Travel agent CV example

How to write a CV for a travel agent

Creating a standout application shouldn’t be a headache – let’s break it down into several easy-to-follow steps. We’ll explain how to write a CV that’ll shoot you miles ahead of the competition. Plus, we’ll answer some of your most common questions, including “what skills does a travel agent need?” and “what are the tasks of a travel agent?”.

• How to add contact details to your travel agent CV
• How to write a personal statement for your travel agent CV
• How to present your work history on a travel agent CV
• Top skills for your travel agent CV
• How to add education to your travel agent CV

How to add contact details to your travel agent CV

Adding your most up-to-date contact information is so obvious it’s easy to forget! Remember to note your details at the top of your CV, ideally in a slightly larger or bolder font. This will make it easier for the hiring manager to invite you to the interview stage. Include:

• Full name – minus the middle name
• Location – a key consideration for employers
• Phone number – the best one to reach you on
• Email address – keep it work-appropriate

Example of contact section for a travel agent CV

How to write a personal statement for your travel agent CV

Your personal statement is the first thing an employer reads when opening your CV and a fantastic opportunity to catch their attention. In three to four concise sentences, you must reel them in with proof of experience, tangible results, and unique skills. Stuck? Don’t worry – the following formula breaks it down into digestible chunks.

The first sentence describes who you are, including years of experience and career focus (such as luxury holidays or cruises). The second sentence impresses with a dazzling statistic that shows what you can accomplish. Finally, the third and fourth sentences reiterate your skills and specialisms – what makes you the most qualified person for the job?

The statistic is essential because it demonstrates your aptitude for the role – it’s more effective to show the hiring manager how amazing you are rather than simply telling them. For instance, you might have “sold over 100 holidays, earning the company £50,000 in profits”.

Other top tips include:

• Write in the third person to sound more professional
• Inject personality with plenty of positive adjects, such as “passionate”, ” charismatic”, and “eager”
• Keep all information tailored to the job advertisement
• Avoid informalities and jokes
• Double-check your work for errors

Example of personal statement for a travel agent CV

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How to present your work history on a travel agent CV

The work history section is a library of fascinating information for recruiters, revealing how long you typically stay with a company, whether you exceed expectations (via awards and promotions), and your key strengths. We advise spending a few hours outlining your professional background, only including the most relevant details.

When illustrating your past and current roles, run through:

• Job title
• Employment dates
• Company name
• Company location
• Main responsibilities
• Accomplishments

Alternatively, if you’re using a skills-based CV, highlight umbrella skills like “effective communication” and “IT systems”. Then, list tasks you can perform within each skill group, such as “upselling” and “creating spreadsheets in Excel”. Be mindful of this format – it can give the impression you don’t have any experience when that’s not the case.

We recommend noting three to six duties for each job and substantiating as many as possible with showstopping results. For example, you might have “provided exceptional support from start to finish, resulting in a 97% customer satisfaction score”. On top of this, avoid repetition. If you’ve mentioned “selling holidays” underneath one role, talk about “navigating booking systems” in another.

There’s nothing worse than a boring travel agent CV, so uplift the tone with unique adjectives and rousing action verbs. Instead of friendly, you might be “confident”, “inspiring”, and “sociable”. As for action verbs, some of our favourites include “headed”, executed”, and “pioneered”.

Example of work experience for a travel agent CV

Top skills for your travel agent CV

CV skills quickly reassure the employer you have the fundamental tools and knowledge to hit the ground running. In addition, ATS software treats them as keywords, identifying and passing on your most valuable qualities. What’s the secret to a standout CV skills section? Tailor the information to the job specification.

Then, include a mixture of hard skills and soft skills to show the recruiter the breadth of your capabilities. The former are often learnt on the job or via formal education, such as “negotiating holiday contracts”, “selling travel insurance policies”, and “using booking systems”. The latter are transferable – think “communicative”, “adaptability”, and “solution-focused”.

While it might be tempting to stuff your CV with hard skills, soft skills are equally vital. Employers want to know whether you’d be a good fit for the organisation and team – they may choose a less experienced candidate if they have the right personality.

How to add education to your travel agent CV

Education is the foundation of experience, showing employers you have the basic knowledge and skills to succeed. Plus, qualifications set you apart from equally experienced candidates, giving you a competitive edge. Alongside traditional education, you can talk about extracurricular training courses and certificates.

You don’t necessarily need higher qualifications to become a travel agent. Nevertheless, a degree or college course in Travel and Tourism can help. Related subjects include Hospitality Management, Business Studies, and Hospitality, Leisure, and Tourism. Alternatively, you could complete a Travel Consultant Advanced Apprenticeship.

When outlining your education, list:

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

Example of education for a travel agent CV