Skip to main content

Why aren't you getting a call for job interviews? (Part I) Make sure your resume passes AI screening and the 6-second test

The unemployment rate is low. Our industry still faces an ongoing labor shortage challenge. Many restaurants and hotels struggle to fill vacant positions.  

Then, will restaurants and hotels hire just anyone applying for the job? If that is the case, why some of us have never heard any follow-up calls? 


Maybe we were unlucky by applying for a “ghost job” --- jobs employers do not want to fill. Alternatively, it was because we did not submit the “right” resume or failed to set up an appealing LinkedIn profile. It is time to review the resume-writing (this post) and LinkedIn (Part II or the next post) tips. 

 

Make Sure Your Resume Passes AI Screening and the 6-second Test 

 

Everyone wants to get a good job. A vacancy in most desirable companies will receive hundreds or even thousands of resumes. 

 

To streamline the hiring process, many companies have already used AI to help their hiring managers screen resumes. Afterward, resumes piling up on a hiring manager’s desk (or folder) will only get 3 – 6 seconds of the manager’s attention before being moved to the “trash can” or another folder for further consideration. So, we must ensure our resumes stand out and get attention.

 

  1. Tailor our resume to the opening position: AI will check if our resumes have the indicative keywords that match the job descriptions of the vacant position. It is critical to describe our experience with the keywords found in the opening’s job descriptions. For a supervisory position, for example, we should demonstrate our leadership experience with keywords like “supervised,” “managed,” “led,” “coach,” “mentor,” “train,” etc. 
  1. Highlight our achievements and quantifiable results: Every hiring manager in the hospitality industry knows what a Front Desk agent or a line cook typically does. Instead of listing typical job duties, we should emphasize our achievements and quantifiable results. For example, we may use “supervised 10 associates in a shift” and “exceeded the sales goal by 20% in Q1 2023.” 
  1. Keep it short: One page is all we need to highlight our experience relevant to the job we are applying for, regardless of how many jobs and years we have worked.  
  1. Pick a clear and concise format: Use bullet points, space, and bold/italic/underline functions effectively to make it easy to spot critical information.
  1. Use standard fonts and formatting: Avoid using fancy fonts that are difficult to read. Minimize the usage of ALL CAPS because hiring managers may find them difficult to read. Remember that plain texts work better for AI than tables, images, and graphics.      
  1. Proofread the resume: Being free of spelling or grammatical errors is a “non-negotiable” item in many hiring managers’ minds.  

 

Good luck with your job search. I hope you will get hired soon!


If you recently got a job offer, what advice would you give to job seekers? 


Note: This article was also published in Hospitality News Magazine. The picture was downloaded from Impress.ai

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Luxury vs. Millennials and Their Technology: The Ritz-Carlton (By Julia Shorr)

Embodying the finest luxury experience, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC has been established since 1983. In 1998, Marriott International purchased the brand offering it more opportunity for growth while being independently owned and operated. They are known for their enhanced service level as the motto states, “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen”. The luxury brand now carries 97 hotels and resorts internationally and is attempting to keep the aspects of luxury while keeping up with the trends of the technologically improving generations. The Varying Demographics of the Target Market The Ritz-Carlton’s typical target market includes: business executives, corporate, leisure travelers, typically middle-aged persons and elders, and families from the upper and upper-middle class section of society .   This infers a large range of types of travelers in which all are similar in that they are not opposed to spending extra for the luxurious ambiance. However, with

Is It OK for Hotel Staff to Wear Piercings and Tattoos?

Time has changed. I see more and more college students wearing piercings and tattoos nowadays, but is it OK for hotel staff to wear piercings and tattoos? The answer is “no, no, no.” According a report at USAToday.com, customers across the board do not want to see any hotel workers with pierced eyebrow, pierced tongue, tattooed arm, or nose ring. Some may argue that tattooed and pierced workers may seem more acceptable in edgy boutique hotels as compared to the big franchised hotels, but the survey results did not find any differences among a variety of lodging products. Many respondents believe people who wear visible tattoos and piercings are taking a high risk of their professional lives. If you stay in a hotel, do you mind being served by tattooed and/or pierced staff? What if you are the one who makes the hiring decision? References: USAToday.com: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010 Picture was downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010P

How Covid-19 will change the HR department? (by Vivian Tan)

With the current pandemic happening, many businesses are having a hard time. It is hard for them to maintain to pay all their employees, and many things have changed on how companies are running during Covid-19. Because of this virus, employees work from home and might lack the motivation to finish their tasks. Many businesses shut their doors infinitely and file for bankruptcy because it is hard to pay their employees, and there are not many businesses coming in. In the hospitality industry, the HR department must create policies and answer questions from the outbreak. It is also essential that they communicate with workers for any updates and make sure that it does not affect their daily operations.     When it comes to covid-19 concerns, the HR department should communicate with the employees for any updates on the virus, such as informing employees about policies, personal hygiene, posting signs around the workplace about symptoms of the virus, and wear masks. Also, asking employee