Your restaurant manager resume should highlight your food service experience and qualifications, such as innovative menu creation, successful conflict resolution, and effective training and coaching. Review our list of tips, including resume examples, to serve up a job-winning restaurant manager resume in this competitive field.
Key Takeaways
Emphasize specializations:Restaurant managers can have varying degrees of responsibilities, so try to be specific about some of the attributes you bring to the table. For example, have you trained front-of-house staff? Were you responsible for budgets and ordering? Did you manage hands-on customer relationships?
Detail quantifiable achievements: Providing data about the value that you’ve brought to establishments in the past can be powerful. How did your contributions help drive profits, improve customer satisfaction, or bring in new business – and by how much?
Use keywords for ATS: To get your resume past applicant tracking systems (ATS), it’s important to incorporate keywords and phrases from job descriptions into your resume where appropriate.
How To Write an Office Manager Resume Example
A template can help you write an effective restaurant manager resume. Be sure to include these sections:
Contact information
Profile
Key skills
Professional experience
Education and certifications
1. Share your contact information
Provide your full name, phone number, email address, city address, and a link to your online professional profile. Ensure accurate contact information so potential employers can reach you for an interview.
Example
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code LinkedIn | Portfolio
2. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
In about two to three sentences, summarize your professional background, relevant skills, and experience as an office manager. Use this section to make a strong, compelling introduction. Highlight your strengths and integrate keywords from the job description to show you’re a good match for the position.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Restaurant manager with an MBA in hospitality management and an extensive pedigree in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Offering a wealth of experience in enforcing quality standards, financial management, and strategic planning. Advanced proficiency in team management, leadership, customer service, and financial budgeting, combined with a deep understanding of health and safety regulations. A Certified Foodservice Management Professional (CFMP) with proven success, from managing a team of over 50 at McDonald’s and reducing operating cost by 15%, to increasing sales by 25% at Applebees through effective strategic initiatives.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A recent graduate in hospitality management with hands-on experience in restaurant leadership and culinary arts. Demonstrates robust skills in staff supervision, customer service, inventory, and budget management, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and operational cost reduction. Strong credentials in food safety, complemented by invaluable experience from leading businesses like Chipotle and Yum! Brands Inc.
3. Add a compelling section featuring your restaurant manager experience
Your professional experience section should explain your successes as a restaurant manager and quantify your accomplishments with metrics, such as increasing customer satisfaction by 20%.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
General Manager, McDonald’s Corporation, New York, NY | November 2018 – Present
Successfully managed and led a team of over 50 employees, improving overall employee productivity by 30% through strategic team building and effective communication
Leveraged advanced budgeting skills to reduce operating costs by 15% while ensuring the continued high quality of food and service
Implemented robust customer service protocols, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings and a significant rise in repeat patronage
Senior Restaurant Manager, Applebees, Albany, NY | April 2016 – September 2018
Currently oversee the successful operation of 5 regional Applesbees outlets with an annual turnover of $20 million
Implemented a strategic planning initiative that increased overall sales by 25% in the first year, through effective operational changes and marketing strategies
Actively manage customer service operations, reducing escalated complaints by 35% via process enhancement and regular team training sessions
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Restaurant Manager, Chipotle, Boston, MA | August 2021 – Present
Hired and trained a team of 15 service staff, creating effective schedules for them and addressing performance issues to provide a high-quality and efficient service to customers
Spearheaded an initiative to enhance customer service resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores within a span of 3 months
Managed restaurant operations within a budget by keeping track of inventory, reducing waste, and effectively sourcing supplies resulting in a 10% decrease in operational cost
Junior Chef, Yum! Brands Inc., New York, NY | January 2020 – July 2021
Assisted in menu preparation while adhering to the restaurant’s high culinary standards, contributing to a 15% sales increase during tenure
Trained under senior chefs to handle kitchen management including inventory management, supply procurement, and keeping kitchen equipment maintenance up to date
Regularly conducted food safety inspections complying with state health codes, effectively maintaining a 100% pass rate for the restaurant during health inspections
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
Ultimately, employers want to know how you will contribute to the bottom line, customer satisfaction, and restaurant ratings. Beyond explaining your restaurant manager roles, assign measurables to your accomplishments that demonstrate your value to an organization.
