When you apply for a hospitality job, clearly showing your responsibilities helps recruiters understand what you can do. Kenyan employers, such as Serena, Sarova, and PrideInn, look for candidates with strong operational, customer service, and leadership experience.
Highlighting your hospitality responsibilities in your CV or resume ensures you stand out to Kenyan employers. It shows not only what roles you’ve held, but also the value you can bring to a hotel, restaurant, or resort team.
How to Present Responsibilities on Your CV
To make your hospitality CV clear and professional, list your responsibilities using bullet points. This makes it easy for recruiters to scan and understand your experience quickly.
Focus on achievements alongside duties. Whenever possible, include measurable results, such as “Improved guest satisfaction score from 85% to 95%.”
Tailor your responsibilities to the specific role you are applying for, whether it’s a hotel, restaurant, event, or tourism position.
Use strong, active verbs to describe your work, such as: managed, coordinated, supervised, served, improved, trained.
Sample Hospitality Responsibilities for Different Roles
1. Hotel Receptionist
- Welcomed over 100 guests daily, managing check-ins and check-outs with 98% accuracy, which improved guest satisfaction scores by 15%.
- Responded to calls and emails within 5 minutes on average, cutting response time by 40% and improving communication efficiency.
- Managed room assignments for over 60 rooms daily, maintaining near 100% occupancy during peak seasons.
- Coordinated with housekeeping and maintenance teams to ensure 95% on-time room readiness.
- Resolved 90% of guest complaints on first contact, leading to a 20% increase in positive reviews.
- Processed payments exceeding Ksh 1 million monthly with zero billing discrepancies.
2. Waitress / Waiter
- Served an average of 80–100 customers per shift, maintaining high service standards.
- Promoted daily specials and upsold menu items, increasing daily sales by 10–15%.
- Reduced table turnaround time by 20%, helping the restaurant serve more guests during rush hours.
- Ensured 99% order accuracy in collaboration with kitchen staff.
- Handled cash and card transactions exceeding Ksh 50,000 daily with zero errors.
- Received positive feedback from over 200 repeat customers, driving loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.
3. Barista / Café Attendant
- Prepared and served over 150 beverages daily, maintaining consistent quality standards.
- Improved service speed during peak hours by 25% through memorizing popular recipes.
- Increased pastry and snack sales by 30% through effective upselling.
- Maintained a 100% hygiene compliance record during routine inspections.
- Built relationships with 50+ regular customers, boosting repeat business and loyalty.
4. Housekeeping Attendant
- Cleaned and maintained 20–25 guest rooms daily to a 95% quality rating based on guest surveys.
- Reported maintenance issues within 30 minutes, reducing repair delays by 40%.
- Maintained zero safety violations by strictly following health and cleaning procedures.
- Assisted in training 5 new staff members, improving department efficiency by 20%.
- Contributed to a 10% increase in overall hotel cleanliness scores.
5. Chef / Cook
- Prepared meals for 100+ guests daily while maintaining portion and presentation standards.
- Led a kitchen team of 5–7 staff, improving teamwork and reducing order delays by 25%.
- Reduced food waste by 15% through accurate inventory and meal planning.
- Achieved 100% compliance with food safety and hygiene regulations.
- Introduced 3 new dishes that increased menu sales by 12% and received positive guest feedback.
6. Bartender
- Served 200+ drinks per shift, maintaining speed and accuracy during peak hours.
- Upsold premium beverages and cocktails, boosting bar revenue by 20%.
- Maintained full compliance with age and safety verification procedures.
- Balanced till transactions worth Ksh 100,000+ weekly with zero discrepancies.
- Encouraged repeat patronage, contributing to a 15% increase in returning customers.
7. Hotel Supervisor / Manager
- Supervised a team of 25 staff across departments, ensuring smooth daily operations.
- Increased overall customer satisfaction by 18% through improved service delivery.
- Reduced operational costs by 10% through better resource management.
- Improved staff performance scores by 25% through training and mentorship.
- Worked with marketing teams to raise occupancy rates by 20% during low seasons.
8. Front Office Manager
- Led a reception team of 6 staff, cutting guest check-in time by 30%.
- Maintained 100% billing accuracy, minimizing disputes and delays.
- Coordinated with housekeeping and maintenance for real-time service updates, improving response speed by 25%.
- Implemented review monitoring strategies that improved online ratings from 4.2 to 4.7 stars.
- Conducted monthly staff training that increased customer service scores by 15%.
