Cafe Manager Resume Example
Pursuing a career as a cafe manager provides opportunities for career progression and responsibilities involving ensuring customer satisfaction and overseeing daily operations. A strong resume for cafe manager applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your cafe manager applications.
This comprehensive guide will give you all the tools you need to craft a cafe manager resume that positions you strongly against other candidates. You'll find useful insights on constructing a resume that makes the most of your unique skills, experience and strengths. You'll also learn how to tailor your resume according to the job description, and depending on your experience levels. Continue reading to find expert tips and advice from Jobseeker that will help you with your cafe manager resume.
Main sections of a cafe manager resume
Although the content of a cafe manager resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same.
How you choose to present your resume is up to you. There are plenty of options for a professional resume layout and format, but every application should include the following:
Resume Header and Personal Information
Your cafe manager resume header is the place to add your contact details. Start by adding your full name and underneath, include your email address, phone number and location. Adding your LinkedIn profile, if you have one, can help the employer get a better insight into your skills and industry expertise. You don't need to include any additional personal information or a photo. Make your resume header clear, concise and as brief and compact as possible. Consider different layouts that spread the information horizontally across the page rather than using a different line for each piece of information.
Make sure the email address you list in your header is professional-looking and doesn't contain any inappropriate content such as nicknames or unsuitable language. Opt for an email address based on your name or profession, or a combination of both. Finally, check your contact details before sending your resume, to ensure everything's up-to-date.
Madelyn Kim
madelyn.kim@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
linkedin․com/in/madelyn–kim123
Resume Profile
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in cafe manager roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Furthermore, when writing your profile, focus on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for cafe manager roles.
Alternatively, you could use this section to reference your objectives and ambitions, and how this role would fit into your career journey.
The best resume summaries reflect the job description and focus on qualities that are relevant to working as a cafe manager, while highlighting elements of your personality that make you an ideal candidate. They also quantify the information provided with evidence. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for cafe manager jobs below.
Dynamic and results-driven Café Manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Café Operations Manager. Demonstrates strong leadership, operational efficiency, and customer service skills, with a proven ability to drive sales, enhance customer satisfaction, and streamline café operations. Adept at team management, inventory control, and implementing marketing strategies to boost foot traffic and profitability
Café manager with a business degree and some experience in running café operations. Known for leading teams and keeping things running smoothly while helping customers. Have worked on increasing sales and making customers happy. Familiar with managing staff, keeping track of supplies, and trying out marketing ideas to get more people in and improve profits
Conversely, a bad resume summary might be too generic, lacking focus on the specifics of the job description. It will also fail to provide any useful insights on what makes you a unique candidate. See above for some examples of things to avoid when writing your cafe manager resume summary.
Employment History
In the next section, list your employment history focusing on the most relevant previous roles and achievements that showcase your cafe manager skills. For each entry, list the job title, the name of the employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Add each job in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to cafe manager roles.
An effective resume work experience section is one that constantly echoes the skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you used your skills to positive effect in each job. Each bullet point should be carefully crafted to showcase a particular skill or achievement relevant to cafe manager jobs, with evidence to show the value you added. There are some examples of strong resume work experience sections below.
Café Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Bean Haven Café, Anaheim
- Increased monthly revenue by 25% through strategic menu redesign and targeted marketing campaigns
- Reduced operational costs by 15% by implementing efficient inventory management and staff scheduling systems
- Enhanced customer satisfaction scores by 30% by introducing staff training programs and improving service quality standards
Café Operations Manager, January 2022 - Present
Bean Haven Café, Anaheim
- Improved business performance through various initiatives and strategies
- Enhanced team productivity and customer interactions
- Achieved positive results in operational efficiency and customer service
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Education and Qualifications
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to cafe manager roles.
Typically, working as a cafe manager requires a university or college degree, which you'll need to list on your resume. If you're working in this sector, it's usually a good idea to highlight your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree or other relevant qualifications. Focus on qualifications that showcase your inventory management proficiency or POS system expertise.
List your relevant qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Add the name and level of the award, the institution, its location (if this isn't obvious from the name) and your dates of study. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), 2017 - 2020
Florida State University, Tallahassee
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to cafe manager positions. Consider adding staff scheduling efficiency, effective communication skills or any other necessary skills for the job. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for cafe manager positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
How to list hard skills on your cafe manager resume
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, your hard skills list helps to show employers how competent and experienced you are at key cafe manager duties and responsibilities. If possible, add four or five hard skills that reflect the requirements of the job description. These will boost your chances of success in your applications.
For an effective resume hard skills section, focus on the technical skills that are most essential in the job description, and that match your specific expertise. Some examples of the best hard skills for a cafe manager resume are listed below.
- Inventory management proficiency
- POS system expertise
- Staff scheduling efficiency
How to list soft skills on your cafe manager resume
Your soft skills are the core qualities and personal characteristics that make you a good employee. They tend to apply to multiple professions and jobs, though the soft skills you'll require may change as you move from junior to senior positions. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. You should generally look to include up to five soft or transferable skills that match the job description.
