One resume challenge you might encounter in the catering industry is effectively showcasing the diverse set of skills required for event success, including both culinary expertise and logistical coordination. Our comprehensive guide will help you highlight these capabilities with tailored tips and industry-specific examples, enhancing the appeal of your resume to potential employers.
- Defining the highlights of your catering career through your resume summary, objective, and experience.
- Real-world catering resume samples with best practices on how to stand out amongst the endless pile of candidate resumes.
- Most in-demand catering resume skills and certifications across the industry.
- Standardizing your resume layout, while maintaining your creativity and individuality.
If the catering resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:
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- Restaurant Server Resume Example
- Front of House Manager Resume Example
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- Sous Chef Resume Example
- Restaurant General Manager Resume Example
- Fast Food Resume Example
Is there a correct way to format your catering resume?
This is a tricky question. While skimming over your resume, recruiters will be looking at your experience and the message your profile conveys. That's why your resume format needs to be clear and concise, serving to supplement and organize your experience. Professional best practices point that the best catering resumes:
- Follow the reverse chronological order, where the most recent experience items are presented first . This is to keep your expertise succinct and to show recruiters your career growth over the years;
- Have a clearly defined header that includes all relevant contact information and a portfolio or a LinkedIn link. In some countries, it is acceptable to include a professional photo , so that your application is more memorable;
- Feature the most important catering resume sections towards the top, e.g. summary, skills, and experience. That way, recruiters can immediately find information that is relevant to the role;
- Take up no more than two pages - and two pages are the exception for more experienced professionals. Keep your expertise to the point and use your catering resume real estate wisely .
- Selecting modern, yet simple fonts, e.g. Rubik, Lato, etc., would help your application stand out;
- Many candidates stick with the tried-and-tested Arial or Times New Roman, but you'd want your catering resume to be a bit more unique;
- The ATS can read all serif and sans-serif fonts, so you should avoid fancy, formal script (or cursive) fonts.
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If you're in the process of obtaining your certificate or degree, list the expected date you're supposed to graduate or be certified.
The six in-demand sections for your catering resume:
- Top one-third should be filled with a header, listing your contact details, and with a summary or objective, briefly highlighting your professional accolades
- Experience section, detailing how particular jobs have helped your professional growth
- Notable achievements that tie in your hard or soft skills with tangible outcomes
- Popular industry certificates to further highlight your technical knowledge or people capabilities
- Education to showcase your academic background in the field
What recruiters want to see on your resume:
- Proven experience in menu planning, food preparation, and presentation for large events.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills for coordinating multiple catering orders and staff.
- Knowledge of food safety regulations and certifications such as ServSafe.
- Ability to manage and maintain catering inventory, including equipment and supplies.
- Excellent customer service skills to interact with clients and create a positive dining experience.
Five dos for building your catering resume experience section
The best strategic approach to your catering resume experience section is to support your particular responsibilities with actions and achievements.
For example, you could list:
- Up to six responsibilities in your day-to-day work, supported by why they're important for your role, department, or organization;
- Experience items that have helped you sustain and enhance your technical knowledge within the field, or, perhaps, have helped you grow as a professional;
- Any metrics that pinpoint your success within your past roles;
- How you've solved specific problems in your day-to-day work;
- Strategies and solutions you've implemented for growth - and how that growth was measured.
The catering resume experience is your best shot at making a good first impression on recruiters. That's why we've included some real-world professional examples to get you thinking about how you present your experience:
- Spearheaded an operational overhaul improving service delivery times by 35%, leading to an enhanced customer satisfaction rating.
- Initiated a partnership with local sustainable food suppliers, increasing the use of organic products by 70% for catered events.
- Directed the execution of a corporate event with 500+ attendees, managing logistics, menu curation, and staff training that contributed to a 25% increase in subsequent B2B contracts.
- Designed custom menus for over 200+ weddings, focusing on thematic cohesiveness and client preferences, achieving a 95% client satisfaction rate.
- Led a diverse team of 25 catering staff, fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement in food preparation and customer service.
- Successfully expanded catering operations to include corporate events, which grew to account for 40% of total revenue by 2019.
- Implemented cost-control measures resulting in a 20% decrease in overhead costs while maintaining high-quality service standards.
- Orchestrated a seasonal menu revamp, incorporating multicultural cuisines, which increased repeat business by 15%.
- Cultivated a client retention program that incentivized referrals, leading to a 30% growth in customer base.
- Managed the transition to a cloud-based event management software, enhancing team collaboration and reducing planning time by 20%.
- Liaised with executive chefs to develop a signature menu that boosted sales revenue by 10% in a single fiscal quarter.
- Assumed lead responsibility for a high-profile political fundraising dinner, receiving commendation for excellence in service and menu quality.
- Delivered comprehensive staff training programs, leading to a significant reduction in service errors and a 5% improvement in efficiency.