Do
“Assisted in menu preparation while adhering to the restaurant's high culinary standards, contributing to a 15% sales increase during tenure”
Don't
“Prepared a new menu”
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application
Align your resume for each job application and incorporate some of the same language and target keywords found in the description. Highlighting specific skills and requirements hiring managers are looking for will increase the likelihood of winning an interview.
What if you don’t have experience?
If you lack professional experience, highlight relevant volunteer roles, projects, and certifications that illustrate your skills and commitment to learning. For example, if you coordinated the staffing and menu for a nonprofit charity dinner, share this in your professional experience section. Or, if you earned a ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, note this so hiring managers recognize your interest in health and safety.
4. Include education and certifications relevant to restaurant manager
List any relevant education and certifications you earned to show you are a well-qualified restaurant manager. Include the title of the degree or certificate earned, the institution’s name, and the completion date. You can also list continuing education courses or professional development programs you’ve completed.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Hospitality Management
SUNY Albany, Albany, NY | 2015
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Pace University, New York, NY | 2013
Certified Foodservice Management Professional (CFMP), National Restaurant Association, 2017
5. List restaurant manager-related skills and proficiencies
Highlight the specific skills that make you a strong candidate for the position. Strategically select hard skills such as menu creation and scheduling and soft skills such as conflict resolution and motivation. Align your key skills with the job description to increase your chances of landing an interview.
Some examples of key skills for restaurant managers include:
Key Skills and Proficiencies
Budgeting and cost accounting
Conflict resolution
Menu creation
Regulatory compliance
Scheduling
Staff training and coaching
Team leadership and motivation
Resume writer’s tip: Use descriptive action verbs
Take a strategic approach with your words on your restaurant manager resume. In the professional experience section of your resume, use action verbs to communicate your job duties and accomplishments. Instead of listing responsibilities, choose dynamic action verbs to start each sentence and avoid first-person language. Consider using the action verbs below to inject some energy into your restaurant manager resume:
Action Verbs
Adapted
Aligned
Created
Directed
Earned
Enhanced
Ensured
Generated
Implemented
Improved
Introduced
Managed
Oversaw
Prepared
Produced
Ranked
Scheduled
Streamlined
Strengthened
Supervised
How To Pick the Best Restaurant Manager Resume Template
The best resume template for an office manager should be clean, organized, and content-focused while highlighting skills and experience that align with the job description. Don’t worry as much about it being colorful or creative – let your accomplishments speak for themselves.
Restaurant Manager Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
left
Entry Level
Midlevel
Senior Level
right
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
A recent graduate in hospitality management with hands-on experience in restaurant leadership and culinary arts. Demonstrates robust skills in staff supervision, customer service, inventory, and budget management, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and operational cost reduction. Strong credentials in food safety, complemented by invaluable experience from leading businesses like Chipotle and Yum! Brands Inc.
Key Skills
Customer service
Food safety
Financial management
Inventory and budget management
Staff management
Professional Experience
Restaurant Manager, Chipotle, Boston, MA | August 2021 – Present
Hired and trained a team of 15 service staff, creating effective schedules for them and addressing performance issues to provide a high-quality and efficient service to customers
Spearheaded an initiative to enhance customer service resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction scores within a span of 3 months
Managed restaurant operations within a budget by keeping track of inventory, reducing waste, and effectively sourcing supplies resulting in a 10% decrease in operational cost
Junior Chef, Yum! Brands Inc., New York, NY | January 2020 – July 2021
Assisted in menu preparation while adhering to the restaurant’s high culinary standards, contributing to a 15% sales increase during tenure
Trained under senior chefs to handle kitchen management including inventory management, supply procurement, and keeping kitchen equipment maintenance up to date
Regularly conducted food safety inspections complying with state health codes, effectively maintaining a 100% pass rate for the restaurant during health inspections
Education
Bachelor Degree in Hospitality Management
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | May 2020
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY | December 2019
Certifications
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, SFPMC, National Restaurant Association, 2021
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
A driven professional, offering robust experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry with esteemed organizations such as Starbucks Corporation and Marriott International. Backed by extensive academic qualifications, including a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management supplemented with certifications like Certified Restaurant Manager (CRM) and Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS). Demonstrated proficiency in staff supervision, customer satisfaction management, and inventory management while excelling in a series of progressive roles with a trajectory marked by reduced wastage, increased customer satisfaction, and improved profit margins.
