership development, this resume makes a strong case for upper management opportunities. Learn how to structure a resume like this at Resume Outline Examples.
Pizza Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume example works well because it emphasizes speed, efficiency, and logistics, three vital qualities in pizza restaurant management. The candidate also clearly shows how operational changes led to better customer reviews. For help selecting the right fonts and style, check out Best Font for a Resume.
Professional Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume successfully balances financial, operational, and team-building achievements. The experience clearly illustrates the candidate’s professionalism and ability to improve team culture and business outcomes. To find more ways to improve your resume content, visit What To Put on a Resume.
Restaurant Manager Experience Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume works well because it focuses on specific operational wins like turnover reduction and food waste control. It demonstrates consistent growth in responsibilities across roles. To improve your resume with your own results, explore How To List Certifications on a Resume.
Subway Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly shows experience within a specific brand and includes operational metrics relevant to franchise roles. Franchise managers benefit from understanding compliance, and this candidate emphasizes that well. Learn more about adding your education effectively at How To List Your Education on a Resume.
Assistant Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly communicates the candidate’s ability to lead during high-volume operations, solve problems on the floor, and train new hires effectively. The quantified results add strength to the application. For more on tailoring your resume content, see Resume Skills.
Entry-Level Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume balances relevant frontline experience with management potential. By showing clear growth and initiative, it positions the candidate as a strong entry-level manager. To learn more about positioning your experience effectively, read Resume Objective Examples.
Upscale Dining Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is tailored to high-end restaurant roles and showcases the candidate’s attention to detail in luxury service. Emphasizing wine knowledge and guest personalization sets them apart. For help developing standout sections, visit How To Make a Resume.
Quick Service Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume emphasizes operational improvement in a fast-paced environment, which is essential for QSR roles. Clear metrics and system upgrades show the candidate’s ability to handle both people and processes. Learn how to list technology like this at Technical Skills for a Resume.
Restaurant Operations Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume goes beyond front-line service to show how the candidate impacts restaurant operations at scale. Cost savings and workflow improvements demonstrate strategic thinking. For insights on resume strategy, visit How Far Back Should a Resume Go?
Family Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume aligns with the needs of family-style establishments by emphasizing community engagement and service speed. Highlighting themed nights and partnerships shows marketing ability. For advice on including unique sections, see Resume Interests Section.
Beverage Program Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume targets a specialized management role with clarity and expertise. The achievements demonstrate profit impact, training success, and strong supplier relationships. To showcase certifications effectively, read How To List Certifications on a Resume.
Restaurant Training Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume targets training-focused roles, demonstrating impact with real data. It communicates how the candidate developed systems that scale. For more help building your own strong structure, read Resume Outline Examples.
Restaurant Floor Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly outlines leadership and coordination skills, emphasizing real-world customer outcomes. It also shows a natural progression from supervisor to manager. For more on showcasing soft skills like guest recovery, check out Soft Skills for a Resume.
Drive-Thru Restaurant Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is ideal for drive-thru or quick-service roles, emphasizing efficiency and tech integration. Strong metrics help employers see results. For help showcasing your technical strengths, read Technical Skills for a Resume.
Bar Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume demonstrates beverage leadership with clear financial and team impact. It shows the candidate’s skill in both business and creativity. To build a similar professional image, explore CV vs. Resume.
Restaurant Marketing Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume focuses on marketing metrics and shows how creative strategies lead to revenue growth. It’s ideal for marketing roles within food service. To learn how to tailor content for similar positions, see What To Put on a Resume.
Restaurant General Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is ideal for top leadership roles. It highlights long-term impact on finances and team operations. For advice on how to email your resume effectively, visit How To Email a Resume.
Catering Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume shows both logistical and creative strengths in managing events. Real-world numbers build credibility. To include special roles like this, learn about How To Put Volunteer Work on a Resume.
Banquet Manager Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume works because it’s focused and structured to highlight banquet-specific leadership. It communicates the ability to manage complexity and large-scale service. Learn how to format resumes like this at Should a Resume Be One Page?
