How To Write a Culinary Resume
Your culinary resume should highlight your ability to work in a busy kitchen environment and any special skills and accomplishments you’ve amassed in your past job history. That could be anything from helping launch a new menu concept to working as a line cook to preparing desserts or other specialties. In this guide, you’ll find expert advice to create an accomplishment-driven resume highlighting the most compelling aspects of your experience within the construction industry.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
Your professional profile will work best by projecting confidence. Write clear, confident sentences on your most impressive experiences to date so you can attract hiring managers.
Senior-Level Profile Example
Executive Chef with strong experience overseeing upscale, full-service restaurants. Eleven years of advancement preparing food, developing menus, and managing back-of-house operations. People-oriented manager passionate about food, quality, and customer service, as well as motivating and mentoring team members.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Knowledgeable Line Cook with 10 years of work experience in a restaurant kitchen. Skillfully prepare appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts. Draw on strong knowledge of all local food safety regulations. Oversee kitchen staff during daily food prep. Food safety certificate expires in January 2024.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
The professional experience section of your resume is not just a long list of job duties you had at your various jobs. Instead, it’s a snapshot of your achievements and shows you’ve progressed in your skills and abilities over time. In the culinary world, that might mean emphasizing mastery of a particular type of cuisine or taking on supervisory roles in the kitchen. When possible, share evidence of how your work contributed to the bottom line.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Executive Chef, Lamberti’s Cucina, San Diego, CA | March 2015 to Present
- Create menus and set quality standards to provide top-caliber dining experiences across 4 local restaurants
- Lead, train, and motivate diverse culinary teams
- Collaborate with chef partners across the enterprise
- Liaise with supply chain management to identify potential supplier relationships
- Address any quality or service gaps
- Develop food service equipment plans to meet budgetary goals
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Line Cook, Francesca’s Fine Dining, Watkins Glen, NY | January 2019 to Present
- Prepare appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts for 75+ customers nightly
- Oversee pre-open food preparations
- Check deliveries for accuracy, and put away daily food orders
- Ensure strict adherence to all cleanliness and sanitation standards
3. Include any related coursework and certifications
If you studied culinary arts or any related field or earned any relevant certification, such as a food safety license, include those on your culinary resume. Depending on the type of position you’re seeking and the employer, having a degree in culinary arts, for example, can help you get to the next round in your job search.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Associate of Culinary Studies
Corning Community College, Corning, NY | 2012
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Examples:
Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC)
American Culinary Federation (ACF) | 2021
4. List pertinent key skills
Recruiters and hiring managers want to ensure candidates can handle the various job responsibilities. A “Key Skills” section gets through the first resume screening (which may be done with an applicant tracking system (ATS) that looks for keywords. Here are some potential key skills that a strong culinary resume would include:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Creative problem-solving | Food and beverage budget administration |
| Food plating and presentation | Food safety procedures |
| Full-service restaurant leadership | Health code compliance |
| Large-scale event catering | Menu design and development |
| Process improvement | Quality assurance |
| Recipe standardization | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Team leadership and motivation |
5. Include any non-culinary skills that may be relevant
Culinary jobs may involve more than just the ability to cook and prepare food. Some employers might be looking for additional skills, including restaurant management, budgeting, ordering, inventory control, and knowledge of food safety regulations. Other positions might require strong communication skills if they are customer-facing or managerial skills if you have people working under you. Read the job posting carefully and match your skill sets to the role as closely as possible.
How To Pick the Best Culinary Resume Template
Choosing the best template for a culinary resume should be more about the content and formatting than artistic enhancements. Hiring managers won’t care so much about colorful or graphical elements. Instead, focus your efforts on finding a template that is easy to read and provides a good way to package your job history and achievements.
Culinary Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Loren Hopkins
(123) 456-7890 | lo[email protected] | 123 Front Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Profile
Knowledgeable Line Cook with 10 years of work experience in a restaurant kitchen. Skillfully prepare appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts. Draw on strong knowledge of all local food safety regulations. Oversee kitchen staff during daily food prep. Food safety certificate expires in January 2024.
Professional Experience
Line Cook, Francesca’s Fine Dining, Watkins Glen, NY | January 2019 to Present
- Prepare appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts for 75+ customers nightly
- Oversee pre-open food preparations
- Check deliveries for accuracy, and put away daily food orders
- Ensure strict adherence to all cleanliness and sanitation standards
Line Cook, Overlook Banquet Hall, Watkins Glen, NY | July 2013 to December 2018
- Prepared entrees, sides, and desserts for up to 250 meals per event
- Assisted in pre-event food preparations
- Put away daily deliveries, following strict health safety standards
- Completed daily temperature logs of refrigerators and cleaners
- Cleaned kitchen cooking surfaces after preparing all meals
Cook’s Assistant, Waffle Frolic, Corning, NY | June 2010 to June 2012
- Finished waffles with customers’ chosen toppings
- Prepared desserts and beverages
- Replenished food ingredients for serving line
- Maintained high cleanliness and sanitization standards
- Relayed front-of-house requests to kitchen staff
Education & Credential
Associate of Culinary Studies
Corning Community College, Corning, NY | 2012
Graduate
Penn Yan High School, Penn Yan, NY | 2010
Food Safety Certification
Watkins Glen County Health Inspector | January 2021
Key Skills
- Food Plating & Presentation
- Food Safety Procedures
- Large-Scale Event Catering
- Team Collaboration
Sarah Ortiz
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | 123 Your Street, San Diego, CA 12345
Profile
Sous Chef with 5 years of experience preparing high-quality Mexican cuisine for upscale restaurants. Offer advanced expertise in menu design, food preparation, and kitchen operations. Proven record of leading culinary teams to reduce waste and streamline processes.