- Facilitated the sourcing and integration of biodegradable serveware, reinforcing the company's commitment to environmental sustainability.
- Pioneered a popular series of culinary workshops that doubled as a marketing tool, attracting new clientele and partnerships.
- Developed a strategic marketing plan that targeted local businesses and increased off-peak catering sales by 18%.
- Introduced a feedback system for clients post-event, which provided valuable insights that led to a 10% improvement in menu offerings.
- Coordinated community outreach programs that positioned the brand as a civic leader and enhanced public relations efforts.
- Orchestrated a complete digital transformation of the booking system for catering services that resulted in a 50% increase in online reservations.
- Managed supply chain logistics for 30+ events per month, ensuring peak freshness of ingredients and on-time delivery for seamless event execution.
- Negotiated with suppliers to decrease ingredient costs by 13%, which was instrumental in offering more competitive pricing for our services.
- Transformed underutilized spaces into profitable event venues, contributing to a 25% uptick in annual event bookings.
- Sourced and implemented new environmentally friendly packaging for catering deliveries, which resonated well with our eco-conscious clients.
- Developed a mentorship program for junior chefs and service staff that improved staff retention rates by 30% over a three-year period.
Quantifying impact on your resume
- Include the number of catering events managed monthly, denoting the scope of your planning and organizational skills.
- List the total number of guests served at large events to highlight your capability to handle high-volume catering.
- Present the percentage increase of repeat customers to demonstrate satisfaction and loyalty generated through your services.
- Mention the cost-reduction percentage achieved through efficient vendor negotiation and resource management.
- Specify the number of menu items developed to showcase creativity and culinary range.
- Report the average number of staff supervised during events to establish leadership and team management abilities.
- Illustrate time saved in event setup and breakdown by quantifying logistical improvements implemented.
- State the numerical growth of the catering business or client base to reflect direct impact and contribution to business success.
Action verbs for your catering resume
What can candidates do about their resume, if they have no experience
Job requirements can sometimes be answered by other elements you could make more prominent in your catering resume.
Thus, you'd be substituting your lack of experience with your relevant:
- Education with details of skills you've obtained that align with the job
- Internships and short-term jobs that are once more dedicated to putting your expertise in the spotlight
- Skills section answering basic and - potentially - more specific job qualifications
- Strengths or accomplishments to show the unique value you present, even as a candidate with less or no professional experience in the industry.
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The more trusted the organization you've attained your certificate (or degree) from, the more credible your skill set would be.
Catering resume skills: the essential hard skills and soft skills checklist
Ultimately, your Catering resume should hint to recruiters that you possess an array of talents that are indispensable to the role.
For example, listing the technologies and software you're apt at using (or your hard skills) and how you apply them in your day-to-day responsibilities would ensure you meet the technical requirements of the role.
But is this enough to ensure that you make a good impression on recruiters?
Go a step further by detailing the soft skills or personality traits you've attained thanks to your work and life experience.
The best way to balance hard skills and soft skills on your Catering resume is by:
- Highlighting up to three of your most noteworthy career accomplishments in a separate section.
- Listing at least one hard skill and one soft skill you've used to solve a particular challenge or problem.
- Feature niche skills and technologies that would help you stand out amongst candidates.
- Think back on the social impact your efforts have had towards improving the work environment - were you able to always maintain a professional ethic, while enhancing the team culture? Write about your contribution to the role, department, or organization itself as a metric of success.
The skills section of your resume provides you with plenty of opportunities to detail your technical and personal traits.
All you have to do is select the talents that best fit your application and expertise. Make note of some of the most prominent hard and soft skills across the industry from our list:
Top skills for your catering resume:
Food preparation and presentation
Knowledge of food safety and hygiene
Menu planning and cost control
Event planning and coordination
Kitchen equipment operation
Inventory management
Vendor relationship management
Nutrition and dietary restrictions adherence
Culinary techniques and styles
Beverage service management
Communication
Customer service orientation
Attention to detail
Time management
Teamwork
Flexibility and adaptability
Problem-solving
Leadership
Stress management
Creativity
PRO TIP
If you happen to have some basic certificates, don't invest too much of your catering resume real estate in them. Instead, list them within the skills section or as part of your relevant experience. This way you'd ensure you meet all job requirements while dedicating your certificates to only the most in-demand certification across the industry.
Catering-specific certifications and education for your resume
Place emphasis on your resume education section . It can suggest a plethora of skills and experiences that are apt for the role.
- Feature only higher-level qualifications, with details about the institution and tenure.
- If your degree is in progress, state your projected graduation date.
- Think about excluding degrees that don't fit the job's context.
- Elaborate on your education if it accentuates your accomplishments in a research-driven setting.
On the other hand, showcasing your unique and applicable industry know-how can be a literal walk in the park, even if you don't have a lot of work experience.