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Restaurant Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How to Write a Restaurant Manager Resume
1. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your restaurant manager qualifications
A good profile will catch hiring managers’ interest by naming the three to five top reasons you’re suited to your target restaurant manager job.
Think about what sets you apart from other restaurant managers. For instance, maybe you’ve earned special recognition for motivating and retaining quality waitstaff. Or perhaps you have rare knowledge of restaurant best practices and regulations. Also, feel free to give a specific achievement from your experience if it reveals your approach to building a successful restaurant. By placing these highlights at the top of your resume, you’ll make a strong first impression and give hiring managers a sense of how you might improve their dining facility.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Restaurant manager with over three years of experience motivating waitstaff, resolving customer concerns, and reducing staff turnover. Recent highlights include launching a featured food program that drove double-digit revenue growth. Expert user of restaurant management software like TouchBistro and Toast POS.
Mid-Career Profile Example
Restaurant manager with over nine years of experience driving revenue growth, reducing staff turnover, and building goodwill with customers. Draw on broad, deep knowledge of restaurant best practices and health and safety regulations. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
2. Add your restaurant manager experience with compelling examples
For each past restaurant manager job, describe how you kept the facility running smoothly. List relevant duties you held, such as overseeing kitchen staff, honing restaurant systems, or ensuring diners’ satisfaction with the food and service. Also, detail any improvements you made. For instance, did you introduce a training program, menu section, or marketing promotion? Or did you raise efficiency, cut costs, or improve customer review scores? Try to quantify these changes in terms of a specific number, percentage, or dollar amount.
Mid-Career Experience Example
Restaurant Manager, Culinary Cafe, Washington, DC | May 2015 to present
- Helped plan and design the restaurant’s front and kitchen prior to the grand re-opening
- Increased seating capacity by 20% while maintaining compliance with health codes and regulations
- Spearheaded marketing campaign that increased revenue 68% and led to six months of sold-out reservations
- Improved customer satisfaction ratings by 9% using instant reservations software that minimized wait times
Senior-Level Experience Example
Restaurant Manager, Big Bistro, Bent Mountain, VA | April 2012 to present
- Established new scheduling procedures that cut costs 11% and brought labor in line with budget of 14% of net revenue
- Co-developed better customer service practices that increased profit by 15%
- Designed a comprehensive new training program that increased retention of customer-facing staff by more than 30%
3. Include your education and any restaurant manager-related certifications
Your education and certifications are probably less important than any direct service-industry experience you have. But use this section to show the background knowledge you can apply toward improving restaurant operations. For instance, if you have a degree in restaurant and hospitality management, that can give your resume an advantage, especially for jobs at more upscale restaurants. You may also want to feature your degrees in business or other more general areas that still relate to the role of restaurant manager. Finally, include any relevant credentials you’ve earned, such as the Food Protection Manager Certification (FPMC).
The following are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note that optional template areas are in [brackets].
Education
Template
- Degree Name — [Major], School Name, City, ST | [Year] | [GPA]
Example
- Bachelor’s Degree — Food Service Management, Penn State University, State College, PA | 2019
Certification
Template
- Certification Name, [Awarding Organization] | [Year]
Example
- ServSafe Manager | 2015
4. List your key restaurant manager skills and proficiencies
You can enhance your restaurant manager resume with a “Key Skills” section covering operations improvement, cross-team leadership, and food and beverage service. The following list will help you feature these and other work areas that align with your restaurant management skill set:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Conflict resolution | Cost reduction and elimination |
| Cross-functional coordination | Culinary arts |
| Customer relations and service | Customer rewards programs |
| Employee morale and retention | Food quality and safety standards |
| Hiring and staffing | Marketing strategy development |
| Menu design and development | Operations management |
| Process redesign and improvement | Product inventory management |
| Productivity and efficiency gains | Regulatory and corporate compliance |
| Revenue and profit growth | Social media marketing |
| Staff training and coaching | Team leadership and motivation |
| Workforce planning and scheduling | |
How To Pick the Best Restaurant Manager Resume Template
As with most vocations, restaurant managers 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. Select a simple resume font, and avoid any template that has an overly colorful or elaborate design.
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.
