How To Write a Chef Resume
Think of your resume as a new recipe. You have to use different ingredients in just the right amounts to create something enticing that people want to be a part of. If you’re not sure how to write a chef resume that gets you noticed, the suggestions and examples below can help you gain a better understanding of how it all comes together.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
The profile summary section of your resume should be a brief synopsis of your experience as a chef. Include what kind of restaurants you’ve worked in and menus you’ve created, and make sure to list any specialties you have, such as baking or a specific type of cuisine. Those applying for executive chef roles can highlight their management experience, and entry-level applicants can focus on their ability to work as a team with the rest of the kitchen staff.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Executive Chef with experience overseeing multiple upscale, full-service restaurants. Eleven years of progressive responsibility in food preparation, menu development, and management of back-of-the-house operations. People-oriented manager who is passionate about food, quality, and customer service, as well as motivating and mentoring team members.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Diligent, professional, and creative line cook with three years of expertise in baking and pastry techniques. Preparation of menu items as well as innovative special orders and creation of innovative dessert items. Proven ability to work collaboratively with kitchen staff, communicate, multitask, and follow instructions.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
As you create the bullets in your professional experience section, focus on your cooking qualifications and the other skills it takes to run a commercial kitchen successfully. Mentioning how you created new menu items that drove sales or implemented a different way to track inventory that reduced food waste shows a hiring manager that your value goes beyond creating delicious dishes. If you’re applying to a larger establishment and will potentially be in charge of a kitchen team, add a bullet or two about your management experience.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Executive Chef
Lamberti’s Cucina, San Diego, CA | March 2015-Present
- Create menus and standards leading to exemplary dining experiences across four local dining establishments
- Lead and train culinary teams and ensure training material and processes enable delivery of exceptional dining experiences in all locations
- Collaborate with chef partners across the enterprise
- Liaise with supply chain management to identify potential supplier relationships
- Address quality and/or service gaps
- Develop food service equipment plans to meet budgetary goals
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Pastry Line Cook
BlueFin Seafood Shack, Alexandria, VA | August 2017-Present
- Set up and stock food items and other supplies needed to adhere to established recipes and presentation for bakery items, including breads and pastries
- Prepare food items, including mixing, kneading, and baking
- Cook breads, dessert items, and sauces
- Comply with food sanitation requirements and maintain cleanliness of workstation and cooking surfaces through proper handling of food, practicing appropriate food storage, and adhering to personal sanitation and hygiene rules
- Perform inventory checks to ensure that bakery is fully stocked with needed items
3. Include relevant education and certifications
If you’re moving beyond an entry-level position, the hiring manager is likely going to be looking for a candidate who has formal culinary training, so it’s important to include an education section on your resume. If you studied under any well-known chefs, you could include this, even if it wasn’t through a formal degree program. It’s also a good idea to list any certifications you have, including ServSafe, especially if you are applying for a position at a large establishment, such as a hotel.
Certifications
Template:
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
- Certified Sous Chef, American Culinary Federation (ACF), 2016
Education
Template:
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] – [Graduation Month and Year]
Example:
- Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management
- Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI – May 2017
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
While every chef position is slightly different, there are also large overlaps, and including some of the key skills and proficiencies it takes to be a great chef in your resume can help you be identified as a standout candidate more quickly. Below, we’ve created a list of some of the most common key skills a hiring manager may be looking for in a chef. Include as many of these as are relevant to your experience.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Budgeting skills | Catering experience |
| Food safety knowledge | Ingredient sourcing |
| Inventory control | Kitchen management |
| Menu development | Multitasking ability |
| Plating techniques | Recipe creation |
| Sanitation standards | Team leadership |
| Time management | Wine pairing knowledge |
How To Pick the Best Chef Resume Template
Applying for jobs can feel like full-time employment in and of itself, but using a chef resume template can help you streamline the process, making it easier to apply for more jobs more quickly. But it’s important to pick the right template. It’s generally best to stick to clean and simple designs that are easy to read, but because being a chef is a creative job, you can have a little bit more personality. Consider a template with extra small detail, such as fancier dividing lines or one signature color.
Chef Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Sybil Boyd
(486) 428-7381
[email protected]
5 Linda Lane, Vienna, VA 22180
Profile
Diligent, professional, and creative line cook with three years of expertise in baking and pastry techniques. Preparation of menu items as well as innovative special orders and creation of innovative dessert items. Proven ability to work collaboratively with kitchen staff, communicate, multi-task, and follow instructions.
Key Skills
- Excellent food preparation and cooking techniques
- Baking and pastry techniques
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to work cooperatively with other team members
- Creativity
Education
Culinary Arts and Food Services Program
Lincoln Culinary Institute, Columbia, MD – May to December, 2017
Professional Experience
Pastry Line Cook, BlueFin Seafood Shack, Alexandria, VA
August 2017 — Present
- Set up and stock food items and other supplies needed to adhere to established recipes and presentation for bakery items including breads and pastries
- Prepare food items, including mixing, kneading, and baking
- Cook breads, dessert items, and sauces
- Comply with food sanitation requirements and maintain cleanliness of workstation and cooking surfaces through proper handling of food, practicing appropriate food storage, and adhering to personal sanitation and hygiene rules
- Perform inventory checks to ensure that bakery is fully stocked with needed items
Cook, Chick-fil-A, Vienna, VA
March 2017 — June 2017
- Manage operations of a variety of stations, including bread, grill, lemonade and fry cook in keeping with recipes, portioning, and waste control guidelines
- Collaborate with team members
- Food preparation including cutting fruit, making brownies, and cookies
- Labeled and stored raw food ingredients
Mike Kruse
(425) 824-1038
[email protected]
423 Festival Road, Indianapolis, IN 46218
Profile
Professional, reliable, team-oriented chef with seven years of high-volume kitchen and custom menu food preparation experience. Ability to work under pressure and work directly with clients to create and deliver high-quality, nutritious, and attractive selection of meals. Entrepreneurial, innovative, and creative.
