Food and beverage assistant CV example

How to write a CV for a food and beverage assistant

The following sections will teach you how to write a CV that launches you miles ahead of the competition. We’ll break the process down into bite-sized chunks, so you don’t feel overwhelmed or confused. Plus, we’ll answer some of your most common CV writing questions towards the end. Keep reading as we run through:

• How to add contact details to your food and beverage assistant CV
• Start your food and beverage assistant CV with a personal statement
• Adding experience section to your food and beverage assistant CV
• Top skills for your food and beverage assistant CV
• How to add education to your food and beverage assistant CV

How to add contact details to your food and beverage assistant CV

The first step towards success is highlighting your most up-to-date contact details at the top of your CV, preferably in a slightly larger or bolder font. Otherwise, how else will the hiring manager contact you about the next steps? Remember to include the following information:

• Your full name – first name and surname
• Your current address – including county and postcode
• Your phone number – the best one to reach you on
• Your email – keep it work appropriate

Example of contact section for a food and beverage assistant CV

Start your food and beverage assistant CV with a personal statement

Unfortunately, humans have short attention spans. As such, you must quickly catch the hiring manager’s attention and reel them in. That’s where a persuasive personal statement can help – it’s a catchy introduction that summarises your most irresistible achievements, skills, and qualifications. While it sounds simple enough, you only have three to four sentences to get your point across. Not sure where to start? We suggest using the formal below.

The first sentence wows with your years of experience and career focus. The second sentence centrepieces a showstopping statistic that proves what you can achieve. For instance, you might have “won ten industry awards” or “served at over 100 high-profile dining events”. Finally, the third and fourth sentences dive into your unique skills and specialisms. Whether you’re a master mixologist or wine connoisseur, mentioning your areas of expertise will give you a competitive edge.

Arguably, the second sentence is the most compelling because it proves you can hit the ground running. Perhaps, you introduced a new software update that boosted productivity by 95%? You might have successfully resolved over 500 user queries in a month, topping the customer service leaderboard. Don’t be afraid to shout about your achievements – employers love confidence when it’s based on facts!

Formula aside, here are some more pointers for a polished personal statement that packs a mighty punch:

• Stick to the word count – between 50 – 100 words is ideal
• Write in the third person to sound more professional
• Keep the tone formal – avoid jokes and jargon
• Ensure all information is relevant to the job advertisement
• Don’t copy what you see online – discuss what makes you special

Example of personal statement for a food and beverage assistant CV

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Create my CV

Adding experience section to your food and beverage assistant CV

The career background section offers employers a fascinating insight into your strengths, accomplishments, and work ethic. Alongside painting a picture of you as a professional, it reveals how long you typically stay with an organisation and whether you’ve received any promotions. Our top advice? What you don’t say is just as important as what you do – hiring managers will identify gaps in your knowledge as potential weaknesses.

Start from your current or most recent position and list three to six responsibilities for each – more for relevant roles that reflect the job advertisement. Run through the following information:

• Job title
• Employment start and end dates
• Company name
• Company location
• Brief list of responsibilities
• Workplace achievements

Like the personal statement, we advise backing up your skills with figures. After all, the more specific and factual you can be, the more convincing you’ll sound. Let’s say you “ensured all food met hygienic standards” – can you explain how or produce an outcome? You might have “earned five stars in a Food Standards Agency inspection” or “provided food hygiene training to over 200 employees”.

Busy decision-makers receive hundreds of applications for one position, meaning you want yours to stand out. Consequently, uplift the tone with plenty of positive adjectives and inspiring action verbs. You might be “trustworthy”, “personable”, and “thorough”. Action verbs are exciting ways to open sentences. Some of our favourites for food and beverage assistants include “coordinated”, “upsold”, and “recommended”.

Lastly, cover as many duties as possible to show the employer the scope of your capabilities. If you’ve mentioned “inventory management” underneath one job, talk about “serving food and drinks to clients” in another.

Example of work experience for a food and beverage assistant CV

Top skills for your food and beverage assistant CV

A glittering selection of your best CV skills is a fantastic opportunity to reassure the employer you have the practical and transferable knowledge to succeed. On top of this, grouping your top talents together makes it easier for CV scanning software to do its job. We recommend highlighting around 12 skills, split evenly between hard skills and soft skills.

What’s the difference? Hard skills are technical and teachable – anyone can pick them up with enough commitment and training. Examples include “food preparation”, “setting dining tables”, and “serving drinks”. In contrast, soft skills are character-based and much harder to learn, making them priceless to employers. You might be “detail-oriented”, “dependable”, and “flexible”.

Both are equally crucial if you want to impress the employer. You might have all the practical knowledge in the world but no charm or charisma. On the other hand, a brilliant personality doesn’t compensate for lack of tangible experience.

Need some more guidance? Read through the below lists for inspiration:

How to add education to your food and beverage assistant CV

Education is the foundation for experience, proving you have the essential knowledge to surpass expectations. Plus, when you’re up against equally talented candidates, it often sets you apart as the more attractive choice. You can talk about school, college, and university, extracurricular training, adult learning certificates, and other relevant credentials.

How do you become a food and beverage assistant? You don’t necessarily need a formal education because you’ll receive on-the-job training. Moreover, employers usually prioritise a positive, can-do attitude over qualifications.

With that said, you’ll always be in a stronger position if you have the proper credentials. Search for hospitality courses, such as the “Level 1 Award in Professional Food and Beverage Service Skills” and “Level 2 Certificate in Professional Food and Beverage Service”. Alternatively, look for apprenticeships to enhance your skills.

When outlining your education, list the following:

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study start and end dates
• Subject title
• Qualification level – e.g. GCSE or Level 1 Diploma
• Qualification result

Example of education for a food and beverage assistant CV