Hostess Resume Example and Template
A strong hostess resume shows your ability to manage a busy front-of-house, seat guests efficiently, maintain wait list accuracy, and represent the restaurant's brand. Highlight your communication skills and how you've improved guest experience.
Restaurant managers hiring hostesses want to see your comfort with point-of-sale systems, your ability to read the room and manage expectations, and any contributions to positive guest reviews.
Sarah Bennett: Hostess
Seattle, Washington, United States
Summary
Hostess with 5 years managing front-of-house operations in upscale casual dining. Seated 120+ covers nightly while maintaining accurate reservation records and managing wait times. Achieved 4.8 average guest rating on reservation platforms. Trained 3 new hostesses on phone etiquette, seating procedures, and conflict de-escalation.
Work Experience
Hostess, Cornerstone Restaurant
May 2023 – Present. 100-seat contemporary American, Seattle
- Managed host stand and seating for 120+ covers nightly across lunch and dinner service.
- Maintained 99% reservation accuracy and managed walk-in wait list of up to 35 guests during peak hours.
- Achieved 4.8 average rating on OpenTable and Yelp for guest service comments.
- Trained 3 new hostesses on phone reservations, seating flow, and handling difficult guests diplomatically.
Hostess, Harvest Collective
Jul 2021 – Apr 2023. Casual upscale farm-to-table, Seattle area
- Greeted and seated 80-100 covers nightly; communicated wait times accurately to walk-ins and managed seating flow.
- Answered high-volume phone calls for reservations and takeout orders; converted 28% of inquiries to bookings.
- Coordinated with servers on table turnover and special requests; achieved average table turnaround of 75 minutes.
- Assisted with event setup for 6-8 private dining parties monthly, managing guest flow and communication.
Education
Roosevelt High School
High School Diploma, General Education. Sep 2017 – May 2021
Skills
Guest Relations, Reservation Management, POS Systems, Phone Etiquette, Seating Management, Conflict Resolution, Wait List Management, Data Entry, Microsoft Excel, Communication, Multi-tasking
Languages
English
Why this look works
Hostesses are first impressions. Welcoming, organized layouts reflect the warm professionalism guests expect. Clean typography and approachable design signal competence and hospitality.
Resume tips for this job
- Lead with your cover volume and accuracy. '120+ covers nightly with 99% reservation accuracy' tells managers you can handle their busiest nights.
- Show your ratings. A 4.8 review rating on OpenTable or Google proves you're delivering on the first impression that matters most.
- Quantify your wait management. '35-person wait list managed efficiently' or '75-minute table turnaround' shows you understand restaurant flow and can read the room.
- Include your conversion ability. If you've converted walk-ins or phone inquiries to reservations, include the percentage. Revenue matters.
Common questions
Is hostess work a stepping stone to server?
Yes. Many restaurants promote high-performing hostesses to server roles. Use your resume to show you understand table flow, can read guests, and handle pressure. These skills make great servers.
Should I mention specific POS systems I know?
Yes. OpenTable, Toast, or the system your target restaurant uses. Mention it in the skills section or note familiarity in a bullets. Training on systems is quick, but knowing common ones ahead of time is a plus.
How do I show growth if I've only been a hostess?
Show your expanding scope: number of covers managed, complexity of situations handled, staff trained, or contributions to positive reviews. Highlight any special events you coordinated or systems improvements you suggested.
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The person, employers and numbers in this example are fictional, written to show what a strong resume for this job looks like.