How to write a hospitality CV with no Australian experience

Start with what venues check first

• Your RSA, and your RCG if the venue has gaming. If you do not have them yet, get them before you apply
• Your work rights, in one clear line, including any hours limit that applies to you
• Your availability, with the days and times you can really work
• Your suburb, so the venue knows you can get to work

Use a short summary instead of an objective

Two lines are enough. Say who you are, what you are looking for and when you can start. For example: 'Reliable, friendly front-of-house candidate with customer service experience, available weekends and evenings, RSA completed, looking for a bar or waitstaff role in the Inner West.'

Turn other experience into hospitality skills

Retail, call centres, events, tutoring and volunteering all show skills that hospitality needs. Pick the parts that match the job:

• Serving customers face to face
• Handling cash and card payments
• Working under pressure at busy times
• Working in a team and following instructions
• Opening, closing and stock tasks

Describe overseas jobs in plain terms

Keep the venue type, city and dates, and describe the work in simple words. 'Waiter, 80-seat restaurant, Santiago' is clearer than a title that Australian managers have never seen. Keep each job to two or three short bullets.

What to leave out

• A photo, age, marital status or passport details
• Long lists of skills with no examples
• Duties from jobs that have nothing to do with the role

Do these three things before you apply

• Complete your RSA, and your RCG if you want pub or club work
• Save your CV as a PDF with a clear name, for example Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf
• Ask one past manager or supervisor if they will be a reference