Cover Letter for Hospitality - Examples, and Guidelines

A resume is vital, and you cannot get a job without sending one but complementing it with a cover letter increases your chances of landing your next big job.

Hospitality jobs are not always easy to come by in today's competitive job market. You need to set yourself apart with an outstanding application to get the hiring manager's attention.

In this article, we'll help you write a cover letter that will complement your hospitality resume and allow you to stand out. Here are some of the areas we'll cover.

• A hospitality cover letter sample to guide you as you craft your cover letter.
• How to write a cover letter and what you should include.
• What to add to the body of the cover letter.
• How to write a call to action

How to Write a Cover Letter for Jobs in Hospitality

A cover letter is a document that gives more details on your qualifications. A resume does not always allow you to expound on your experience and skills because it has to be short, so a cover letter is essential.

Some recruiters will not ask you for a cover letter, and that's the only time you should send your application without one. Otherwise, you should always accompany your resume with a cover letter.

The structure of your cover letter should have the following information:

• A header section
• A formal greeting
• An introduction of your cover letter
• The body of the cover letter(consists of relevant experience, skills, and other accomplishments)
• A conclusion
• The call to action
• A farewell to close the letter.

How Do I Write a Cover Letter for Hospitality with no Experience?

A cover letter also gives you the chance to express your interest in the position. If you don't have previous experience, use the cover letter to describe the courses you learned in school that have prepared you for the job. You can also talk about any transferable skills you have from working at jobs unrelated to the position and show the recruiter that you're excited to get the opportunity.

Start with the header

The header has your personal information, including your full name, street address, professional email address, and a link to your LinkedIn profile. (This is optional)

Once you've added your details, you'll include the date before writing the addressee's details. The addressee's details include their full name, job title, name of the company, and street address.

This section is critical so proofread to check that all the details are correct. If you make a mistake, the hiring manager will not be able to reach you, and you'll miss out on the position.

Examples

Begin your cover letter introducing yourself

A cover letter is the first contact you'll have with the hiring manager, so you want to get their attention. Remember, those first impressions are everything! The best thing about a cover letter is that it allows you to inject some personality. So, don't write a boring introduction. The idea is to get the recruiter to read the rest of the cover letter and look at your resume.

Here are some other tips to help you with the introduction section.

• Start with a professional greeting and use the name of the recipient. This gives it a personal touch and shows the person receiving the letter you did your research on them. If you can't find any information on the recipient, it's okay to use 'Dear Sir/Madam,' especially if you're unsure of their gender.
• Keep the introduction short but let it be catchy and engaging. Show your excitement for the role and let the recruiter know how you found out about the position.
• Highlight your experience and mention one or two achievements that immediately get the hiring manager's attention.

Another tip that applies to the general cover letter is proofreading the letter to ensure there are no mistakes. Having grammatical errors and spelling mistakes shows a lack of attention to detail and can cause you to miss out on an opportunity.

CORRECT EXAMPLE

Dear Mary,

I'm excited to learn that there is a kitchen manager opening at Khan's kitchen through your Facebook page. I have been working as a kitchen manager at Bestly Treats for the past five years, where I managed to do a lot of good work that I'm proud of. I redesigned the dessert menu during my time there and created five different desserts that became best sellers at Bestly.

While this is a significant highlight in my career, and I'm happy that I got to do all this at Bestly, I'm ready for a new challenge and believe that Rexty is the right place to grow my talents. Having read the requirements, I know that I have what it takes to fill the role and positively impact your kitchen department.

The introduction above is appropriate because it has a proper greeting and does an excellent job of highlighting the candidate's achievements. It also expresses their interest in the position and mentions the role they want and how they'll impact the new workplace.

INCORRECT EXAMPLE

To whom it may concern

I recently found out that you're hiring for a kitchen manager position. I would love to work at this company and believe that my previous experience as a kitchen manager will come in handy.

This example starts with a greeting that is not personalized to the addressee, making them feel like you didn't make an effort to do some research on who they are. It's also too general and does not mention the role and the company the candidate wants to work for. It's also missing an achievement that will entice the hiring manager to read the rest of your cover letter.

Reveal Why You're the Best for the Job

The second section of the cover letter is the body. This is where you describe the skills that make you the right person for the job. You can have two to three paragraphs in this section.

