Organization for Your Hospitality Career and For Your Life

The ability to organize is a crucial skill for making your “to do” lists more manageable and days more productive, whether your role is guest-facing, behind a desk or on the line in the kitchen. 

Highlighting specific organizational skills on your resume is helpful in communicating your abilities and approach before you have the opportunity to showcase them. It can show that you have focus and the ability to complete a variety of tasks successfully within a required time frame. 

Because organization skills are broad and can be applied in so many ways. I find it helpful to categorize them into three “T’s” (Time, Thoughts & Things) when looking at how to improve in certain areas and also when giving examples to others to demonstrate that you can apply organizational skills to aspects of work and life. 

Remember that showing that you are organized is just as important as saying that you are. Here are some examples of details to list on your resume and some tips to put them into practice.

TIME

On Resume - organization, multitasking, creating and keeping deadlines, coordinating events, making schedules, delegation, project management, creating and keeping deadlines, problem solving, 

In Practice - Try not to be late. Arrive at your destination 15 minutes ahead of time. Plan your schedule and show your interviewer, manager or team that you are punctual. If you know you’re going to arrive late or cancel, give as much advance notice as possible. At no point is “No Call, No Show” acceptable. 

THOUGHTS

On Resume - Communication, listening skills, documentation/note taking, conflict resolution, assessment and evaluation, detail oriented, menu planning, research and development, reporting and analysis

In Practice - Focus and concentration are important. Setting aside time to organize your thoughts can be helpful for problem solving and conflict resolution. If you have creative ideas, jot them down in a notebook and go back to it when you have time, this will also help you focus on what’s in front of you. 

THINGS

On Resume - Inventory management, record keeping, filing, resource management, equipment upkeep, 

In Practice - Declutter your space and keep your workspace orderly, neat and functional. In the kitchen having your Mise en place is critical for efficiency and workflow. At home, try to separate your work area from your personal space. 

Regardless of your current role in the industry, organizational skills can be paramount to your continued success as a team member, leader and owner. 

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