What are the most in-demand skills for restaurant managers that should be featured on a candidate’s resume? -
A restaurant manager should have expertise in financial management, inventory control, and staff training to ensure smooth operations. They must also be skilled in menu development, POS system usage, and adhering to health and safety regulations. Marketing and promotion experience is vital for driving sales and increasing brand awareness. Soft skills, such as leadership, communication, time management, problem-solving, adaptability, attention to detail, and conflict resolution, play a crucial role in managing teams effectively and maintaining high standards of customer satisfaction.
What type of work experience and/or other accomplishments are hiring managers looking for in a restaurant manager?-
Hiring managers seek restaurant manager candidates with diverse experience, such as previous management roles, various industry positions, and a successful track record. They also value staff training and development, menu development, food cost control, customer service excellence, and project management skills. Including awards, recognitions, community involvement, and relevant education or certifications can further strengthen a candidate's appeal. Demonstrating this wide range of accomplishments will help make a strong impression on hiring managers.
What else in addition to a resume should a restaurant manager candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers?-
In addition to a resume, restaurant manager candidates should be prepared to provide a well-crafted cover letter that highlights their relevant experience and passion for the industry. They may also be asked for professional references who can attest to their skills and work ethic. In some cases, a candidate might be required to complete a test project or participate in a trial shift (also known as a stage) to demonstrate their management capabilities and understanding of the restaurant's operations.
What advice would you give a restaurant manager candidate about their job search? -
To enhance your job search as a restaurant manager candidate, tailor your resume and cover letter for each application, emphasizing relevant skills and experiences. Networking is crucial, so attend industry events and engage with professionals in the field. Research potential employers to understand their values and culture, and prepare for interviews by practicing common questions and staying up-to-date on industry trends. Leverage online resources like job search websites and set up job alerts. After applying or interviewing, send a follow-up email to express gratitude and reiterate your interest in the position.
Frequently Asked Questions: Restaurant Manager Resume Examples and Advice
How do I optimize my Restaurant Manager CV to get noticed by hiring managers?-
To optimize your Restaurant Manager CV, begin by showcasing measurable achievements that demonstrate the value you’ve brought to previous employers. Use action verbs and specific examples to highlight your contributions. Incorporating industry-specific keywords, particularly in the skills and professional experience sections, will help your CV stand out, especially with ATS systems.
What are common action verbs for restaurant manager resumes?-
One of the best ways to optimize your resume is by using a good mix of action verbs in your experience section. The following verbs list will help you brainstorm and write about the various ways you’ve made an impact in your restaurant management career so far:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapted | Aligned |
| Created | Decreased |
| Directed | Earned |
| Enhanced | Ensured |
| Generated | Implemented |
| Improved | Increased |
| Introduced | Led |
| Managed | Overcame |
| Oversaw | Prepared |
| Produced | Ranked |
| Scheduled | Streamlined |
| Strengthened | Supervised |
| Won | |
How do you align your restaurant manager resume with a job posting?-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for food service managers will increase by about 10% between 2021 and 2031. This growth rate is faster than the average for all U.S. vocations.
You can get more interviews in this growing field if you tailor your resume for each application. One great way is by adding descriptions of the restaurants you’ve overseen 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 dining 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 those work settings. By including details like these on your resume, you’ll make it more relevant to the job opening.
What is the best restaurant manager 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.) Usually, your resume intro should include a profile summary and key skills section, but you may also introduce yourself with a career highlights or awards section.
How long should I make my restaurant manager resume?-
A one-page restaurant manager resume is the best option for most candidates, as it ensures clarity and brevity. If you have significant achievements or over 10 years of experience, extending to two pages is fine—but only if the content is tailored and directly supports your application. Focus on impactful accomplishments and key skills that relate to the job.
Include your most recent 10 to 15 years of work experience. Older roles should only appear if they provide unique insights or align closely with the job requirements. Keeping your resume concise and relevant will maximize its impact.
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To increase your chances of an interview, write a strong cover letter. The key to an effective letter is customizing it based on each restaurant you apply to. Read our restaurant manager cover letter guide to learn how. For other related examples, see our server and manager cover letter guides.
