Catering Coordinator Resume Examples & Guide

Landing a Catering Coordinator position can be challenging. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filter candidates, and you’re facing fierce competition. This guide provides Catering Coordinator resume examples tailored for every experience level, from students to seasoned professionals, ensuring you stand out.

• Quantify Achievements: Use numbers to showcase your impact on past catering events.
• Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasize skills like event planning software proficiency, menu costing, and vendor negotiation.
• Tailor to Job Description: Customize your resume for each application, mirroring the keywords and requirements listed.
• Optimize for ATS: Use a clean, ATS-friendly format and incorporate relevant keywords throughout your resume.
• Use Action Verbs: Start each bullet point with strong action verbs to demonstrate your accomplishments.
• Showcase Problem-Solving: Highlight instances where you overcame challenges and improved catering operations.
• Emphasize Customer Service: Demonstrate your ability to provide exceptional service and build client relationships.

Let’s explore some Catering Coordinator resume examples to help you craft a winning resume.

Entry-Level Catering Coordinator Resume (0-2 Years Experience)

This resume example is designed for candidates with limited or no direct catering experience. It focuses on transferable skills, academic achievements, and relevant coursework to demonstrate potential.

Candidate Snapshot:

Name: Emily Carter

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management

Top 3 Soft Skills: Communication, Organization, Problem-Solving

Why this works:

• Academic Focus: For a Catering Coordinator, relevant coursework like Hospitality Management proves theoretical knowledge despite a lack of practical experience.
• Transferable Soft Skills: Patience is vital for a Catering Coordinator, allowing them to handle demanding clients and unexpected changes with grace and professionalism.
• Keyword Integration: The resume includes specific entry-level keywords for Catering Coordinator to pass ATS scans, such as ‘event planning,’ ‘customer service,’ and ‘menu development.’

Mid-Level Catering Coordinator Resume (3-7 Years Experience)

This resume example is for candidates with several years of experience as a Catering Coordinator. It highlights key achievements, industry-specific metrics, and technical skills to demonstrate expertise and value.

Candidate Snapshot:

Name: Michael Davis

Key Achievement: Increased catering sales by 15% in one year.

Core Hard Skills: Menu Planning, Vendor Negotiation, Budget Management

Why this works:

• Industry-Specific Metrics: Tracking and improving ‘Food Cost %’ is a gold standard for Catering Coordinators, directly impacting profitability and operational efficiency.
• Tool Proficiency: Listing specific software like catering management systems proves the candidate is ‘plug-and-play’ ready for a Catering Coordinator role, requiring minimal training.
• Problem-Solution Format: The bullet points demonstrate the ability to solve common Catering Coordinator problems, like ‘managing last-minute dietary requests’ or ‘coordinating complex event logistics.’

Senior Catering Coordinator Resume (8+ Years / Management)

This resume is tailored for experienced Catering Coordinators seeking management or leadership roles. It emphasizes strategic leadership, scale of responsibility, and advanced certifications.

Candidate Snapshot:

Name: Sarah Johnson

Teams Managed: 5-10 Catering Staff

Budget Size: $500,000+ Annual Catering Budget

Certifications: Certified Food Manager, Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)

Why this works:

• Strategic Leadership: The summary shifts focus from ‘doing tasks’ to ‘leading strategy’, highlighting the candidate’s ability to develop and implement catering initiatives.
• Scale & Scope: Explicitly stating ‘Budget Size’ and ‘Team Count’ proves the candidate can handle the high-stakes environment of senior Catering Coordinator roles.
• Elite Certifications: Listing advanced credentials like ‘Certified Food Manager’ acts as a trust signal for executive-level Catering Coordinator hiring managers.

How to Write a Catering Coordinator Resume

The Resume Summary

The resume summary (or objective for entry-level candidates) is your chance to make a strong first impression. Tailor it to the specific job and highlight your most relevant skills and experience.

Formula: [Years of Experience] + [Job Title] + [Key Skills] + [Key Achievement or Goal]

Entry-Level Example:

Enthusiastic and detail-oriented recent graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management seeking an entry-level Catering Coordinator position. Proven ability to manage events, provide excellent customer service, and work effectively in a team environment. Eager to contribute to a successful catering operation and grow my skills in the industry.

Mid-Level Example:

Highly motivated and results-oriented Catering Coordinator with 5+ years of experience in the hospitality industry. Proven ability to manage catering events from start to finish, exceeding client expectations and driving revenue growth. Expertise in menu planning, vendor negotiation, and budget management. Seeking a challenging and rewarding opportunity to contribute to a successful catering operation.

Senior-Level Example:

Strategic and results-driven Senior Catering Coordinator with 10+ years of experience in the hospitality industry. Proven ability to lead and manage catering teams, develop and implement innovative catering strategies, and exceed client expectations. Expertise in menu planning, vendor negotiation, budget management, and event execution. Seeking a challenging leadership role where I can leverage my skills and experience to drive revenue growth and enhance customer satisfaction.

Work Experience & Action Verbs

Focus on achievements rather than just listing duties. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible to demonstrate your impact.

Here are some examples of how to transform duties into achievements:

• Before: Responsible for managing catering events.
  After: Managed over 50 catering events annually, consistently exceeding client expectations and generating repeat business.
• Before: Assisted with menu planning.
  After: Collaborated with the chef to develop innovative menu options that increased catering sales by 15%.
• Before: Negotiated with vendors.
  After: Negotiated contracts with vendors to secure favorable pricing and reduce food costs by 10%.
• Before: Provided customer service.
  After: Provided exceptional customer service to clients, building strong relationships and achieving a 95% client satisfaction rate.
• Before: Managed catering budgets.
  After: Managed catering budgets effectively, ensuring events were delivered on time and within budget, resulting in a 5% cost savings.

