Food Service Manager Cover Letter Example and Template

Foodservice managers handle the daily operations of establishments that prepare and serve food, such as restaurants, hotels and schools. Working as a food service manager can be a great career option for people with organization and supervisory skills who like to focus on the big picture. In this article, we explain how to write a food service manager cover letter and provide a sample letter to help guide you while crafting your own. You may find it helpful to review a variety of job descriptions, and you can also review resume samples for inspiration on creating a resume that matches your cover letter. Once you have your application materials ready, upload a resume file or build an Indeed resume to start applying for food service manager jobs. Brittany Allen
551-555-0101
brittany.allen@email.com
Bloomington, Ind. May 1, 2023 Dear Hiring Manager, I am writing to apply for the position of Food Service Manager at Shadeway Hotel and Suites. I have 10 years of experience in food and hospitality, including five years in management positions, and I believe my knowledge and experience make me a perfect fit for an establishment like Shadeway, which has extensive food service needs. I started my work in food and hospitality as a line cook at a casual dining restaurant. I later became the back-of-house manager, and I remained in that position for three years. For the past four years, I have worked as the Food Service Manager at Birdflight Inn. My kitchen staff includes 11 employees, three of them hired and trained by me, and we serve around 300 people a day. I have also formed excellent professional relationships with many local vendors. I have greatly enjoyed my time at Birdflight Inn, but I'm excited for a new challenge. I know Shadeway is a popular destination for conferences and other events, which is a challenge I'm entirely prepared to handle. Although Birdflight is a smaller establishment than Shadeway, it also hosts many events. I have managed the food for large events almost monthly since I started in this role, including events of up to 1,000 people. These events have always been extremely successful and we regularly receive compliments on the food, drinks and snacks. I would love to bring my food and event management skills to Shadeway Hotel and Suites. Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions about my qualifications or application, please don't hesitate to contact me via phone or email. I am also available to schedule an in-person meeting to discuss the position. I believe I would make a great addition to the Shadeway Hotel and Suites team, and I hope you agree. Sincerely, Brittany Allen To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

How to write a food service manager cover letter

Here are six steps to writing a cover letter for a food service manager position:

1. Choose the right format

The right formatting choices can make a cover letter more appealing to look at and easier to read. It's a good idea to use a simple format to ensure you put emphasis on the content. You can use standard professional fonts like Times New Roman or Garamond in a 10, 11 or 12-point font size and give your document 1-inch margins. You can also make the formatting process easier by searching online or in your word processing software for cover letter templates. Related: What Does a Food Service Manager Do? (With 5 Steps To Become One)

2. Introduce yourself

In the first paragraph of your cover letter, introduce yourself to the hiring manager. You can include your name and state the position for which you're applying. The introduction paragraph is a good place to summarize your qualifications, such as writing that you have eight years of experience in hospitality or food service. You can also explain your interest in the position. Related: Food Service Manager Resume: A How-To Guide With Example

3. Review your qualifications

In the second paragraph of your cover letter, provide details about your qualifications. Although your work experience and education are likely listed on your resume, your cover letter gives you an opportunity to expand on them and explain why they make you a good fit for the job. When detailing work experience, include information like job titles, length of employment and responsibilities you had. It's also a good idea to quantify your experience where possible, like the number of employees you've supervised or the number of guests your kitchens typically served in a day. Related: Top 12 Careers in Food

4. Describe your relevant skills

When talking about your abilities in your cover letter, it's a good idea to highlight the skills mentioned in the job description. This shows the hiring manager the specific ways you're qualified for the position. Use examples to explain how your skills benefited previous employers and how they could benefit a new employer. Here are examples of foodservice manager skills you might include in your cover letter:

Administrative skills
Staff supervision
Organization
Problem-solving
Leadership
Staff training
Customer relations
Interpersonal
Communication
Teamwork

Related: What Are Food Service Skills?

5. Include your accomplishments

You can also include information about your professional accomplishments in your cover letter, such as awards, commendations and successful projects. These show the hiring manager your potential. When possible, include specific details about the accomplishments. It's also a good idea to connect them to the position, which can help the hiring manager understand the value you can bring to their company. Related: 13 Culinary Jobs That Pay Well

6. Thank them for their time

End your cover letter by thanking the reader for their consideration of your application. This shows respect for their time, which hiring managers often appreciate. After thanking them, include a call to action that encourages them to contact you for further discussion of your qualifications. You can specify a preference for contact by phone, email or both, or tell them you're available to arrange an in-person meeting.

Tips for writing an effective cover letter

Here are some tips that can help you write your cover letter:

Review cover letter samples

Before writing your cover letter, you may find it helpful to review a variety of samples. This can help you understand aspects of cover letters like formatting, wording and content. They can also be a source of inspiration while crafting your own cover letter. You can find many samples online for both general letters and letters for specific job positions. Related: How To Use Cover Letter Samples

Explain your interest

In your cover letter, explain why you're interested in the position and the company. Try to do this with specific details about the company, such as mentioning the kind of customers they attract or events they host. This can show a hiring manager you've done your research and considered your application carefully. Many hiring managers prefer an applicant who has a specific reason for applying for their position, as it likely means that the applicant is more eager to work with the company. Related: How To Write a Cover Letter (Plus Tips and Examples)

Use job description keywords

A useful way to add specificity to your cover letter and show your research is to use keywords from the job description. If the description emphasizes certain skills, like customer relations or administrative skills, then you can highlight those in your cover letter. Try to use exact phrases from the description. This tells the hiring manager you read the job description carefully, understand what the position entails, and have the necessary skills and qualifications. Related: 7 Key Elements of a Successful Cover Letter

Be concise and keep it to one page

Hiring managers may read numerous cover letters during a job search, so it's a good idea to write a letter that's easy to read and stands out. You can accomplish both by writing your letter concisely and keeping it on about one page. Focus on the most important details, particularly those that relate to the job description. A concise cover letter may also have stronger, clearer writing since you're likely to avoid excess words while trying to keep a letter short. Related: How To Format a Cover Letter (With an Outline and Examples)

Proofread and edit

A cover letter free of typos or awkward wording can appear more professional and show attention to detail, so it's important to proofread your letter before submitting it with your application. Consider printing your letter to read the hard copy instead of reading it on a screen, which may make it easier to notice mistakes. You can make notes or correct errors with a pen, then make the changes on the digital copy. It's also a good idea to ask a friend or colleague to read the letter to get an outside perspective. Related: 27 Proofreading Tips That Will Improve Your Resume