Resume Writing Tips for Food Service Manager

Introduction

As a food service manager, you're responsible for overseeing the daily operations of dining establishments, ensuring quality customer service, managing staff, and maintaining cost controls. Because the role touches on multiple facets—from leadership and compliance to financial and inventory management—your resume needs to reflect these diverse skills clearly and compellingly. A strong resume can open doors to interviews, set you apart from other candidates, and ultimately help you secure your ideal managerial position in the food service industry.

1. Resume Summary

Your resume summary is the first impression recruiters have of you. It should be a concise, impactful paragraph that highlights your core competencies, years of experience, and key achievements. Avoid vague statements; instead, use specific details that describe your leadership style, operational expertise, or core strengths.

Example: “Dynamic Food Service Manager with over 8 years of experience managing high-volume restaurants. Proven track record in streamlining operations, reducing food costs by 15%, and leading teams of 30+ staff to deliver exceptional guest experiences.”

2. Key Skills

Highlighting the right skills in your resume ensures that automated Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and hiring managers easily see your qualifications. Include a balanced mix of technical skills, management abilities, and interpersonal strengths tailored to food service management.

• Team Leadership & Staff Development
• Inventory & Supply Chain Management
• Cost Control & Budget Management
• Food Safety & Sanitation Compliance (ServSafe Certified)
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Menu Planning & Vendor Negotiation
• Point of Sale (POS) Systems (e.g., Toast, Square)
• Scheduling & Labor Forecasting
• Performance Metrics & Reporting
• Conflict Resolution & Communication Skills

3. Achievements vs. Responsibilities

While listing responsibilities shows what you do, emphasizing achievements demonstrates how well you do it. Use bullet points to quantify your successes—this paints a vivid picture of your impact beyond day-to-day tasks.

Example Achievement Bullet Points:

• Reduced monthly food waste by 20% through staff training and inventory audits.
• Increased customer satisfaction scores by 12% year-over-year by implementing staff incentive programs.
• Successfully led a team to surpass sales targets by 18% during peak season.

4. Tailor to Job

No two food service manager positions are identical. Customize your resume for each application by carefully studying the job description and including keywords and skills that match the role. Highlight experience that aligns with the employer’s focus, whether that’s team leadership, budget management, or health compliance.

5. Tools

• Toast POS
• Square POS
• Microsoft Excel (for budgeting & reporting)
• 7Shifts Scheduling Software
• QuickBooks (basic accounting)
• ServSafe Manager Certification Portal
• Salesforce CRM
• Google Workspace
• Inventory Management Systems (e.g., MarketMan, BevSpot)
• Slack or Microsoft Teams (for team communication)

6. Metrics

• Percentage reduction in food waste (e.g., Reduced food waste by 20%)
• Increase in revenue or sales (e.g., Boosted monthly sales by 15%)
• Staff turnover rates (e.g., Decreased turnover by 10% through retention programs)
• Customer satisfaction or feedback scores (e.g., Raised customer satisfaction ratings to 95%)
• Cost savings (e.g., Cut operational costs by 12% through vendor negotiations)

7. Education

• Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (or related field)
• ServSafe Manager Certification

8. Format

• Use clean fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica for readability
• Stick to a logical, easy-to-follow structure with clear headings and bullet points

9. Concise

Keep your resume to two pages maximum. Prioritize recent experience and the most relevant skills and achievements to maintain recruiter interest. Avoid redundancy and wordy descriptions. Crisp, impactful statements make a stronger case.

10. Bonus

• Include a professional LinkedIn profile link
• Use action verbs like “led,” “increased,” “managed,” and “implemented” to convey proactivity

Examples

• “Led a team of 25+ employees to achieve 98% compliance with health and safety regulations, surpassing state requirements.”
• “Managed scheduling and labor costs to maintain budget adherence, reducing overtime expenditures by 15% within six months.”

Conclusion

Crafting a strong resume as a food service manager means showcasing your leadership, operational acumen, and analytical skills through clear, data-driven achievements. By emphasizing measurable impact, tailoring your content to each role, and organizing your information with crisp formatting, you’ll present yourself as a results-oriented professional ready to take charge and drive success in any food service setting.