A great restaurant manager cover letter can greatly increase your odds of landing the interview. The key is highlighting your passion for the hospitality industry and demonstrating your track record of managing and developing successful restaurants. Emphasize who you are as a leader and how you’ve improved daily operations and enhanced the guest experience. Our guide features examples and expert advice to translate the nuances of your background within the restaurant industry into a stand-out cover letter.
Restaurant Manager Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Entry-Level
- Mid-Career
- Senior-Level
How To Write a Restaurant Manager Cover Letter
To write a great restaurant manager cover letter that stands out in today’s competitive job market, clearly communicate how your experience can positively impact potential employers. The best way to accomplish this is by illustrating how you’ve consistently improved sales, guest satisfaction scores, and restaurant operations throughout your career. Below, we’ll walk you through each section of your restaurant manager cover letter:
1. Contact information and salutation
In the header of your restaurant manager cover letter, include your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn URL. Be sure to address the hiring manager by name — Mr. or Ms. [Last Name]. If you can’t find the hiring manager’s name, use a variation of “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid salutations such as “To Whom It May Concern,” as these types of greetings are less direct and personal.
2. Introduction
Open your restaurant manager cover letter with a strong introduction to draw the reader in and entice them to read further. Emphasize your years of experience within the hospitality industry and anchor your paragraph with one of your most eye-catching professional achievements. This immediately shows the hiring manager you have a proven track record of success in restaurant management.
For example, notice how this restaurant manager leverages the introduction to set the tone for their cover letter. The candidate immediately draws attention to their background in fine dining, but they also back it up with a truly unique accomplishment. By exploring deeper insights into your restaurant experience, you’ll greatly increase your odds of landing the interview.
Example
I’m reaching out regarding the restaurant manager position with Anastasia Italiano. As you can see from my resume, I have over seven years of experience managing operations for high-end Italian restaurants. In my previous role, I overhauled the menu to expand the craft beer selection by collaborating with local breweries, which increased annual revenue by over 20%. I can generate similar success for your establishment as the new manager.
3. Body paragraphs
Describe your achievements and experience in the body paragraphs of your restaurant manager cover letter. Mention something about the establishment’s reputation or cuisine and why you’re enthusiastic about the opportunity. Focus on highlighting achievements that demonstrate your leadership capabilities and operations management expertise, as managing a restaurant often requires a unique blend of these skill sets.
For instance, look closely at the body paragraphs below. The restaurant manager starts by showing their familiarity with the upscale establishment they’re applying to. They immediately follow this up by showing how they’ve led large teams and successfully improved the bottom line for another seafood restaurant. This helps to establish a connection in the reader’s mind for why this applicant is uniquely positioned to succeed in the role.
Example
Boston Oyster Tavern is regarded as one of the finest seafood restaurants in the city, with a reputation for its exceptional atmosphere and service. I can help your establishment continue to grow its brand recognition based on my previous achievements:
- Oversaw all aspects of operations for an upscale seafood restaurant, managed $2 million in P&L, and led a team of 45 servers, hostesses, and culinary staff
- Implemented new forecasting protocols to reduce waste, which saved $35,000 annually
- Conducted negotiations with vendors to secure optimal pricing for food products and ingredients, which reduced costs by 15%
4. Restaurant manager skills and qualifications
Although it’s impractical to provide a long list of skills on your restaurant manager cover letter, be sure to emphasize specific keywords that align with the job description. Paint a picture of how you effectively applied your management skills and knowledge of the hospitality space to drive positive business results. Below, you’ll find a list of potential skills to consider featuring on your restaurant manager cover letter:
| Key Skills and Qualifications | |
|---|---|
| Business development | Communication |
| Conflict resolution | Cross-functional collaboration |
| Culinary arts | Customer service |
| Employee retention | Food safety |
| Guest relations | Inventory management |
| Marketing strategy | Menu design and development |
| Operations management | Process improvement |
| P&L management | Restaurant management |
| Restaurant operations | Sales strategy |
| Team management | Workforce planning |
5. Closing section
The conclusion of your restaurant manager cover letter should include a call to action (CTA) that encourages the hiring manager to bring you in for an interview. Showcase how your experience within the hospitality industry can benefit your target restaurant. Be sure to thank the hiring manager for their time in the last sentence of the paragraph.
