FaleNetwork

Restaurant manager: CV and cover letter examples

2 fully written cover letters, a ready CV with a placeholder portrait and practical tips – open the example and replace the details with yours.

Use this CV templateUse a cover letter

Cover letter examples

Each example is written for a different starting point. Borrow the structure, not the sentences – your own examples and numbers are what make a letter work.

1Head waitress stepping upExperienced

Tessa Bowman
40 Main Street
Keswick CA12 5DX
040 66969 666 · tessa.bowman@example.com

The Lion Inn
Brand
4 Market Place
Keswick CA12 5BG

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Restaurant manager

Dear Mr Brand,

on summer weekends we welcome up to 300 guests on the terrace. I seat them, organise the casual staff and deal with the complaints that are bound to come with so many people. I have been head waitress for three years, and I run the restaurant whenever the owner is away.

What I want to learn now is the commercial side: labour cost, food cost, pricing. I am taking a course in it at the moment, and a traditional inn with a good kitchen is exactly where I want to put it into practice.

Yours sincerely,

Tessa Bowman

Enclosures
CV
References

Use this cover letter
2Fast-food general manager returning to full serviceExperienced

Fraser Wade
12 Rose Street
Bowness LA23 3AS
069 90009 142 · fraser.wade@example.com

Lakeside Restaurant Ltd
Hughes
20 Lake Road
Windermere LA23 2BY

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Restaurant manager

Dear Ms Hughes,

five years running a fast-food restaurant with 45 staff taught me numbers, processes and people management. Now I want to return to full-service hospitality, where I started as a waiter.

I cut labour cost by four percentage points without hurting service and halved staff turnover by publishing rotas two weeks ahead. Your restaurant is seasonal with many casual staff, and planning for that is something I do well.

Yours sincerely,

Fraser Wade

Enclosures
CV
References

Use this cover letter

All people, companies and contact details in the examples are fictional.

CV example

A complete CV for the role – with an illustrated placeholder instead of a photo.

Preview of the CV of Tessa Bowman in the Classic design
Read the CV as text

Tessa Bowman

Head waitress

40 Main Street, Keswick CA12 5DX · 040 66969 666 · tessa.bowman@example.com

Placeholder portrait: replace it with your photo in the editor, or remove it.

Work experience

  • 2023 – present
    Head waitress
    Brewery Inn, Keswick
    • Weekend service for up to 300 guests
    • Casual staff, complaints
    • Wine list
  • 2019 – 2023
    Waitress
    Alpine Hotel, Ambleside

Education

  • 2016 – 2019
    Hospitality apprenticeship
    Alpine Hotel, Ambleside

Skills

Service leadership, Wine, Rotas, Costing

Languages

English (Native), Italian (A2 – elementary)

Interests

Climbing, wine

Use this CV template

Good to know

Your application in three steps

  1. Add your own photo – or none

    The example uses an illustrated placeholder. Replace it under “Choose photo” in the editor, or remove it: in the UK, US and many other countries a CV photo is not expected.

  2. Replace the details

    Name, contact, jobs, skills: everything is filled in and can be overwritten field by field.

  3. Save as PDF

    The PDF is created in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, no account needed.

What employers look for

Restaurant managers lead the front-of-house team, plan rotas, watch labour and food costs, and host guests. Bring team size, sales development, reviews and how you handle staff shortages.

  • Experience in quality service

  • Leading a team

  • Numbers: sales, labour cost, food cost

  • Hospitality

  • Training young staff

Tips for your application

Do

  • Give team size and covers.
  • Add numbers where you have them.
  • Show how you keep staff.

Don’t

  • Talk only about hospitality, no numbers.
  • Criticise your current employer.
  • Negotiate hours before the interview.
Typical interview questions

Prepare a short, honest example from your own work for each one.

  1. How would you cut labour cost without hurting service?
  2. How do you handle a loud complaint?
  3. How do you keep good staff?
  4. Which figures do you check weekly?

Salary expectations

If the advert asks for your salary expectations, give an annual gross figure or a range you have researched – through pay scales, salary surveys from public sources or people who do the job. If it does not ask, leave pay out of the letter; it will come up in the interview.

Frequently asked questions
Do I need a management qualification?

Not necessarily, but a hospitality management course helps with the commercial side and is valued by employers.

Should I put a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. In the UK, Ireland and the US a photo is usually left out to avoid bias, and many employers prefer CVs without one. In Germany and some other countries it is common but optional. If you use one: recent, friendly, plain background, dressed as you would be on a good day at work.

Can I copy the example letters?

Yes, they are free to use. But recruiters read a lot of letters – one with your own examples, numbers and a real reason for choosing this employer will always do better. Use the examples as scaffolding and write the sentences yourself.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. The CV and the letter are created in your browser. Nothing is stored unless you switch on “Save the draft” in the editor – and then only on your device.

Related jobs

Finish your application

Cover letter and CV as PDF, certificates added, all in one file – small enough for any job portal.