Top Skills for Catering Coordinators

Here are some of the top skills that Catering Coordinators should highlight on their resumes:

• Hard Skills:
  • Menu Planning
  • Vendor Negotiation
  • Budget Management
  • Event Management
  • Customer Service
  • Communication (Written & Verbal)
  • Catering Management Software
• Soft Skills:
  • Organization
  • Time Management
  • Problem-Solving
  • Attention to Detail
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Interpersonal Skills
• Tools/Software:
  • Catering Management Software (e.g., Caterease, Total Party Planner)
  • Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • CRM Software (e.g., Salesforce)

Education & Certifications

List your education in reverse chronological order. If you have limited experience, highlight relevant coursework or academic achievements. For experienced candidates, focus on certifications and advanced degrees.

Consider including these certifications:

• Certified Food Manager
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)

10 Common Catering Coordinator Resume Mistakes

1. Generic Objectives: Using a vague, non-specific objective statement wastes valuable resume real estate.
   Impact: ATS systems skip over generic statements, and recruiters want to see immediate value.
   Quick Fix: Replace it with a targeted summary highlighting your key skills and experience relevant to the specific Catering Coordinator role.
2. Listing Duties Instead of Impact: Recruiters know what a Catering Coordinator does; they want to know how well you did it.
   Impact: Passive descriptions fail to showcase your accomplishments and differentiate you from other candidates.
   Quick Fix: Replace passive phrases like ‘Responsible for sales’ with quantified wins like ‘Increased catering revenue by 22% YOY’.
3. Ignoring Keywords: Failing to include relevant keywords from the job description is a critical error, especially with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
   Impact: Your resume might not even be seen by a human if it doesn’t contain the right keywords for a Catering Coordinator.
   Quick Fix: Carefully analyze the job description and incorporate keywords related to catering management, event planning, and customer service.
4. Poor Formatting: A cluttered, unprofessional-looking resume can make a negative impression.
   Impact: Recruiters may dismiss your application if your resume is difficult to read or lacks visual appeal.
   Quick Fix: Use a clean, ATS-friendly format with clear headings, bullet points, and consistent font styles.
5. Grammar and Spelling Errors: Typos and grammatical mistakes can undermine your credibility.
   Impact: Recruiters may question your attention to detail and professionalism if your resume contains errors.
   Quick Fix: Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it, or ask a friend or colleague to review it for you.
6. Leaving out Metrics: Not quantifying achievements with numbers makes it difficult for recruiters to assess your impact.
   Impact: Without metrics, your accomplishments lack credibility and fail to demonstrate your value.
   Quick Fix: Quantify your achievements whenever possible, using numbers to showcase your impact on catering sales, cost savings, and client satisfaction.
7. Irrelevant Information: Including unrelated work experience or skills can clutter your resume and distract from your qualifications.
   Impact: Recruiters may lose interest if your resume contains irrelevant information.
   Quick Fix: Focus on highlighting your most relevant skills and experience for the Catering Coordinator role.
8. Lack of Action Verbs: Using weak or passive verbs can make your accomplishments sound less impressive.
   Impact: Recruiters may not recognize the impact of your contributions if you use weak verbs.
   Quick Fix: Start each bullet point with strong action verbs to demonstrate your accomplishments and highlight your skills.
9. Not Tailoring to the Job Description: Sending a generic resume without customizing it for each job application is a common mistake.
   Impact: Recruiters may not recognize the relevance of your skills and experience if your resume isn’t tailored to the specific job requirements.
   Quick Fix: Customize your resume for each application, highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the specific Catering Coordinator role.
10. Misspelling Core Industry Terminology: Typos in general are bad, but misspelling critical tools or certifications (like ‘SaaS’, ‘HACCP’, or ‘Python’) acts as an immediate red flag regarding your attention to detail.
    Impact: Demonstrates lack of knowledge, and resume is immediately rejected.
    Quick Fix: Double check all industry-specific terms are spelled correctly, and align with your certifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What skills should I include on my Catering Coordinator resume? Key skills include menu planning, vendor negotiation, budget management, event management, customer service, and communication.
2. How should I format my Catering Coordinator resume? Use a clean, ATS-friendly format with clear headings, bullet points, and consistent font styles.
3. Should I include a resume summary or objective? Use a resume summary for experienced candidates and an objective for entry-level candidates.
4. How long should my Catering Coordinator resume be? Aim for one page if you have limited experience and two pages if you have extensive experience.
5. What action verbs should I use on my Catering Coordinator resume? Use strong action verbs such as managed, coordinated, planned, negotiated, and developed.
6. Should I quantify my achievements on my Catering Coordinator resume? Yes, quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact.
7. What certifications should I include on my Catering Coordinator resume? Consider including certifications such as Certified Food Manager and Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
8. How should I tailor my resume to the job description? Carefully analyze the job description and incorporate keywords related to catering management, event planning, and customer service.
9. What should I do if I have limited experience? Focus on highlighting your transferable skills, academic achievements, and relevant coursework.
10. How important is a cover letter for a Catering Coordinator position? A cover letter can be a valuable addition to your resume, allowing you to further highlight your skills and experience and demonstrate your interest in the position.

Crafting a compelling Catering Coordinator resume is crucial for landing your dream job. By following the tips and examples in this guide, you can create a resume that showcases your skills, experience, and achievements, and sets you apart from the competition. Search more Catering Coordinator resources to further refine your job application!