Reviewed By Samuel JohnsSenior Content Editor & Certified Professional Resume Writer
The Resume Genius Team
The Resume Genius Team is a tight-knit crew of career coaches, hiring managers, and staff writers who are passionate about providing the best, most up-to-date career advice possible and helping...
[Hiring Manager’s Name] [341 Company Address] Company City, State XXXXX] (xxx)xxx-xxxx [hiring.manager@gmail.com]
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I’m writing to you today to apply for the hostess position at [Company Name] I saw listed on [Website Name]. With a B.A. in Hospitality Management and over three years of experience providing excellent customer service in the restaurant industry, I’m confident that I’d be a great addition to your team.
While working as a hostess at Cafe Challeur in Lafayette, Louisiana, I gained my footing in the industry, including learning how to handle numerous reservation bookings and efficiently seat customers in a 100+ seat restaurant. I also developed an in-depth knowledge of wine and French cooking techniques – both of which I’m highly passionate about to this day.
Subsequently, I built on these skills while working as a hostess at Pippen’s on the Water in Annapolis, Maryland. I greeted an average of over 700 customers per day during my time there, and honed my sales skills by presenting daily drink options and dinner specials to tables.
Working at two highly successful restaurants in major tourist cities provided the opportunity to sharpen my expert customer service and organizational skills. At both jobs, I demonstrated the ability to successfully juggle numerous tasks at the same time, as well as attract customers and keep them coming back. I’m confident that these skills would be put to good use at [Company Name], and give me a chance to further improve my hostess abilities.
I’m optimistic that my previous experience will allow me to hit the ground running and become a valuable asset to your team. I have attached my resume with further details about my skill set, accomplishments, and experience. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Average hostess salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.
Top 10 states by average hostess salary
State
Salary / Year
Hawaii
$44,190
District of Columbia
$41,360
New York
$41,060
Washington
$40,100
California
$39,390
Arizona
$38,210
Maine
$37,760
Alaska
$36,280
Massachusetts
$36,230
Vermont
$36,160
National Average
$32,030
Hostess cover letter tips
A hostess maintains front-of-house operations by welcoming guests, taking reservations, and seating patrons. Someone who enjoys meeting new people and can get straight to work is what every establishment looks for in a hostess.
Show employers you can ensure exceptional customer experiences by showcasing your skills and experience in a stellar cover letter.
Here are three tips for writing a hostess cover letter that’s sure to make a great impression:
Highlight hostess skills
Your main priority as a hostess is ensuring all visitors are taken care of, so focus on your soft skills in your cover letter.
Emphasize hard and soft skills that show employers you’re a well-rounded candidate who can provide outstanding service in a fast-paced environment. For example, customer service skills and interpersonal skills are vital soft skills for a hostess.
People-oriented skills are transferable between jobs. So if you don’t have any hostessing experience, talk about how you’ve acquired these skills from school, volunteer work, or a job in a different field.
Here’s a list of skills to highlight in your hostess cover letter:
Working as a hostess requires no formal training, so it’s a common entry-level position for anyone who loves working with people.
To ensure your job application gets noticed among hundreds of applicants, present your qualifications in a professional cover letter. Using the correct cover letter format shows employers you’re serious about the job and enhances readability.
Here’s a list of guidelines for formatting your hostess cover letter:
Section your cover letter into 3–4 paragraphs with an introduction, 2–3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion
Avoid wordiness. The best cover letters are between 250 and 400 words. Pairing your hostess cover letter with a one-page resume is most effective.
Emphasize your customer service skills
A great hostess ensures each customer has a phenomenal experience. From communicating wait times to resolving issues with dining arrangements, customer service skills are a must for hostessing jobs.
Emphasizing these skills in your cover letter shows employers you can maintain a friendly and professional demeanor and successfully handle stressful situations in their establishment.
For example, talk about your experience providing excellent customer service to patrons while handling numerous reservations and seating customers in a 100+ seat restaurant.
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