9. Guest Relations Officer
- Handled 50+ guest inquiries daily, including VIP and special requests.
- Improved guest satisfaction by 20% through personalized follow-ups and problem resolution.
- Resolved 95% of complaints within 24 hours, boosting loyalty scores.
- Collected and managed 100+ guest testimonials, enhancing marketing and online presence.
- Supported promotional campaigns that increased return visits by 10%.
10. Reservations Officer
- Processed 60+ bookings per day via phone, email, and online systems.
- Maintained real-time availability updates, reducing overbookings to 0%.
- Secured corporate and group bookings worth over Ksh 500,000 monthly.
- Provided detailed room and rate information that improved booking conversions by 25%.
- Kept precise booking records, improving report generation speed by 30%.
Tip: Include 2–3 measurable achievements or metrics for each role to make your CV stand out, such as “Handled 200+ guest check-ins per month with a 95% satisfaction rate.”
How to Customize Your Hospitality Responsibilities for CVs
Align with the Job Description
Carefully read the role you’re applying for and match your responsibilities to what the employer is looking for. Highlight the tasks that matter most for the position.
Use Brief, Professional Language
Keep bullet points short and action-oriented. Avoid long sentences or unnecessary details.
Show Measurable Outcomes
Whenever possible, include numbers or results to demonstrate your impact. For example: “Reduced guest complaints by 20% over six months” or “Managed daily check-ins for 150+ guests.”
Include Relevant Technical Skills
Mention any software or tools used in your role. Common systems in Kenya include POS systems, Opera, Fidelio, and Micros. This shows recruiters you’re ready to handle operations efficiently.
Tip: Tailoring your responsibilities to each application helps Kenyan employers see exactly why you’re the right fit for the role.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When listing your hospitality responsibilities on a CV, watch out for these common errors:
Listing Only Duties Without Achievements
Simply stating tasks doesn’t show your impact. Include measurable results wherever possible.
Overloading with Irrelevant Tasks
Focus on responsibilities that matter for the role you’re applying to. Avoid cluttering your CV with unrelated details.
Using Vague or Generic Phrases
Phrases like “did various tasks” or “handled daily operations” are unclear. Be specific and action-oriented.
Ignoring Local Hospitality Standards
Kenyan employers value professionalism, customer service, and operational efficiency. Tailor your responsibilities to reflect these expectations.
💡 Tip: Clear, measurable, and relevant responsibilities make your CV stand out to Kenyan hospitality recruiters.
Free Hospitality Responsibilities CV Template (Word + PDF)
Make writing your CV easier with our ready-to-use hospitality responsibilities template. It’s pre-filled with sample duties and achievements for hotel, restaurant, and tourism roles, making it simple to customize for your experience.
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| 📄 Download Word Version 📘 Download PDF Version | |
Conclusion
Accurately listing your responsibilities is key to showing competence and professionalism in the hospitality sector. Tailoring your duties and achievements for each role in Kenya ensures your CV stands out to recruiters.
With a well-structured hospitality responsibilities CV, you can clearly demonstrate your skills and experience to Kenyan employers and increase your chances of landing your ideal role.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What responsibilities should I include in a hospitality CV?
Include duties that reflect your experience in customer service, operations, staff supervision, and technical skills relevant to the role. Tailor them to the specific hospitality position, whether hotel, restaurant, or tourism.
How do I highlight achievements alongside duties?
Use bullet points that combine responsibilities with measurable outcomes, e.g., “Managed front desk operations, improving guest satisfaction scores by 15%.”
Can I use the same responsibilities for hotel and restaurant CVs?
While some skills overlap (customer service, teamwork), it’s best to customize responsibilities to match each role and employer expectations in Kenya.
How long should my responsibilities section be on a Kenyan CV?
Keep it concise — ideally 5–8 bullet points per role, focusing on the most relevant duties and measurable achievements.
More Resources and Templates
To help you explore related resources and strengthen your knowledge on hospitality CVs, check out these linked guides:
- Hospitality Supervisor CV & Resume – Examples and templates for supervisor-level roles in hotels, restaurants, and events.
- Customer Service Hospitality Resume (Kenya) – Tailored resumes for front desk, concierge, and guest service positions.
- Hospitality CV Examples & Templates (Kenya 2025 Edition) – A comprehensive hub of CV templates for all hospitality roles across Kenya.
These links provide additional templates, writing tips, and role-specific guidance to help you craft a standout CV.
