Catering Resume Sample Job Description & Skills

One of our users, Pam, had this to say:

Looking for other jobs in the food service? Check these guides:

• Server Resume: Sample & Complete Guide
• Restaurant Server Resume: Sample & Complete Guide
• Food Service Resume: Sample & Writing Guide
• Waitress Resume: Sample & Complete Guide
• Waiter Resume: Sample & Complete Guide
• Restaurant Resume: Sample and Complete Guide
• Banquet Server Resume: Sample and Complete Guide
• Event Planner Resume Sample
• Hostess Resume: Samples and Complete Writing Guide
• Cook Resume Sample & Writing Guide
• Examples of Resumes That Get Jobs

Just above those links was our idea of one of the best catering resume samples around.

Now, let’s perfect yours— 

Here is how to whip up a resume for catering jobs:

1. Choose the Best Catering Resume Format to Use

A caterer is a person who provides food and beverages to a group at a remote location, including tables, equipment, and providing service. A catering resume must show the event director that you have the food handling skills, customer service attitude, and physical stamina to do the job right.

Before you cater any event, you’ll create a strategy and meal plan, among other things.

It’s similar here— 

Before you can start writing your catering resume, you have to make sure it’s formatted in a way that’ll impress the event manager or catering director.

Here’s how to format a caterer resume template:

• In the heading for a resume for catering jobs, start with your name in big, bold letters; consider adding your previous professional job title, if relevant.
• List your phone number and contact info on a resume correctly.
• Differentiate the various resume sections by making the resume section titles larger than the standard text.
• Go with the best resume format, the reverse chronological order resume.
• What size font for a resume? Keep the body text around 10–12pt, and let the section titles stand out at 2–4pts larger.

2. Write a Catering Resume Objective or Summary

You start things off on your catering resume with a resume objective or summary statement.

Located at the top in your professional profile, this statement is short but powerful, like a perfect elevator pitch.

But which one to use?

Use the career summary when you have plenty of catering experience behind you. 

The summary paragraph on your catering resume regales them with a quick background on your food handling skills, client satisfaction, and other catering abilities. For the cherry on top, you’ll include a numbered accomplishment so they can measure your past success.

Use the career objective when writing catering resumes with little or no experience. 

With the objective paragraph, rather than experience, you’ll highlight your career goals as a prospective caterer with their company. You’ll still give a measurable achievement which is relevant to catering jobs.

3. Craft the Perfect Catering Job Description for Resumes

Like the actual catering event itself, the job description or work history section on your resume is the meat of the matter. 

That means— 

You’d better impress the maître d′ by knowing how to write work experience in a resume effectively.

Here’s how to nail a catering job description for resume experience sections:

• Go in reverse-chronological order, which means placing your latest job on top, followed by the next one, and so forth.
• Include the job title, dates of employment, the company’s name, and the company’s location.
• Below that, add five or six bullet points detailing your catering job responsibilities.
• Begin with action words (e.g., catered, prepared) to start off each bullet point.
• Prove you’re a great catering job candidate by listing a key achievement or two with numbers.
• Always tailor your resume to this one particular catering job ad, as the event coordinator or catering director will just toss a boilerplate resume.

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4. Write a Caterer Resume Education Section That Shines

Most catering jobs don’t require anything over a high school education.

But—

Doesn’t mean you can go easy on the education section of a resume.

Here’s how to make your education area first class:

• List your most advanced degree or culinary certificate at the top.
• Add the degree, the college’s or culinary school’s name, and the date you completed your studies.
• If you have relevant coursework (e.g., culinary management, catering logistics), add them as a subsection.
• Have other proud academic achievements, such as dean’s list or cum laude? Include them to really impress the employer.

5. Highlight Your Talent in a Catering Skills Resume Section

According to the BLS, employment of food service managers (including caterers) is set to increase 9% between 2016 and 2026.

That’s 27,600 others to compete with for the catering job.

So— 

Whether on a catering manager resume or a catering server resume, make sure your skills section is as enticing as the food you’ll serve.

To become a professional caterer, candidates must possess these catering skills and food service abilities:

Top Catering Skills for a Resume

• Strength & Stamina
• Food & Beverage Preparation
• Food Presentation & Food Handling
• Friendly Attitude & Demeanor
• Event Monitoring & Initiative
• Venue Selection & Setup
• Personal Hygiene & Food Safety
• Product Purchasing & Inventory Management
• Service-Oriented Attitude
• Confidentiality (for Private Events)
• Quick & Methodical Working
• Budget & Finance (for Catering Directors)
• Presentation Skills
• Verbal Communication Skills
• Time Management Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Teamwork & Collaboration Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Creative Thinking Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Project Management Skills
• Interpersonal Skills

Now— 

Here’s how to turn these random abilities into a fine catering skills resume section:

• List all the special professional skills, including hard skills and soft skills, which you have related to the catering business.
• Look at the catering job ad’s requirements area to find the best keywords for a resume.
• Add those skills you listed which you also found in the job description to your catering director resume or catering assistant resume.

6. Include Additional Sections on Your Caterer Resume

Your resume for catering jobs is looking mighty fine, by now.

However— 

You can knock it out of the park by adding a few extra sections to really wow them.

For a catering resume, here are some great ideas for additional areas to include:

• Language section in a resume
• Professional achievements
• Personal hobbies and interests
• Volunteer experience
• Certifications on a resume 

7. Include a Catering Cover Letter With Your Job Application

How important are cover letters?

Very.

A majority of employers prefer an attached cover letter to your catering job application.

With that said— 

Here are a few tips for writing a caterer cover letter that’ll drop their jaws to the floor:

• Learn how to format a cover letter before you start writing it.
• Craft a compelling opening paragraph of your cover letter by introducing them to you and your intention for applying for the catering role.
• Use the body section to talk up your catering skills and your food handling experience.
• Add several proud accomplishments to impress the director of catering.
• Know how to sign off a cover letter with a powerful call to action statement.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:

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