by Anthi Maneta, HR Manager | Kanava Hotels & Resorts
September is here and so it is the final countdown of hotel employees who work in seasonal jobs. For some of you, September is your last month, for others the last month is October and for a few more the last month is November…Winter vacation plans and gatherings with family and friends left behind for all these months, are the first thoughts that come up to your mind these days.
But once that stage is over, insecurity knocks on your door. And now what? Should I search for a winter job? Should I work again next summer on a seasonal job? Should I return to my last company for a second or third time in a row? And if I want to return, will they want me back? Was I good enough?
The bad news is that it is a little bit late to think about your performance and do any corrective actions, after the end of the season. This is something that you need to do daily during the season but because it has nothing to do with our topic, we can talk about it in another article.
The good news is that there is a really high demand in jobs in Hospitality Industry and by following the tips below, it is more possible that you will be closer to your desired job position soon!
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To start with, you need a Resume
And when we say a “Resume” in 2019, we mean a real one – written on a PC and not a handwritten one. Moreover, the message “My name is Mitsos and I am looking for a job. I have 10 years experience” written in the body of an email and sent randomly in 45 companies, I am sorry to say it, but this is not considered to be a resume. In the era of Google and free, limitless information across the Internet, it is not really acceptable that you don’t know how to make a resume.
On the other hand, you may not be computer literate – although let’s admit it…everyone has Facebook and/or Instagram – that’s fine! I accept that. However, I am sure you have friends or relatives that can help you with that. No? That’s fine as well. There are experienced companies, specialized in creating resumes or even prepare you for an interview. There are multiple solutions, as long as you are willing to search for them and take actions.
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The layout
Let’s go over to see the basics of what a good resume is. I’ll start with the layout. A good resume follows the basic rules of spelling, syntax and grammar. It also has a consistency in its format. That has to do with the Fonts and the paragraph alignment you have used. Finally, there is a logical sequence followed in the whole resume. For example, all work experience – related information goes together. They are not mixed up with education, training or certifications which are mentioned in different parts of the resume. And as an extra tip here: when it comes to work experience, I would urge you to start from your last – most recent job and not your initial one. You need to keep in mind that a recruiter spends only some seconds to read your resume among hundreds of other that he/she receives daily.
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The size
In addition, I have to tell you that a resume which is more than 2 pages, usually contains a lot of “chatter”. It happens to be what we call “too much information” that doesn’t need to be written on the resume but rather discussed on the interview. Especially when you do NOT have 30 years of experience and you are NOT a Professor with numerous articles and publications on your portfolio, you have absolutely no reason to spend extra pages on your resume.
Information accuracy
It is crucial that you provide accurate information about your previous jobs. A statement such as: “Season 2019 – I was working as a Cook in a hotel” is not accurate at all. You need to be specific in order to stand out among many other candidates. You need to mention the exact duration of your work (in months if it is seasonal or years), your exact job title (in this case for example: Cook A, B or C), the hotel/restaurant or company name, the location and even the classification of the hotel – especially when it is 4 or 5 stars – could really be an added value for your resume.
The photo
Finally, in order to finish with the basics of a resume and move on to the interview (which is a “hotter” topic for everyone!) I will make a special reference to the photo that is considered appropriate for use in a resume. First of all, it is your right not to include a photo in your resume or any other personal information such as age or nationality etc. if you think that you will be discriminated. However, if you do decide to use a photo in your resume, make sure it is a recent (not 10 years ago), discreet, professional and socially acceptable one. Photos from summer vacations, beaches, family gatherings, nightlife are great for your personal album but not for your resume. Trust me!
A catchy and relevant with the requirements of the advertised available position resume will definitely give you more chances to be called for an interview. But what do you really need to do before or during the interview to stand out? Stay tuned for the next steps that will bring you closer to your desired job. Coming soon from Anthi Maneta! Only at Workathlon!