Professional Experience
Private Chef, Jameson’s Elite, Indianapolis, IN
February 2016 — Present
- Travel to clients’ homes throughout Indianapolis area
- Prepare meals for clients
- Design creative meal plans
- Shop for groceries and products as needed for meal preparation
- Uphold highest sanitary and cleanliness standards
- Provide clients with instructions for reheating and preparation required for provided meals
Line Cook, Elite Health Services, Indianapolis, IN
February 2013 — January 2016
- Prepare and cook resident-specific meals as directed by staff dietician
- Handled and stored raw materials, cooked food, and non-food supplies
- Ordered, restocked, and maintained inventories for kitchen
- Clean, sanitized, and organized kitchen, as well as tools and other equipment
- Adhered to health department guidelines
Education
Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management
Johnson & Wales University Online – 2017
Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Administration: Culinary Arts Specialty
Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, IN August 2014 — May 2016
Key Skills
- Creative cooking skills that extend to a wide range of meals and dishes
- Meal planning
- Menu design
- Mentoring and training junior chefs
- Supplier negotiation
- Inventory management
- Kitchen staff management
- Budget management
- Communication and collaboration
- Knowledge of safety and sanitation standards
- Excellent organization
- Leadership
Certifications
- CSC – Certified Sous Chef, American Culinary Federation (ACF) | 2016
Caryn Feist
(439) 499-3338
[email protected]
3 Hutchinson Ct., Bell, CA 90202
Profile
Executive Chef with experience overseeing multiple upscale, full-service restaurants. Eleven years of progressive responsibility in food preparation, menu development, and management of back-of-the-house operations. People oriented manager who is passionate about food, quality, and customer service, as well as motivating and mentoring team members.
Professional Experience
Executive Chef, Lamberti’s Cucina, San Diego, CA
March 2015 — Present
- Create menus and standards leading to exemplary dining experiences across four local dining establishments
- Lead and train culinary teams and ensure training material and processes enable delivery of exceptional dining experiences in all locations
- Collaborate with chef partners across the enterprise
- Liaise with supply chain management to identify potential supplier relationships
- Address quality and/or service gaps
- Develop food service equipment plans to meet budgetary goals
Sous Chef, Jenny’s House, N. Hollywood, CA
January 2009 — February 2015
- Supervised food preparation and presentation to ensure quality and restaurant standards
- Worked with executive chef to maintain kitchen organization and staff ability
- Led kitchen staff when chef was unavailable
- Oversaw and organized kitchen stock and ingredients
- Kept cooking stations stocked prior to prime operation hours
- Managed food and product ordering
- Hired and trained new kitchen employees
- Minimized waste and managed budgetary concerns
Education
Master Chef Certificate Program
Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom, Los Angeles, CA 90064 October 2009 — February 2009
Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
Art Institute Of California, N. Hollywood, CA September 2016 — March 2018
Key Skills
- Highly developed culinary expertise
- Seasonal menu development
- Knowledge of a variety of ethnic/regional cuisines
- Development of special event menus
- Standardizing recipes to ensure consistent quality in preparation and presentation
- Strong personal work ethic
- Guest driven focus on quality, service, and overall dining experience
- Administer budget for costs of food, beverage, and labor
- Sound knowledge of FDA and major U.S. metropolitan city health code adherence
- Leadership in full-service restaurant environments
- Ability to anticipate problems and create innovative solutions
- Excellent communication skills and computer proficiency
- Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
Certifications
- CCC Certified Chef de Cuisine, American Culinary Federation (ACF) | 2018
Frequently Asked Questions: Chef Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for chef resumes?+
If it seems like every bullet in the professional experience section of your resume starts with “cooked,” you’re not alone. It can be difficult to come up with a new, engaging verb for every line. But the words you use matter, and using strong action verbs for your job duties bullets can mean the difference between getting a call for an interview or getting a rejection email. If you’re struggling, try using some of these options.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Budgeted | Catered |
| Collaborated | Controlled |
| Culled | Customized |
| Designed | Developed |
| Evaluated | Executed |
| Implemented | Inspired |
| Optimized | Plated |
| Prepared | Presented |
| Resolved | Sourced |
| Streamlined | Trained |
How do you align your resume with a job description?+
Due to the rapid growth of this industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that chef positions will grow by 15% through 2031, which is significantly faster than average. This means that you may have an easier time finding your next position, but that’s not a reason to slack on creating targeted resumes. Every time you send out a resume, take some time to swap out or reorder key skills, change the action verbs in your bullets, or highlight specific qualifications to tailor your resume to the job posting as much as possible.
What is the best chef resume format?+
While the traditional reverse chronological resume format is fine for a chef position, you may consider using a combination or functional resume. These resumes often work well for more creative positions because they let you put more emphasis on your skills, proficiencies, and education. Those with more robust work histories may want to use a combination format because there is often more room for the professional experience section.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
If your resume is the cake, the cover letter is the icing and decorations. A strong cover letter complements your resume and tells a hiring manager exactly what you can offer the company and how you will help them achieve their goals. Get more tips and examples in our guide to writing a cover letter.
