In our previous blog about CVs we talked about the way you should set out your CV to impress the hospitality hiring manager. In this article, we are going into more detail about the common blunders we see on hospitality CVs which are stopping you from getting the interviews and hospitality job you want.
There has been a profound change in the way employers are hiring these days, with the rise of the digital era. Many companies now ask for you to complete an online application form as the first stage of screening, but in the hospitality world, the CV is still king.
Here are the five top blunders we see time and again on hospitality CVs that are stopping you from landing your next interview and hospitality job.
1. The Wrong Details
You would be shocked at the amount of CVs we see which have incorrect details on them. As hospitality recruiters, it can often be a case that we need someone for the job as soon as possible, so speed is vital. It can be so frustrating finding the right candidate for a job only to find the mobile number they have provided is wrong, or no longer in use.
Check that every phone number you have provided is the current one (mobile and home) and that it is written correctly with no typos.
While the hospitality industry still largely favours telephone contact, there are some companies who will want to correspond via email. Make sure that your email is provided (and that you check it often when anticipating a response from a hospitality job!) and that it is a professional sounding email address – avoid using one which is overly colloquial or includes a nickname.
It is a good idea to set up a dedicated professional email during your job search; for example, [email protected] sounds much better than [email protected]. This ensures all of the correspondence will be in one area and you can choose a formal address which will give you extra credibility.
2. CV Gaps
If you have long gaps in your job history, these can be a worry for employers. If there are legitimate reasons you can explain these by being honest but it is best not to include these in your CV; rather wait until the interview and see if the employer wishes to ask about them. However, if you were out of work because you were travelling, in education or training/voluntary work, make sure to explain this on your CV.
3. Not Including a Cover Letter
All too often candidates in hospitality and chefs, in particular, miss out on an opportunity to sell themselves.
Recruiters receive an average of 118 CVs per job vacancy, so you can understand that sifting through them all is a tough job. We believe a cover letter is one of the best ways to get noticed and proceed to the interview stage.
In your cover letter you can explain briefly why you are applying to the job, and your current position, so the employer can link the two. If you are looking to relocate, this is the time to mention it. Sometimes employers get sent a CV, and the applicant’s address is hundreds of miles away – if you don’t explain to them you want to move to the area, they might think your CV has been sent by mistake.
4. Well Presented
Your CV is a representation of yourself. If it is sloppy and poorly put together, this is the impression the hiring manager will have of you. If it is required in a physical copy, it should be printed out on crisp paper, do not hand in CV’s that are badly creased or marked.
The font should be easy to understand and not too big or too small. Avoid lots of different types of fonts and use italics, bold and underlined words sparingly.
Both your CV and cover letter should be placed in an envelope and try to find out the name of the manager or supervisor to address it correctly.
5. What Not To Include
- No photo – While it was once accepted as the norm, photos of yourself on your CV can seem pompous and unnecessary. What you look like should have no bearing on whether or not you are good at your job.
- No date of birth – Again, once the done thing, many employers now deem this as an unnecessary piece of information as they are not going to discriminate one way or another based on your age.
- Ancient positions – Don’t give details of any jobs you had 15 or more years ago.
- School grades – Your work experience is all that hospitality employers are looking for.
- Don’t be negative – Be positive about former jobs, never write anything negative about previous establishments or managers as this makes you appear at best bitter, at worst – unprofessional.
Finally
At KSB Recruitment we are experts at recruiting hospitality staff in Birmingham, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and Northamptonshire.
If you’re looking for a new chef, receptionist, maintenance or any other hospitality role, get in touch with us today.
Thanks
Dawn Turbitt
