The restaurant industry offers valuable experience, but you're ready for a change. Transitioning careers requires a strategic resume that highlights transferable skills and downplays industry-specific jargon. This guide will help you craft a resume that showcases your capabilities and lands you your dream job outside the food service world.
What Skills Do Restaurants Teach You?
Before we dive into resume specifics, let's identify the surprisingly diverse skillset you've honed in the restaurant industry. These are the gems you'll highlight:
- Customer Service: Handling diverse personalities, managing expectations, resolving complaints – these are all crucial skills transferable to virtually any customer-facing role.
- Teamwork: Restaurant success relies on seamless teamwork. Emphasize your collaboration in a high-pressure environment.
- Time Management & Organization: Juggling multiple tasks simultaneously, adhering to strict timelines, and prioritizing efficiently are essential restaurant skills, highly valued in many professions.
- Problem-Solving: Dealing with unexpected issues (ingredient shortages, rush hour chaos, equipment malfunctions) builds incredible problem-solving abilities.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: The restaurant world is dynamic. Highlight your ability to adjust to changing priorities and handle unexpected situations.
- Communication: Effectively communicating with customers, coworkers, and management is vital. Emphasize clear and concise communication skills.
- Multitasking: You've mastered the art of multitasking – demonstrate your capacity to manage numerous tasks concurrently.
How to Structure Your Resume for a Career Change
1. Contact Information: Keep it clean and professional. Include your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if you have one).
2. Summary/Objective Statement (Optional): A brief, powerful statement highlighting your transferable skills and career aspirations. This is crucial for showcasing your transition. Instead of focusing on your restaurant experience directly, emphasize what you can do for the new employer.
- Example: Highly motivated and results-oriented individual with 5+ years of experience in fast-paced environments seeking a challenging role in [target industry]. Proven ability to excel in customer-facing roles, manage multiple priorities, and resolve conflicts effectively.
3. Skills Section: This is your star player. List both hard and soft skills, emphasizing those relevant to your target job.
- Hard skills: List specific technical abilities like proficiency in software programs (POS systems count!), foreign languages, or specific equipment.
- Soft skills: Focus on teamwork, communication, problem-solving, adaptability, time management, and customer service. Quantify these whenever possible.
4. Work Experience: This is where the magic happens. Reframe your restaurant experience using action verbs and quantifiable achievements. Avoid jargon like "bussed tables" or "flipped burgers." Instead, use accomplishment-based statements:
-
Instead of: Worked as a server.
-
Use: Exceeded sales targets by 15% consistently over three years, resulting in increased customer satisfaction and positive reviews.
-
Instead of: Managed a team of kitchen staff.
-
Use: Successfully coordinated a team of five line cooks, leading to a 10% reduction in kitchen errors and improved order accuracy.
5. Education: List your degrees, certifications, and any relevant training.
6. Awards & Recognition (Optional): Include any accolades received during your restaurant career. Employee of the month? Exceptional service awards? These are valuable additions.
Addressing the "Gap" in Your Resume
Some might view your restaurant experience as unrelated to your target role. Don't let this deter you. Address this directly, subtly incorporating it:
- Focus on transferable skills.
- Use a functional resume format, emphasizing skills over chronology (use this sparingly; it's generally less preferred by recruiters).
- Craft a strong cover letter explaining your career change and why you are a good fit for the new role.
Frequently Asked Questions (PAAs)
What transferable skills are most valuable when switching from the restaurant industry?
The most valuable transferable skills are those demonstrating your ability to handle pressure, manage time effectively, work as part of a team, and provide outstanding customer service. These are essential in almost every industry.
How do I explain a lack of relevant experience in my resume?
Focus on showcasing your transferable skills, highlighting accomplishments that demonstrate your abilities, even if they come from the restaurant industry. A strong cover letter explaining your reasons for changing careers and showing your enthusiasm for the new role can also be highly effective.
Should I list every job I've held in the restaurant industry?
No. Focus on the roles that best showcase your transferable skills and those most relevant to your target career. If you've held numerous entry-level positions, it's acceptable to combine or briefly summarize them.
What kind of resume format is best for a career change?
A combination or chronological resume format is generally best. Highlight your accomplishments and transferable skills within the context of your experience. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements.
How can I make my resume stand out when switching industries?
Customize your resume for each job application, highlighting the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific role. A compelling cover letter explaining your career transition and showcasing your enthusiasm is also crucial. Network strategically to identify potential opportunities and gain insights.
By strategically structuring your resume and highlighting your transferable skills, you can successfully transition out of the restaurant industry and into a fulfilling new career. Remember, your experience is valuable; you just need to present it effectively.