The strongest resume soft skills sections include a mix of skills that match your best personal strengths, and that reflect the skills listed in the job description. See below for some examples of effective soft skills for a cafe manager resume.
- Effective communication skills
- Team leadership abilities
- Problem-solving expertise
Certifications and Training
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a cafe manager. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for a cafe manager resume:
- ServSafe Food Protection, 2022
- Food Safety Manager, 2022
- Barista Certification, 2022
Additional Information
As well as the main sections of a cafe manager resume, optional sections can help you prove your credentials to employers. Pick from the optional sections below to help show the employer you have the skills and experience for the job.
Personal Interests
Hobbies and interests can be a useful way of showing your skills and experience beyond your work and education. Hobbies can help you show different sides of your personality and make your resume more memorable to hiring managers. They're ideal to include if you're a junior candidate who might lack real world cafe manager experience. If you're thinking about adding hobbies and interests, just make sure they add something unique to your application, and showcase your personality and interests in unique and interesting ways.
Volunteering
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for cafe manager roles beyond your main employment history. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
Although it's rare to include references on a cafe manager resume, some employers may ask for it. Don't add references unless they're specifically mentioned by the employer in the job advert. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
Please contact me for a list of references.
Best action words for your cafe manager resume
Start each bullet point in your work experience section with a strong verb to show actions you took. Add strong verbs from the list below to create a greater impact with your work experience section.
- Coordinate
- Supervise
- Train
- Manage
- Optimize
- Delegate
- Implement
- Evaluate
- Resolve
- Strategize
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Sample resume for cafe manager positions
Now we've covered the main sections to include in your cafe manager resume, let's take a look at how it all comes together in the example below:
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC
•
madelyn.kim@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/madelyn–kim123
Results-driven café manager with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and extensive experience as a Café Operations Manager. Proven expertise in streamlining operations, enhancing customer satisfaction, and driving profitability. Strong leadership skills with a focus on team development, inventory management, and quality control. Adept at implementing effective marketing strategies and maintaining high standards of service excellence.
Café Operations Manager
2020
-2022
Brew Haven Enterprises (Austin)
- Increased monthly revenue by 25% through strategic marketing initiatives and improved customer service standards
- Successfully implemented a new inventory management system, reducing waste by 15% and cutting costs by 10%
- Led a team of 20 staff members, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rate through training and performance management
Inventory management proficiency
POS system expertise
Staff scheduling efficiency
Effective communication skills
Team leadership abilities
Problem-solving expertise
ServSafe Food Protection
Food Safety Manager
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Key tips for a cafe manager resume
- List your relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent job.
- Showcase your key cafe manager qualities with a strong resume summary or objective to catch the attention of the reader.
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
- Use action words that show how you've made an impact in different cafe manager jobs (e.g. supervise, delegate, resolve).
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't use passive language - change phrases like 'the project was delivered' to sentences using strong active verbs.
- Don't use old contact information and always review your resume header to make sure it contains the latest information.
- Don't include irrelevant work experience in your resume because it takes up valuable space and is unlikely to improve your chances of success.
- Don't use jargon or business-speak. It can make your resume appear clichéd and harder to read.
How to make your resume ATS compliant
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to streamline their hiring process. They can store and process data, including applications and applicant data, quickly and efficiently. One of the jobs ATS applications are increasingly responsible for is initial candidate screening. The systems can quickly scan and rank resumes based on how closely they match the job description. When drafting your cafe manager resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Opt for an established, traditional resume format such as a reverse-chronological or functional structure. These will ensure your resume includes all the necessary details ATS systems scan for.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Utilize a clean, clear resume design that helps make your content more readable. Use simple fonts and subtle color accents and design elements that don't detract from the written content.
- Keep your resume as concise as possible, to make it easier to read, and for ATS software to scan.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
Frequently Asked Questions about a cafe manager resume
Accompanying your resume for cafe manager applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to cafe manager roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
For help creating an eye-catching cover letter that impresses recruiters and hiring managers, use Jobseeker's professional cover letter templates.
There are plenty of ways to still make a positive impression with your cafe manager resume, even if you lack relevant work experience. Use a functional resume format instead of the standard reverse-chronological structure. This emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience. Optional sections at the end of your resume can play a stronger role if you're lacking relevant work experience. Use certifications and training, hobbies and interests, volunteer roles and internships to show you've got the necessary skills for the job.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your cafe manager application, a resume headline can help. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Take the time to draft a concise, eye-catching headline which includes the job title, one or two key skills and reference to either your experience level or track record.
Below you can see a resume headline example:
- Assistant Cafe Manager Seeking Opportunities
- Experienced Cafe Manager and Leader
- Experienced Senior Cafe Manager
The best format for your resume depends on two key factors. Firstly, the amount of relevant work experience you have. Secondly, the type of role and its level of seniority. If you're applying for a junior position or changing careers, you might want to consider a functional resume. This highlights your skills and education over your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Key points for your cafe manager resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
