4 Secrets to Writing the Perfect Hospitality Cover Letter
Whoohoo! You’re ready to shine your light in the big, bright world of hospitality.
Endless possibilities, where do you start?
Well, the first step is to understand how you can land your first job in hospitality. You must also have a wicked CV highlighting your amazing work skills that will get get you hired.
Time for the hard part: how to write the perfect hospitality cover letter?
1st Paragraph – Tell your story
Okay, remember that the manager has dozens of CVs to wade through and will give each application less than ten seconds of their precious time and attention.
You have ten seconds to wow them!
Give a brief yet engaging introduction about yourself. Share your name, the applied position, and where you are currently working or just graduated from.
Include a couple of sentences about why you’re the perfect person for the job.
Pssst…we will share a sample with you at the end of this page!
2nd Paragraph – Share your experiences
This is your chance to really pitch yourself!
This is what you focus on: your experience, your skills and any relevant qualifications/diplomas that you may hold.
New to the market? No problem 🙂 Talk about you’re willing to work super hard and get the job done. Highlight that you’re happy to start from the bottom and work your way up. The good thing is that your manager will be thrilled to know that they can train you to work in their style.
However, if you’re a seasoned master of your profession – then, talk about how your existing skill set and talent will be an asset to the hiring manager’s company. Perhaps, you’re an amazing chef who wants a jump up and can bring some loyal clientele with you to the new restaurant position you’re applying for.
My friend, don’t be modest. Go ahead and declare your achievements in your past /present role. Perhaps, you helped raise customer service standards or contributed to the menu with innovative cocktail additions to the bar menu. As an entry level, you can mention any academic accolades you may have achieved or previous internships you may have done.
3rd Paragraph – Why you wish to work for them
You’re a clever cookie and must have done your homework on the company itself. Now, it’s the time to tell them why you wish to work for them.
Are there certain corporate values that resonate with you? Does this company set itself apart from its competitors?
Maybe you’re a vegan chef who’s been looking to work at a restaurant where only vegan food and ingredients are utilised.
Communicating that will personalise your cover letter and give the hiring manager an insight into your psyche. They’ll appreciate that you share common values and will fit well into the internal working culture. Anything is possible. Maybe you’re just looking for a new challenge in your career or want a change in scenario.
4th Paragraph – Write a beautiful closing
This is the part where you thank them for considering your application and tell them that you look forward to hearing from them. Keep it short and sweet. And don’t forget to include your contact details if they wish to ask you further questions.
Helpful tip: Once you finish your amazing hospitality cover letter, give it a second read-through and get a friend or colleague to review it as well. Do watch out for spelling and grammar mistakes as you want to shine in the best light possible.
Here’s a sample hospitality cover letter:
Dear ____________,
My name is Rachel Potter and I heard you’re searching for a new chef to join your team. I just graduated from the Avenue Cookery School and would love my application to be considered. As a super quick learner and a hard worker, I’m sure that I’d learn how to manage your kitchen in no time!
After my three year cuisine course and internships, I can:
- Cook authentic British cuisine quickly (great at traditional Fish and Chips and much more)
- Identify the freshness of ingredients
- Manage inventory and kitchen stock
- Help manage kitchen staff and delegate responsibilities
- Strong affinity for kitchen hygiene and safety protocols
- Know how to operate electrical grills and other kitchen equipment/machinery effectively
London is a diverse city that offers multiple rich flavours of food. I am happy to see that your restaurant offers conventional British cuisine and I would love the chance to be a part of it. What beats good old Shepherd’s pie? I appreciate your restaurant policy to use only fresh ingredients from organic sources as that is something I personally believe in myself. If you’re interested, I can recommend a couple of great places where I shop myself and can get you a good discount.
I would love a chance to prove myself and am willing to cover a shift to demonstrate my skills. If that interests you or if you have any queries, please contact me at __________ or email me at rachel.potter@yahoo.com
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
____________
(Signature)
Rachel Potter
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