Travel Agent Resume Example
Starting a career as a travel agent gives you the chance to gain experience in booking flights and accommodations and handling customer inquiries. If you want to stand out with your travel agent applications, you'll need to create a professional resume that makes a strong impression on employers. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your travel agent applications.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other travel agent applicants. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Read on to learn how to write a perfect travel agent resume, from the advice of careers experts at Jobseeker.
Core sections to include in a travel agent resume
It's essential to include a few core sections in your travel agent resume, while there are also a few optional sections. A resume for candidates with little or no work experience may focus less on the work experience section, and bring sections to the fore that emphasize their skills, such as hobbies and interests, volunteer work, education, projects and skills lists.
Your resume layout and structure may differ depending on your experience levels, but make sure your resume includes the following:
Resume Header
Your travel agent 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. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
Madison Kim
madison.kim@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, IN
linkedin․com/in/madison–kim123
Resume Summary
Next, write a short paragraph to introduce yourself. You could also call this section 'resume summary' or 'personal profile'. In two or three sentences, explain your professional background, achievements and key skills. If you choose to write a resume summary, this focuses on your career experience to date. On the other hand, a resume objective addresses your future plans and career ambitions. However, make sure you keep your resume summary short and snappy, and focused on the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
A good resume summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for travel agent roles, while leaving the reader with an impression of your unique qualities and strengths. The most effective resume summaries also provide evidence to back up the claims made in them. The graphic below showcases some good examples of what to include in your travel agent resume summary.
Good example:
Experienced Travel Agent with a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality and Tourism Management, previously employed as a Travel Consultant. Proficient in creating customized travel itineraries, managing client relationships, and coordinating travel logistics. Skilled in utilizing reservation systems, negotiating with vendors, and providing exceptional customer service to ensure memorable travel experiences. Strong knowledge of global destinations, travel regulations, and industry trends
Bad example:
Travel agent with some background in hospitality and tourism. Worked in roles where I planned trips and helped clients with their travel needs. Have experience in booking systems and talking to travel vendors. Tried to provide good service and keep up with travel trends and rules. Familiar with various places around the world and the basics of travel planning
On the other hand, an unsuccessful resume summary is one that mentions irrelevant skills, qualities and achievements and fails to differentiate you from other candidates. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for travel agent roles. Whether your skills include itinerary planning expertise, attention to detail or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Additionally, read the job description to make sure your skills match those required for travel agent positions. You could also include some unique skills that help you stand out as a candidate.
Highlighting your hard skills
Under hard skills, add any specialist skills you possess that are specifically required for travel agent jobs. These tend to be technical skills and industry knowledge essential to the position. Furthermore, your hard skills list helps to show employers how competent and experienced you are at key travel agent 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 travel agent resume are listed below.
- Gds system proficiency
- Itinerary planning expertise
- Fare calculation accuracy
Listing soft skills on your travel agent 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, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to travel agent roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. Think of your best soft skills and add up to five that match the requirements of the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for a travel agent resume.
- Communication and empathy
- Problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail
Education
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to travel agent roles.
A travel agent role tends to require candidates to have a university or college degree, so make sure you list yours in your resume. A Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management degree or similar is the most suitable for this job, but you could also include any other relevant qualifications that show your fare calculation accuracy or destination knowledge depth.
Enter the name and level of the qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study or graduation. Include bullet points to show any specialist modules you studied, awards or exceptional grades and achievements that can set you apart from other candidates. These will all contribute to creating a positive impression on employers.
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 Arts in Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2017 - 2020
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Certifications
Under certifications and licenses, add any further qualifications that show you're a good fit for the job. These could be official licenses required for the job or certifications that improve your employability. Therefore, add any necessary licenses and certifications in this section, along with valid dates so employers can see you're still qualified for the job.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for a travel agent resume:
- CTA - Certified Travel Associate, 2022
- CTC - Certified Travel Counselor, 2022
- VTA - Verified Travel Advisor, 2022
Work Experience
Next, list your relevant employment history and any key achievements that show you're suitable for a travel agent position. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
In addition, include a few bullet points under each job, highlighting your key achievements so the hiring manager can see how they led to successful outcomes. Back up each point with evidence to show how you meet the job description.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in a travel agent resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Travel Consultant, January 2022 - Present
Wanderlust Voyages, Portland
- Boosted annual sales by 25% through personalized travel itineraries and exceptional customer service
- Successfully managed travel plans for over 300 international clients, achieving a 98% satisfaction rate
- Coordinated and executed complex group tours, resulting in a 40% increase in repeat business
Bad example:
Travel Consultant, January 2022 - Present
Wanderlust Voyages, Portland
- Enhanced customer satisfaction through effective communication and attention to detail
- Managed client travel needs, ensuring smooth and enjoyable experiences
- Contributed to team success with proactive problem-solving and collaboration
In the graphic above, you'll see some examples of less effective resume work experience sections. Poor examples of resume work experience sections tend to be vague and fail to quantify your achievements and the impact you've made in your career to date. They may also focus on responsibilities above relevant skills and how you've used them.
