The hospitality industry is a fast-paced industry where people evolve quickly from one position to another, changing companies as well as moving to new regions around the world. Getting a hospitality degree is greatly appreciated by most of the organizations in the field for working in this global industry where opportunities are diverse and endless. Hospitality is broad and stepping into this sector opens doors not only to hotels, restaurants, airlines and events companies but also any businesses that require the savoir-être and social skills of hospitality students. Studying hard and getting your hospitality degree is just not enough. One of the Bachelor-degree requirements is to know how to handle your career and this starts with a good professional Curriculum Vitae (CV).
If you are a high-school student and are interested in obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, you will need to write an undergraduate CV when applying to the desired educational institution. During your curriculum, you will also have to complete compulsory internships in order to gain valuable work experience. While your School Career Department is there to assist in your job search, it is mainly the quality of your application will make the real difference. A remarkable application starts with a properly structured CV. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms and process of how to write an undergraduate hospitality CV is a vital skill that will be useful throughout and even after your studies.
Your CV may be seen as your business card. It is a one to two-page document summarizing your educational and work experience. It introduces you to your potential future employers, informing them about who you are, what you have done and, more importantly, what hard and soft skills can you bring to their organizations. As an undergraduate student, you might have limited or maybe no work experience. That’s normal and it doesn’t mean that you cannot prepare an attractive CV. If you have some work experience, even if not hospitality-related, mention it. Include which companies you might have previously worked, what your positions were and, more importantly, what your tasks and responsibilities were. A professional picture is also important. When studying hospitality, you will no doubt have to follow a business dress code. Wearing a business suit on your CV picture shows that you are already used to the industry’s codes and are ready to step into this world.
A considerable amount of employers do not expect to receive an extensive CV from undergraduate hospitality students who start their career in the sector. They are more interested in the layout of the CV and the skills that you might have developed through your studies or extracurricular activities.
Key Elements of an Undergraduate Hospitality Student’s CV
Below you can find elements to consider during the CV-writing process:
Keep it short (on one page or maximum two pages if long professional experience applies) and be careful of the overall layout:
- Consistency: use only one type of font
- Keep it aligned and use similar spacing
Present your name as the title: First name, LAST NAME:
- Preferably in bold and in the center
- Avoid typing “curriculum vitae” as a title
Add a professional portrait picture above right or left depending on the country’s legal framework:
- A photo of you preferably in a business suit
- A picture in front of white background and a smile are recommended
Include the following sections:
A. Personal details
- Contact details: address, email, mobile phone number and Skype ID
- Nationality
- Date of Birth (depending on the country’s legal framework)
B. Objective: write 2 to 3 lines stating what type of employment or position you are looking for, your desired achievements and your availability to start.
C. Education: list your previous and current educational institutions in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent including your major and anticipated graduation date; add any qualifications, projects or awards relevant to your studies. E.g.:
Month Year – Month Year Organisation Name, City, Country
Diploma / Degree
Anticipated graduation date: Month Year
D. Work experience: similarly to the previous section, list your previous work experience (summer jobs, part-time jobs, etc.) in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent including your position, tasks and responsibilities. E.g.:
Month Year – Month Year Organisation Name, City, Country
Position Held
Description of main responsibilities
E. Language skills: list your language skills, starting with your mother tongue to the less fluent ones; add your language certifications in this section (if any applicable). E.g.:
Language Native speaker
Language Fluent (C1, Cambridge English Advanced Certificate, Year)
Language Intermediate/Advanced
Language Basic (currently learning)
F. Computer skills: list IT programs that you know how to use, including your skills level. E.g:
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint): very good user
Photoshop, iMovie: basic user
G. Extra-curriculum activities: list your most important extra-curricular activities in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent including your position, tasks and responsibilities. E.g.:
Month Year – Month Year Organisation Name, City, Country
Position Held
A. Interest: introduce briefly your interests in one line, underlying your main activities or highlighting the ones related to hospitality.
H. Reference upon request: complete your CV with this sentence, being centred and in bold; in addition be prepared to give some contact persons or reference certificate if requested.
Writing a proper CV takes time but it is also an ongoing process. You should keep editing it throughout your hospitality studies and even after graduation reflecting the changes in your career, keeping only the most recent or relevant experiences on it. Don’t forget that an impactful CV is tailored to the company that you are applying for. Therefore, don’t hesitate to modify the objective and underline the skills and qualities required for the position. However, as much as a good CV is important, it is not the be all and end all of your application. A well-structured CV is just the first step in getting the qualifications, the internship, the management training or the job that you want. Following up your application and making a good impression at the interview are as important as the CV’s impact if not more. But this is another story.
Sarah Balet, Career & Placement Counsellor
Les Roches Global Hospitality Education