10 Resume tips from a Recruiter

During my 10 years as a coach I’ve worked with several hiring managers. GeckoHospitality has been placing job seekers in restaurant jobs for years. In this time we’ve broken down the hiring process, and potential problems, into short tips to help improve your job search process.

Resume Tips for Managers

1. There are two ways to write a resume. The first is to focus on yourself. The second is to focus on the company’s needs. Applying for a job just because it is on an automated job search board is never a good idea. The best way to find a restaurant position is to work with someone who understands the industry and matches Candidates with Recruiters. This is easiest when the Candidate focuses on what the potential employer needs, instead of what the Candidate feels is important.

2. What is a resume? You can create a bio of your career, or you can create a career management document. The first lists where you worked, when, and what tasks you performed. Stating that as a manager you used leadership skills to manage employees is a waste of paper.
A career development tool lists your workplace achievements and accomplishments. This document will grow over time, it is not a resume. When you find a position you want to pursue then pull the relevant sections out of your document and use those to create a highly focused, pertinent, resume.

3. Focus on the job description. Not every restaurant or general manager’s job requires the same skill set. The hiring professional created the job description to address their needs and concerns. Ignoring their expectations is a sure way to push your resume to the bottom of the list.

4, Avoid the fluff. This includes the summary, personal commentary, objective, etc.. The HR manager rarely cares whether you like gardening, or state that you are hard working. They expect that you are looking for long-term, full-time employment.

5. When resume advice websites state that a resume needs to be short, they are actually saying that it is important to eliminate everything that will not help land the job. A two page resume is all you need to sell your skill set to a potential employer.

6. Be sure you are qualified. More important, make sure that you fill the resume with ‘proof’ that you are qualified. If you don’t tell the recruiter that you are qualified then you are wasting everyone’s time.

7. When professionals are taught to network they learn to describe who they are, and what they do, in a short blurb. This can help the job seeker when trying to sell their skills to the hiring professional. Think ‘benefits’ instead of ‘history.’ When a restaurant needs to hire it is because they need a problem solved. The best candidate is the one who can solve those problems.

8. Focus on the future. Most resumes only look in one direction – to the past. Try to focus on future goals and long-term career goals. Do not switch the focus from the job description but when possible, highlight the fact that you are looking for a long-term job with growth potential.

9. Never stop learning. Good experience and skills help your resume stand out from the crowd. Everyone knows that the people with the best jobs and promotions are those who continue to learn and enjoy training.

10. Look for the right job – not a job. A resume summary can be useful if it states that you are looking for a job which encourages training and improvement. This is a forward looking resume that helps Candidates find the right job for them.

Recruiters know that finding the wrong job can damage a career. Training is expensive. Employers want Candidates who will stay longer than one year. In fact, staying less than a year can damage a promising career. This is why it is important to find the right job, not just ‘a’ job.