Today, most job applications happen online, this means your resume provides the first impression, and it better be a good one, so if it is not formatted properly or does not mention the right skills, it will immediately go into the 'pile,' never to be seen again.

There is no “one resume fits all” scenario, as we highly encourage applicants to tailor their resume to every job to which they apply. Yes, this means more time, but it also means the resume will be more attractive to the HR department for the specific needs mentioned in the job posting.

Entry-Level Managers

When just graduating college, your education and activities are your biggest asset. You obviously do not have the experience of other managers, so you need to highlight the things in your experience that will make you more attractive than other candidates applying.

In this case, after the basic of the resume, meaning your name and objective, you will immediately need to cover your education as well as any societies and achievements during that period. If scholarships were won, this is the place to mention them.

From there, you will need to post relevant jobs or internships in the industry. Be sure to list any duties which may be relevant to the position to which you are applying.

References are going to play a huge part in your ability to land a job, so they should be provided on your resume or within the cover letter. You want to make it as easy as possible for the HR director to move your resume along before having to reach out to you.

Executive-Level Managers

As an executive, the focus of your resume needs to be your experience. As someone that has been in the industry for some time, it may be tempting to write a novel of industry experience, but that should be avoided. You can always fill in some of the blanks in the cover letter to explain positions that are not particularly relevant to a particular position. Listing an entry-level position 20 years ago can be made far more interesting in the cover letter than it is on page four of a long-winded resume.

When discussing recent positions, it is always best to express the team concept rather than being a narcissist and taking sole credit for every achievement that happened under your watch. Using phrases such as “we” and “our team” will serve a higher purpose.

Your education is important, but in this case, it is nowhere near as important as your experience. Rather than feature it at the top of the resume as an entry-level candidate would, it can be moved to the bottom of the resume. The exception would be when the posting requires a specific degree in a specific course of study.

Addressing the Company Needs

When you are creating the meat of a resume, regardless of management level, it is extremely important to address the specific duties in the job posting. For instance, if a company is looking for a Director of Marketing specifically to improve the online presence of the hotel, your resume should pinpoint exactly what you did at your last property to improve customer reviews, increase followers, etc.

If one of the duties is to grow restaurant sales and profitability for a food and beverage manager, some examples of achievements listed in the resume would be:

• Reduced liquor cost by two percent by integrating pour standards

Increased wine sales by introducing weekend wine classes in hotel restaurant bar
These bullet points address specifics mentioned and put your resume at the head of the list over someone using a generic resume for every job posting on the board.

As a manager searching for opportunities, this is where a company like Joseph David International can help. Our team of executive hotel recruiters can provide valuable tips and information, including reviewing your current resume to ensure it matches up perfectly with opportunities available. For more information about our candidate recruitment services as well as current job openings in the hotel industry throughout the United States, click here.