Cover Letters for Hospitality and Food Service Careers

Your cover letter presents an excellent opportunity to show prospective employers and recruiters how the skills and accomplishments documented on your resume relate to their specific hiring needs. Each industry and profession presents unique cover letter writing and design challenges. If you are interested in pursuing a hotel or food service career, be certain to include highlights of these important success factors in your cover letters:

Success Factor #1

If you're in the food service industry, mention the types of cuisine with which you are familiar. If you worked at a restaurant, was it a four-star establishment? If you worked at a hotel, what kind of guests did you cater to and what types of facilities did you have (for example, spa, golf course, or tennis club)?

Success Factor #2

Do you plan, prepare food, or set up for banquets or large-scale receptions and parties? How many people attend these events? As you well know, a banquet for 500 people is an entirely different function than the day-to-day operations of a medium-sized restaurant.

Success Factor #3

If you have studied or worked under a famous chef or at a renowned restaurant, hotel, or resort, be sure to mention it prominently, including any training or apprenticeship programs that were involved.

Success Factor #4

Include any administrative functions for which you have been responsible, such as purchasing, inventory control, food and labor cost controls, sales, customer service, or facilities. Don't forget to include these important roles and the contribution they represent to your employer's success.