Summary

So, the job search is on. Many people dread the process and see it as a race to the finish line where they’ll receive the prize of a job. While that should be your ultimate goal, there’s no sense in rushing it. Your CV is a great place to start and take time to figure out your core skills, which pub and restaurant job is right for you and which type of company you want to work for.As you write the perfect CV you need think about what the recruiter is looking for and what will cause them to sort you into the no pile. CVs should display a bit of your personality, but still be professional. So you know that cringe email you made when you were 10? Don’t use it!Here are some more dos and don’ts when writing your hospitality CV:DoInclude why you want to work in hospitalityAsk yourself why you want a hospitality job. Maybe salt bae inspired you or you recently found your flair for whipping up recipes at home. Perhaps you just love food. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t?Write a personal statementWrite a short paragraph at the top of your CV introducing who you are and what you can offer the company. Be clear and concise.Include KeywordsYour personal statement is the perfect place to sprinkle some keywords that the hiring manager is looking for. If you’re applying for a job in hospitality, interpersonal skills, knowledge of health and safety and quality assurance are a must. Look at the job description and pick out other keywords.Use the STAR approachRather than claiming to be, “An experienced bartender with a track record of quality customer service”, back up your claims. The STAR approach will help you reveal more about your experience and give the hiring manager concrete evidence of your skills.Explain gapsIf you have some time off between education and work where you did some casual catering work or went travelling, explain this on your CV. Simply leaving a gap might raise some eyebrows so it’s best to straighten it out and avoid any confusion.Shout about your achievementsPeople tend to play down their skills and achievements, at least around their friends and family, but there’s no time for that with hiring managers. You need to talk yourself up and shout about your proudest achievements. However, it’s important to remain humble because 65% of employers agree that they’re put off candidates who are arrogant.Don’tStuff it with buzzwordsWhy is stuffing your CV with buzzwords a no go? Because they can come across as unimaginative. You may be a great team player and second-to-none when it comes to problem-solving but simply writing those on your CV looks inauthentic. Back up popular buzzwords you use with the STAR approach and think about unique words that the hiring manager won’t have skimmed over hundreds of times.Include negatives If you’ve had a bad experience in a previous job or didn’t particularly enjoy the role you were in, keep the negativity out. Think about your CV as a ‘good vibes only’ space. Employers want to see what you learnt from previous jobs, not listen to you vent about what you didn’t like.Offer irrelevant informationSorry to break the news, but a recruiter doesn’t want to hear about your glory days as the egg and spoon champion in primary school, and probably won’t be too fazed that you know how to cook the perfect roast potato. Think of each line of your CV as "prime real estate" that should only be used for relevant skills and experience.LieEven if you have very little experience, lies should be avoided at all costs. They’ll come back to bite you in the end and who wants to get a job that they didn’t earn on their own merit anyway? If you have little or no experience working in a pub, restaurant or bar but really want to begin your career hospitality, think about your transferrable skills.Write a CV that leaves a lasting impression.Your CV needs to be original, attention-grabbing and leave the hiring manager wanting to learn more about you. If you follow these dos and don'ts when writing your hospitality CV, you’ll be sure to make a lasting impression.We’ve hit pause on our hiring at M&B for now but we can’t wait to start it back up. In the meantime, you can check out more of our blogs and read about top tips for managing your own wellbeing.

Summary

Some people are just made to work in a restaurant or pub. They love the social side of talking to customers, thrive in the busy atmosphere and love being surrounded by food. Hospitality is a fast-paced industry and hospitality teams feed off the energy in a busy work environment, no pun intended. So it’s even more important to take the time to slow things down and check in with yourself. Here are some top wellbeing tips that will help you preserve or improve your mental and physical health:Get movingExercise is said to be one of the five ways to wellbeing. Working in the hospitality industry means that you’ll be no stranger to being on your feet but perhaps you’re ready to find a type of exercise that you enjoy and build it into your daily routine. A walk first thing in the morning might be the perfect way to clear your head, or maybe you’re curious about the many YouTube classes that everyone has been raving about.If you need that extra bit of motivation why not set yourself a challenge? Commit to stretching for 10 minutes every day, clocking 5,000 steps or try out a beginner’s 6-week fitness routine.Avoid reading too much newsIf you’ve found yourself scrolling away for hours on social media before, you’re not alone. But 2020 was a little different and gave rise to a new term - doomscrolling. You know that time when you endlessly scrolled through negative news? That was doomscrolling.Yes, it’s important to stay up to date with what is happening in the world but you should limit the amount of time you spend scrolling through news sites and social media news channels and balance any negativity by finding websites and social media accounts that focus on good news stories. Take it a step further and create a group chat with your colleagues where you all share positive stories about what you’ve been up to while away from work.Talk to someoneThe stigma around mental health is slowly starting to slip away, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to open up and discuss your feelings. It is important though, and sharing how you are feeling with someone else can help you stay in good mental health or take some of the burden off you.Whether you’re worried about your job, missing your work family or working through a mental health problem, being listened to is comforting. If you find it hard talk about your thoughts, plan it out in your head before, think about someone you trust and pick a place where you’ll feel comfortable.Practise resilienceResilience is one of the top transferrable skills you learn as a restaurant worker. Pre-Covid times, people working in hospitality were known for their unbreakable resilience. But like any other skill, it needs to be trained. Here are a few ways to do that:Be aware of your thoughtsReward your achievementsUse relaxation techniquesBuild a support networkUsing practices like these will help you stay focused in your time off from work and prepare you when you’re back serving your favourite customers.Create a to-do listWe all struggle to get things done sometimes. Ironically, the more time we have on our hands, the more we tend to put things off. This is where a to-do list comes in handy. Now, being in a job where you’re used to having lots on your plate and little time to write it down might mean you’re not a keen list maker. But bear with us. To-do lists give you some structure when you’re not working, and when you are, they help you feel calmer about getting your errands done around your work hours. The 1-3-5 rule is a great way of making sure your daily list has five bite-sized to-dos, three slots for medium to-dos and one big task. Creating a to-do list, and slowly ticking things off can give you your daily dose of motivation and gives you something to feel proud about at the end of the day.Find out about life at M&BWe know this has been a difficult time for restaurant workers which is why we think it’s so important to give your mental health the attention it deserves. These wellbeing tips will give some structure to your day while you’re not working and help you start some healthy habits.While our team might not be together at work, we’re together in spirit and thanks to technology we’ve been keeping our culture alive. Find out more about life at M&B and don’t forget to check back to see when we start hiring again.