Include your accreditation in the certification and education sections as so:
- Important industry certificates should be listed towards the top of your resume in a separate section
- If your accreditation is really noteworthy, you could include it in the top one-third of your resume following your name or in the header, summary, or objective
- Potentially include details about your certificates or degrees (within the description) to show further alignment to the role with the skills you've attained
- The more recent your professional certificate is, the more prominence it should have within your certification sections. This shows recruiters you have recent knowledge and expertise
At the end of the day, both the education and certification sections hint at the initial and continuous progress you've made in the field.
And, honestly - that's important for any company.
Below, discover some of the most recent and popular Catering certificates to make your resume even more prominent in the applicant pool:
The top 5 certifications for your catering resume:
- ServSafe Food Handler (SFH) - National Restaurant Association
- ServSafe Manager Certification (SMC) - National Restaurant Association
- ProChef Certification (PCC) - The Culinary Institute of America
- Certified Food Service Professional (CFSP) - North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers
- Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) - National Association for Catering and Events
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The more trusted the organization you've attained your certificate (or degree) from, the more credible your skill set would be.
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Catering resume summary or objective? The best choice is based on your experience
If you're wondering about the relevancy of the resume summary or the resume objective to your Catering application - here's the truth.
The summary and objective provide recruiters with your expertise and accomplishments at a glance, within an up-to-five-sentence structure.
The difference is that the:
- Resume objective is also more focused on emphasizing your career goals. The objective is the perfect fit for (potentially more junior) candidates who'd like to balance their relevant experience with their career goals.
- Resume summary can provide you with space to also detail the unique value of what it's like to work with you. Catering candidates who have many noteworthy accomplishments start from the get-go with their summary.
Ensure that either type of resume introduction presents your Catering expertise in the best light and aligns it with the job advert.
The more details you can provide with numbers, the more compelling your resume summary or objective will be.
Real-world Catering candidates follow these frameworks in writing their resume summaries and objectives.
The end results are usually as such:
Resume summaries for a catering job
- With over 10 years of experience in high-end event catering, I have honed advanced culinary skills, specializing in Mediterranean and fusion cuisine, and have led teams serving up to 500 guests. Pivotal in establishing a reputed catering brand, my highlight was orchestrating a seamless gala for a global political summit.
- Seasoned hospitality professional with 8 years in hotel management stepping into the catering sector. Proven track record in enhancing guest satisfaction and streamlining service workflows. Looking to leverage extensive event coordination expertise to craft unforgettable dining experiences.
- Formerly a culinary arts instructor with 15 years of teaching, I possess a unique blend of creative menu development, nutritional expertise, and a deep understanding of various cooking techniques. Eager to transition these skills into creating innovative catering menus that leave a lasting impression on clients and their guests.
- Dynamic marketing manager with a 7-year background in brand campaigns, now shifting focus to cater to a passion for food and event planning. Adept in client relations and strategic promotion, I seek to merge my marketing prowess with culinary excellence to elevate catering experiences.
- Eager to embark on a culinary career path, I am passionate about creating remarkable food experiences and possess a foundational certification in food hygiene and preparation. Committed to learning and contributing with unwavering dedication and a fresh perspective on modern catering trends.
- Armed with a degree in business and a fervor for gourmet food presentation, I aspire to contribute innovative ideas and energy to the catering field. While new to the industry, my enthusiasm for food artistry is matched by a commitment to excellence in client service and event execution.
Showcasing your personality with these four catering resume sections
Enhance your catering expertise with additional resume sections that spotlight both your professional skills and personal traits. Choose options that not only present you in a professional light but also reveal why colleagues enjoy working with you:
- My time - a pie chart infographic detailing your daily personal and professional priorities, showcasing a blend of hard and soft skills;
- Hobbies and interests - share your engagement in sports, fandoms, or other interests, whether in your local community or during personal time;
- Quotes - what motivates and inspires you as a professional;
- Books - indicating your reading and comprehension skills, a definite plus for employers, particularly when your reading interests align with your professional field.
Key takeaways
- All aspects of your resume should be selected to support your bid for being the perfect candidate for the role;
- Be intentional about listing your skill set to be balanced with both technical and people capabilities, while aligning with the job;
- Include any experience items that are relevant to the role and ensure you feature the outcomes of your responsibilities;
- Use the summary or objective as a screenshot of your best experience highlights;
- Curate various resume sections to showcase personal, transferable skills.
Catering resume examples
Explore additional catering resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Role
Catering Server
Efficiency and reliability are two key aspects of catering server positions.
On your resume, highlight instances where your quick-thinking and problem-solving abilities have led to smooth event operations.
Show how your strong organisational skills, knowledge of food safety, and ability to perform under pressure have positively impacted event outcomes.
It's not only about listing your expertise, but showing how these have led to successful events.