Professional Experience
Sous Chef, Spice Cocina, San Diego, CA | May 2018 to Present
[Innovative, upscale Latin restaurant.]
- Collaborate with executive chef to create and prepare dishes, develop new menu designs, and enhance food presentation
- Lead a team of 8 line cooks and kitchen staff, coordinate daily kitchen operations, and ensure compliance with quality standards
- Created 3 dishes incorporating Carolina Reaper and Scorpion pepper ingredients, including a carne asada meal with Scorpion chili-infused guacamole. Efforts drove a $100K sales gain through the introduction of a new spice challenge
Sous Chef, Cantina La Vida, San Diego, CA | May 2016 to Present
[Four-star Mexican restaurant.]
- Develop menu, prepare food, and manage inventory in coordination with the lead chef
- Train kitchen personnel on effective food storage and portion control
- Reduced waste by more than 20%, saving $40K annually
Education & Credential
Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Culinary Arts
San Diego Culinary Institute, San Diego, CA | 2016
Key Skills
- Food Presentation
- Latin American Cuisine
- Menu Design
- Process Improvement
- Team Leadership & Motivation
Caryn Feist
(439) 499-3338 | [email protected] | 3 Hutchinson Ct., Bell, CA 90202
Profile
Executive Chef with strong experience overseeing upscale, full-service restaurants. Eleven years of advancement preparing food, developing menus, and managing back-of-house operations. People-oriented manager 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 to Present
- Create menus and set quality standards to provide top-caliber dining experiences across 4 local restaurants
- Lead, train, and motivate diverse culinary teams
- Collaborate with chef partners across the enterprise
- Liaise with supply chain management to identify potential supplier relationships
- Address any quality or service gaps
- Develop food service equipment plans to meet budgetary goals
Sous Chef, Jenny’s House, N. Hollywood, CA | January 2009 to 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 in executive chef’s absence
- 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 & Credentials
Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
Art Institute of California, N. Hollywood, CA | 2018
Master Chef Certificate Program
Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom, Los Angeles, CA | 2009
Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC)
American Culinary Federation (ACF) | 2018
Key Skills
- Creative Problem-Solving
- Food & Beverage Budget Administration
- Full-Service Restaurant Leadership
- Health Code Compliance
- Quality Assurance
- Recipe Standardization
- Seasonal Menu Development
- Special Event Menu Development
- Task Prioritization
Frequently Asked Questions: Culinary Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for culinary resumes?+
The experience section of your resume should be loaded with action verbs that help highlight your accomplishments. The longer your resume is, the harder it can be not to repeat words and phrases, but strong verbs can help enhance your resume. Here are some action verbs to help ensure your culinary resume won’t sound redundant:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Blend | Cater |
| Combine | Cook |
| Customize | Cut |
| Design | Enhance |
| Ensure | Generate |
| Improve | Manage |
| Mix | Monitor |
| Plate | Present |
| Reduce | Resolve |
| Slice | Standardize |
How do you align your resume with a culinary job description?+
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics website, jobs for cooks, chefs, and head cooks are growing faster than the average for all occupations through 2032. In addition to restaurants, culinary jobs might be available at catering companies or any food service providers at large institutions like schools or hospitals.
If you’re targeting a specific job opening, tweak your resume to reflect the specific skills the role entails. This will help you stand out from other candidates who might use a more generic resume. For example, facility descriptions let you show any similarities between your past employers and the organization you’re now pursuing. Maybe you’ve worked in the same type of cuisine or for a similar-sized restaurant. By working these details into your descriptions, you can make your resume more relevant to the job at hand – and likely to produce an interview.
What is the best culinary resume format?+
Like most professions, a culinary resume works best using reverse chronological format, as it’s the most common and easiest for recruiters to decipher. In other words, the resume should start with your current or most recent position and work backward. If you don’t have much experience, you can opt for a combination approach to highlight volunteering, internships, or school experience that may be pertinent to the work you’re seeking.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
In addition to submitting your resume, take the time to create a cover letter to go with it. Not all candidates do this, so it can be another way to set yourself apart. Check out our food service cover letter and restaurant manager cover letter for some inspiration as to how to craft your letter.