In the first paragraph, describe your responsibilities at your workplace and more achievements that you're proud of. Each hospitality job is different, so tailor these responsibilities to match the job description. It's always better to add facts and figures to show the hiring manager what you can achieve.

The second paragraph allows you to discuss how your skills and professional experience will allow you to succeed in the role. Hiring managers are always on the lookout for a problem-solver, so if you can show the recruiter that you can solve their problems, you'll be better positioned to get the job.

The third paragraph can have any awards/honors you may have received at the workplace for doing an excellent job. Most job seekers write cover letters, so this can help set you apart from all the other candidates.

CORRECT EXAMPLE

My responsibilities included managing and scheduling the kitchen staff shifts, inventory management and ordering food supplies, and supervising food prepping and cooking. During my time as the kitchen manager, we improved customer satisfaction by 25% by serving food on time and maintaining high-quality customer service.

The experience working at Bestly allowed me to interact with different clients, improving my communication skills, and taught me new problem-solving techniques. I reduced the wastage of food supplies by 35% by ensuring that the kitchen staff used every item without wasting, reducing the hotel's overall costs by 20%. I believe that my skills and experience will allow me to make an impact at Rexty if given the opportunity.

This example describes the candidates' responsibilities at the previous workplace and the achievements that allow them to stand out. It also shows the recruiter how their customer service skills allowed them to succeed, giving them an idea of the value they'll bring to the company.

INCORRECT EXAMPLE

Some of my duties included collaborating with the restaurant manager to price menu items. I also checked the food temperature and plating before it went out to the customer. I have learned a lot and believe I have the relevant skills you're looking for in a kitchen manager.

This example is vague and doesn't give the recruiter the details of the candidate's achievements, skills, and experience that make them unique. This makes it hard for the recruiter to see the value they'll bring to the company.

Finish your cover letter with a Call to Action (CTA)

Once you've discussed all your accomplishments in the previous sections of the cover letter, you'll need to add a call to action. This is a statement in the last paragraph that shows your excitement for the position and encourages the recruiter to get back to you. Failure to add a call to action may result in you not getting a response from the recruiter.

Most cover letter examples end with a call to action because it acts as an invitation to the recruiter to respond to your application. Thank the recruiter for their consideration and for reviewing your hospitality job application in the call to action. You can also ask them for the next steps of the interview.

Examples

How to enhance your CTA

• Always show your appreciation to the recruiter for their consideration to make them feel appreciated.
• Proofread the cover letter to ensure there are no mistakes that would otherwise show a lack of attention to detail.
• Research the company you're applying to and ensure the tone and style of your cover letter fits right.
• Check the job description and include the right keywords and action verbs to optimize your cover letter.
• Request for the next steps in the call to action to show your enthusiasm for the role.

The farewell: close your cover letter professionally

The last part of your cover letter is the sign-off, which should be professionally done.

How to finish your letter(Examples)

• Yours truly
• Sincerely
• Best regards,
• Most sincerely
• Respectfully
• With best regards
• Kind regards
• Sincerely yours

What you have to avoid

• Warmest regards
• Take care
• Cheers
• Have a great day
• Yours faithfully
• Warm regards
• Take it easy
• Love
• XOXO
• Yours

Complement Your Cover Letter with a Powerful Resume

A cover letter without a resume will make your application incomplete. You need a compelling resume detailing your experience, top skills, and other accomplishments to improve your chances of landing a new job. Check out our resume examples which have some valuable tips and resume templates that will help you structure your resume.

Key takeaways

• Start your cover letter with a catchy introduction to compel the recruiter to read the rest of it.
• Keep the header short but ensure that the details are correct.
• Always accompany your resume with a cover letter unless the recruiter states otherwise to end your job search
• Use the job description to identify keywords and action verbs you can use to optimize your cover letter.
• Use a professional greeting at the beginning of the cover letter and personalize it using the addressee's name.
• Mention your responsibilities and achievements in the body of the cover letter.
• Remember to add a call to action to your cover letter to get the recruiter to reach out to you.

FAQs

How long should your hospitality cover letter be?

The cover letter should be one page long. Most hiring managers will not read anything longer than that.

How do you describe your hospitality skills on the cover letter?

Describe your duties and responsibilities at your previous job and mention the skills that allowed you to perform them diligently. Also, discuss how these skills will be helpful in the new position.