Expert Tip:
Focus on specific accomplishments that highlight your work ethic and reliability, such as "reduced processing time by 15%" or "earned Employee of the Month twice." (1) Pair this with a simple, clean format that ensures your resume looks professional and approachable. (2)
Optional Sections
As well as the main sections of a travel agent 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
Including your hobbies and interests can be a valuable way of showing your key skills and qualities. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Volunteering
Adding voluntary roles can be a useful way of showing relevant experience and skills for travel agent roles beyond your main employment history. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
Standard travel agent resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References are available upon request.
Best action words for your travel agent resume
Using strong action verbs in your work experience bullet points can make a stronger impression on employers and show the value you added to your previous roles. Choose from the list of words below to increase the impact of your work experience section.
- Planned
- Coordinated
- Booked
- Advised
- Negotiated
- Organized
- Arranged
- Facilitated
- Managed
- Communicated
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.
Example resume for travel agent applications
Now we've covered the main sections to include in your travel agent resume, let's take a look at how it all comes together in the example below:
4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, IN
•
madison.kim@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/madison–kim123
Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management with extensive experience as a Travel Consultant. Proven ability to design and sell travel packages, manage client relationships, and coordinate logistics for seamless travel experiences. Skilled in itinerary planning, cost management, and customer service, with a strong understanding of global travel regulations and trends. Adept at using industry-standard booking systems and tools to ensure client satisfaction and repeat business.
Travel Consultant
2020
-2022
Wanderlust Horizons (Toledo)
- Increased client bookings by 35% through personalized travel itineraries and exceptional customer service
- Successfully planned and coordinated over 100 international trips with a 98% customer satisfaction rate
- Negotiated exclusive deals with top airlines and hotels, resulting in a 20% cost savings for clients
Gds system proficiency
Itinerary planning expertise
Fare calculation accuracy
Communication and empathy
Problem-solving abilities
Attention to detail
CTA - Certified Travel Associate
CTC - Certified Travel Counselor
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Do's and don'ts of a travel agent resume
Advice to help you craft a winning resume
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each travel agent role (e.g. 'advised', 'negotiated', 'organized').
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
- Review your resume thoroughly and correct any errors before sending it, to avoid unnecessary harm to your chances.
- Kick off your travel agent resume with a strong summary or objective statement that highlights your key skills and achievements.
- Reference your key qualifications and educational achievements, including grades if these help you stand out from other candidates.
Avoid these common mistakes on your resume
- Don't use jargon or business-speak. It can make your resume appear clichéd and harder to read.
- Don't lie or exaggerate on your travel agent resume, as this can create false expectations in employers and harm you in the future.
- Don't use out-of-date contact information. Always make sure your email address and phone number are correct before sending your resume.
- Don't use an email address that creates an unprofessional impression. Instead, create an email address for job applications based on your name.
- Don't include hobbies unless you're light on work experience and they help you prove a skill required for the job.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
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 travel agent 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 a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS systems to scan.
- Add keywords throughout your resume that help ATS software match your application to the job description. A higher match means your application is more likely to proceed to be reviewed by human eyes.
- 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.
- Make sure your resume is as concise as possible, so ATS applications can easily scan and identify the required details.
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 travel agent resume
Accompanying your resume for travel agent applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Check the job description to see whether a full, formal cover letter is necessary. In some situations, it might be more suitable to simply send a brief email to introduce yourself and accompany your resume.
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 travel agent 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.
You can create a professional cover letter in just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps using Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates.
For an experienced travel agent application, the objective of your resume is to showcase the many achievements in your career to date. Your travel agent resume is likely to have a longer work experience section than resumes for less experienced candidates, any you may wish to go back further than the standard 10 to 15 years of employment history, depending on your experience levels. In your travel agent resume, think about any optional sections you could add to help prove your standing and reputation in your industry. Sections such as awards, achievements and projects can build a picture of your career successes to date.
You can use a resume headline to introduce your document and set the tone for your travel agent applications. Resume headlines can also help you pass the ATS stage of the selection process, by highlighting the job title and one or two key details. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
See an example resume headline below:
- Aspiring Travel Consultant Specialist
- Expert Travel Consultant & Planner
- Experienced Senior Travel Consultant
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. For applicants without much relevant work experience, a functional resume format tends to be best. This places the emphasis on your key skills and relevant qualifications. 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.
Takeaways for a winning travel agent resume
If you want to catch the eye of employers and recruiters, you need a professional resume that showcases your best skills and career achievements. Choose the most suitable resume format for your experience levels, and focus on tailoring your resume based on the requirements listed in the job description.
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. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
