RESUME MISTAKES
Turn Your Sommelier Resume Into a Wine-Expert Magnet
Avoid common pitfalls and showcase your palate, service, and certifications with a polished resume.
How This Page Helps
Help sommeliers identify and correct resume mistakes that keep hiring managers from noticing their expertise.
Spot vague wine knowledge statements
Eliminate irrelevant hospitality duties
Showcase certifications and awards correctly
Optimize for ATS used by upscale restaurants and hotels
Present a clean, professional layout
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Generic Objective StatementHIGH
Why it hurts
- Fails to convey specialized wine expertise
- Looks like a copy‑paste template
- Reduces impact in the first seconds
How to fix
- Replace with a concise summary highlighting palate, regions, and certifications
- Quantify achievements (e.g., increased wine sales by 15%)
- Tailor to the target establishment’s style
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a position in hospitality where I can use my skills.
✓ After
Summary: Certified Sommelier with 5 years experience curating award‑winning wine lists for luxury hotels, driving a 12 % increase in wine revenue.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like “Sommelier”, “Wine List Development”, “Wine Sales”.
Detection Rules
Contains the word ‘Objective’
Less than 30 characters
No wine‑related terms
Resumly Tip
Swap the objective for a results‑focused summary that speaks directly to wine service.
Listing Every Restaurant Job IrrelevantMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Dilutes focus on wine expertise
- Clutters the experience section
- ATS may rank lower due to lack of keywords
How to fix
- Keep only roles with wine responsibilities
- Combine similar positions under a single heading
- Highlight wine‑related duties and achievements
❌ Before
Server, The Diner – 2018‑2020: Took orders, cleaned tables.
✓ After
Sommelier, The Diner – 2018‑2020: Developed seasonal wine list, trained staff on pairings, increased wine sales 10 %.
ATS Tip
Use the title “Sommelier” or “Wine Steward” to match ATS keywords.
Detection Rules
Job titles unrelated to wine
Bullet points lacking wine terms
Resumly Tip
Trim non‑wine roles and focus on wine‑centric achievements.
Missing Certifications and AwardsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers look for recognized credentials
- ATS may filter out candidates without key certifications
How to fix
- Create a dedicated Certifications section
- List certifications with issuing body and year
- Add notable awards (e.g., Best Wine List 2022)
❌ Before
Skills: Customer service, sales.
✓ After
Certifications: Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers, 2021); Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 (2020). Awards: Best Wine List – Hotel Luxe, 2022.
ATS Tip
Include exact certification names as keywords.
Detection Rules
No Certifications heading
No mention of CM, WSET
Resumly Tip
Add a Certifications section; use full official titles.
Unstandardized Date and Location FormattingLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to parse employment dates
- Hiring managers struggle to scan timeline
How to fix
- Use MM/YYYY format
- Place city, state after each role
- Align dates to the right
❌ Before
Sommelier – 2020 to present – Paris
✓ After
Sommelier, Le Château, Paris, FR 06/2020 – Present
ATS Tip
Consistent MM/YYYY dates improve parsing.
Detection Rules
Dates written as words
Location missing country code
Resumly Tip
Standardize dates to MM/YYYY and list city, state, country.
Overly Fancy Fonts & GraphicsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS cannot read decorative elements
- PDF may render incorrectly on some systems
How to fix
- Stick to Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, 10‑12 pt
- Use simple bullet points
- Reserve graphics for a portfolio link
❌ Before
Resume uses script font and wine‑glass icons.
✓ After
Resume uses Calibri 11 pt, clean headings, and a link to an online portfolio.
ATS Tip
Plain text ensures ATS readability.
Detection Rules
Use of non‑standard fonts
Embedded images
Resumly Tip
Keep design minimal; add a portfolio URL instead.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Certifications, Experience, Education, Skills, Awards & Publications
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Sommelier_Resume
Consistency
Length: One page for early‑career, up to two pages for senior sommeliers
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State/Province, Country (ISO code)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional summary with wine keywords
- List only wine‑related roles
- Include certifications (CM, WSET) with dates
- Format dates as MM/YYYY
- Save as PDF with standard fonts
- Add a link to your tasting portfolio
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, JazzHR
Keyword Strategy: Sommelier, Wine List Development, Wine Pairing, Inventory Management, CM, WSET, Wine Sales, Tasting Notes
Heading Format: Use standard headings like “Professional Summary”, “Experience”, “Certifications”.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste the bullet you want to improve (e.g., a job description line)
- Replace generic verbs with action‑oriented wine terms
- Add measurable results
- Insert relevant certification or award
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