Example
I look forward to telling you more about how my management experience and knowledge of Italian cuisine could help your establishment continue to grow. Feel free to contact me via phone or email at your convenience. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Anthony Gentile
Restaurant Manager Cover Letter Tips
1. Emphasize your passion for the restaurant industry
Restaurants are generally considered to be one of the most challenging types of businesses to manage and build. To succeed as a restaurant manager, you must be passionate about the industry. Potential employers want to see this reflected in your cover letter. In the example below, the candidate demonstrates their appreciation for both Italian cuisine and culture, which gives their application a unique personal touch:
Anastasia Italiano’s reputation for its authentic cuisine draws me to apply for the position. Throughout my career, I’ve constantly strived to create a fine dining atmosphere that truly emanates Italian culture and aesthetics. My unique experience within the restaurant industry makes me an ideal fit for this role. Some of my previous successes include:
2. Quantify your accomplishments as a restaurant manager
To make a lasting impression on the hiring manager, it’s important to feature hard numbers and financial figures to substantiate your professional achievements. Focus on demonstrating how you reduced waste, improved revenue, or enhanced guest satisfaction ratings. In the example below, the applicant highlights how they positively impacted their previous establishment in a variety of different ways:
- Managed day-to-day operations for a high-end brewery and led initiatives to improve marketing outreach on social media and within the local community, which increased annual revenue from $2 million to $2.8 million over three years
- Hired, built, and developed a team of 30 employees and identified opportunities to improve collaboration between the front of the house and culinary staff, resulting in a 4.8-star Google rating
- Oversaw vendor relationships, maintained food inventory, conducted pricing negotiations, and successfully reduced purchasing costs by 10%
3. Display your people management experience
Being an effective leader and communicator is essential for success as a restaurant manager. As you build your cover letter, feature examples of you developing teams, managing daily operations, and creating strong work cultures. Below, the candidate showcases how they successfully improved collaboration between the front and back of the house staff, incredibly important for any dining establishment:
- Managed daily operations for a high-end Italian restaurant, coordinated menu development and vendor relationships, and oversaw an operating budget of over $3 million
- Led a team of 40 servers, hostesses, and sous-chefs and drove efforts to improve communication between the front and back of the house during high-volume periods
- Identified opportunities to expand the draft selection, developed partnerships with local breweries, and successfully increased alcohol sales by $150,000
Restaurant Manager Text-Only Cover Letter Templates and Examples
- Example #1
- Example #2
- Example #3
Meera Patel
Restaurant Manager | [email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Boston, MA 12345 | LinkedIn
January 1, 2024
Cynthia Roberts
Hiring Manager
Boston Oyster Tavern
(987) 654-3210
[email protected]
Dear Ms. Roberts:
As the restaurant manager of Centennial Seafood, I managed all aspects of daily operations for a premiere fine-dining establishment with over 45 staff. I also identified opportunities to reduce food costs and waste through enhanced forecasting, which saved over $35,000 per year. I can generate similar results for your restaurant in the manager role.
Boston Oyster Tavern is regarded as one of the finest seafood restaurants in the city, with a reputation for its exceptional atmosphere and service. I can help your establishment continue to grow its brand recognition based on my previous achievements:
- Oversaw all aspects of operations for an upscale seafood restaurant, managed $2 million in profit and loss (P&L), and led a team of 45 servers, hostesses, and culinary staff
- Implemented new forecasting protocols to reduce waste, which saved $35,000 annually
- Conducted negotiations with vendors to secure optimal pricing for food products and ingredients, which reduced costs by 15%
I would like to schedule an interview to provide more insights into how my management experience in fine dining would be an asset to your establishment. You may contact me via phone or email at your convenience. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Meera Patel
Restaurant Manager Cover Letter FAQs
Why should I submit a restaurant manager cover letter?-
While many jobs within the restaurant industry are obtained through industry connections and networking, having a strong cover letter can still be useful during the hiring process. Taking the time to write a customized cover letter speaks to your professional and genuine passion for the industry. It also adds a personal touch to your application that can set you apart from other candidates.
How long should my cover letter be?-
Restaurant owners are notoriously busy, and in most situations, it's best to keep your cover letter short and to the point. Center your document around the most compelling aspects of your industry experience, and avoid cluttering your cover letter with uninspiring job descriptions and duties.
How do I make my cover letter stand out?-
To maximize the impact and value of your cover letter, it’s important to convey your unique story within the restaurant industry. Emphasize why you’re passionate about hospitality and how you’ve grown as a leader throughout your career. This helps to show potential employers you have the qualifications to succeed, and you’re the ideal culture fit for their establishment.
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