Looking for a job in the Denver hospitality industry? Let’s perfect that resume so it helps you stand out! Here’s how to write a resume that showcases your skills, even if you don’t have much experience yet.
1 – Start Strong
Your resume’s heading should include your name and contact information at the top. Make sure to use a professional email address you check often, a current phone number, and add your LinkedIn profile link if you have one.
Next, add a short professional summary — 2-3 lines that describe your goals and what you bring to the table. A good idea is to tweak this summary depending on which job you’re applying to. It’s an early chance to show employers that you have skills they’re looking for.
Example:
“Enthusiastic bi-lingual high school student with a passion for customer service and learning new things. Looking forward to applying my energy and teamwork skills in a hotel setting.”
2 – Include Your Education
You should always list your education, even if you’re still in high school. Include your school name, current grade or year, and any relevant coursework. Don’t forget to mention any classes you’re taking in business, marketing, communications, or any other relevant fields.
3 – Show Off Your Skills
Whether you have formal work experience or not, you have valuable skills that can make you uniquely suited for a position! Think of your volunteer experiences, any additional languages you speak, or even technical skills such as the Microsoft Office suite. Not sure what to mention? Here are a few thought starters:
Communication: Hospitality jobs involve interacting with customers and/or coworkers, so strong communication skills are key. Mention any experience where you’ve worked with others or assisted people.
Teamwork: Being able to work in a group is vital. Highlight roles where you collaborated with classmates, teammates, or project groups.
Problem-solving: Whether it’s handling a challenging customer or finding a quick fix for a surprise issue, problem-solving is crucial. Share examples from school, sports, or personal experiences.
Tip:
Use action verbs like “organized,” “assisted,” “managed,” and “coordinated” to make your skills pop.
4 – Experience and Tailoring Your Resume
Every job is going to value different experiences and abilities. Look for keywords in the job description and use them to speak to your credentials, skills, interests, or background.
No job description to be found? No problem! Here are a few basic skills you might want to highlight for each sector. See words that seem exciting? Learn more about each sector by clicking on it!
Attractions: Highlight communication, guest relations, teamwork, and any relevant interest in the location. Mention any public-facing roles, such as volunteering or assisting at school events.
Events: Showcase your organizational skills, attention to detail, and love of customer interaction. Experience planning school events, prom, or helping with community programs can make you stand out.
Hotels: Focus on customer service, problem-solving, and reliability. Jobs like babysitting or helping in family businesses are great to mention.
Food & Beverage: Emphasize teamwork, time management, and your ability to work under pressure. School cafeteria work, serving at family gatherings, or part-time restaurant jobs can all be relevant. These jobs often value passion and drive in young employees above all else, don’t be afraid to apply without past restaurant experience!
Outdoor Recreation: Stress leadership, safety awareness, and physical stamina. Mention participation in sports teams, outdoor clubs, or volunteering at parks or camps. If you have any outdoor or medical certifications, like CPR training, mention that too!
5 – Certifications & Extracurricular Activities
If you’ve completed any certifications, such as CPR, food handling (like ServSafe), or event management courses, make sure to include them. These extra qualifications show you’re serious about the job.
Additionally, your extracurricular activities can be just as important as job experience when you’re just starting out. Clubs, sports, and volunteer work demonstrate leadership, responsibility, and other key skills.
Tip:
If you were a part of the yearbook committee, you could highlight your teamwork and organizational skills. Volunteering at community events shows you can manage people and tasks. Or, if you’re passionate about outdoor activities or love hosting family dinners, you can list these as hobbies and interests if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for.
6 – Final Touches & Formatting
A good resume should be clear and easy to read. The way your resume looks will be your absolute first impression a lot of the time — it matters! Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Use simple fonts – Legibility matters and using simple, professional fonts will keep the reader focused on your content rather than your design choices.
Retain plenty of white space – You don’t want to make it harder to understand who you are than necessary. Don’t overcrowd the page by telling them every single detail about what you’ve done. Stick to the relevant highlights and again, don’t be afraid to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for.
Keep it to one page – Especially when you’re starting out, keep it short. An employer is going to be more excited about the prospects of someone who is eager and ready to learn than someone who can write an essay about their community service from 2 years ago.
Use bullet points – These will help you both keep the page clear and unclutteres and make your experiences and skills stand out.
Before you submit your resume, proofread it carefully!
Last but not least, save your resume as a PDF so it maintains its formatting and is easy to send digitally.
Ready to Find Jobs?
We’ve collected a list of open positions across Denver’s hospitality industry! Explore the available jobs here.