Oversee day-to-day restaurant operations serving approximately 1,000 customers daily, significantly enhancing customer satisfaction resulting in a 15% increase in positive guest reviews
Develop and enforce high standards for food quality, presentation, and customer service that were replicated across regional outlets
Initiated effective inventory control measures that reduced wastage by 20%, saving roughly $15,000 annually
Associate Restaurant Manager, Starbucks Corporation, New York City, NY | January 2018 – May 2020
Directed daily operations of a high-volume store, generating annual revenues of $2 million
Successfully launched training programs for over 50 staff members leading to improved service standards and increased customer satisfaction ratings
Streamlined cost analysis and budget planning protocol resulting in 10% increase in yearly profits
Education
Bachelor Degree in Hospitality Management
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | May 2017
Associate Degree in Restaurant Management
The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY | December 2019
Certifications
Certified Restaurant Manager (CRM), American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
Food Safety Manager Certification (FSMC), National Registry of Food Safety Professionals
Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS), American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 [email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
Restaurant manager with an MBA in hospitality management and an extensive pedigree in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Offering a wealth of experience in enforcing quality standards, financial management, and strategic planning. Advanced proficiency in team management, leadership, customer service, and financial budgeting, combined with a deep understanding of health and safety regulations. A Certified Foodservice Management Professional (CFMP) with proven success, from managing a team of over 50 at McDonald’s and reducing operating cost by 15%, to increasing sales by 25% at Applebees through effective strategic initiatives.
Key Skills
Financial management
Health and safety regulations
Quality assurance
Strategic planning
Team management
Professional Experience
General Manager, McDonald’s Corporation, New York, NY | November 2018 – Present
Successfully managed and led a team of over 50 employees, improving overall employee productivity by 30% through strategic team building and effective communication
Leveraged advanced budgeting skills to reduce operating costs by 15%, while ensuring the continued high quality of food and service
Implemented robust customer service protocols, resulting in a 20% increase in customer satisfaction ratings and a significant rise in repeat patronage
Senior Restaurant Manager, Applebees, Albany, NY | April 2016 – September 2018
Currently oversee the successful operation of 5 regional Applesbees outlets with an annual turnover of $20 million
Implemented a strategic planning initiative that increased overall sales by 25% in the first year, through effective operational changes and marketing strategies
Actively manage customer service operations, reducing escalated complaints by 35% via process enhancement and regular team training sessions
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Hospitality Management
SUNY Albany, Albany, NY | 2015
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Pace University, New York, NY | 2013
Certifications
Certified Foodservice Management Professional (CFMP), National Restaurant Association, 2017
Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM), National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, 2016
ServSafe Food Handler Certification, American National Standards Institute, 2014
Frequently Asked Questions: Restaurant Manager Resume Examples and Advice
How do you align your resume with a restaurant manager description?
Jobs for restaurant managers (or, more specifically, food service managers) are expected to remain steady through 2032, but it’s essential to put your best foot forward with a tailored resume. Reading job postings carefully can help you know which of your skills and qualifications are worth highlighting. For instance, if you’ve worked in a particular style of restaurant similar to the one you’re applying for, that is something worth mentioning.
What is the best restaurant manager resume format?
Like many professions, a reverse-chronological order resume format is the most common for restaurant managers. Share your most recent experience and accomplishments with hiring managers, along with a narrative of how your career has progressed.
Expert advice:
Include a cover letter with your resume
Including a cover letter with your resume can provide an advantage over other job seekers.
Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.
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