When writing your resume for sous chef jobs, you can use each section to show your skill at helping run seamless kitchen operations. The tips and examples below will help you capture this strength on your resume to get you interviews for your next sous chef position.
Sous Chef Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
Steakhouse Sous Chef Resume Example
Why this resume is strong:
Andrew’s resume showcases versatility in food preparation and safety while emphasizing bilingual communication skills. Discover tips for highlighting technical skills here.
Sous Chef Leader Resume Example
Why this resume is strong:
Sarah’s resume highlights leadership skills and measurable achievements like waste reduction and revenue growth. Learn how to incorporate similar accomplishments here.
Fusion Sous Chef Resume Example
Why this resume is strong:
Hajime’s resume emphasizes expertise in fusion cuisine, leadership, and the ability to generate significant revenue growth. For advice on tailoring resumes to niche roles, explore this guide.
Pastry Sous Chef Resume Example
Why this resume is strong:
Isabelle’s resume highlights her technical expertise in patisserie and her impact on menu innovation and team mentorship. Learn how to showcase certifications effectively here.
Catering Sous Chef Resume Example
Why this resume is strong:
Mark’s resume demonstrates his ability to manage large-scale events, maintain cost efficiency, and deliver exceptional client satisfaction. For tips on structuring experience sections, see this guide.
Vegan Cuisine Sous Chef Resume Example
Why this resume is strong:
Lila’s resume highlights her expertise in vegan cuisine and sustainability, supported by measurable achievements like waste reduction. For guidance on showcasing niche culinary skills, explore this guide.
Sous Chef Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Sous Chef Resume
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
In a brief paragraph, catch hiring managers’ attention by giving the top three to five reasons you excel as a sous chef. For instance, maybe you’re a natural collaborator who builds great relationships with head chefs and restaurant managers. Or you might be a dedicated trainer who likes to help cooks improve their culinary skills. You might also describe your overall diligence and efficiency in a hands-on role, preparing quality food items for customers. By putting strengths like these at the top of your resume, you can position yourself as a standout candidate for sous chef jobs.
Most job seekers find it easier to write their profile section last.
Profile Example
Sous Chef with strong recent experience in the food service industry. Skilled at coordinating with culinary teams to deliver high-quality meals to guests and patrons. Naturally curious and committed to gaining and applying new expertise. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
2. Add a detailed professional experience section
Use the experience section to give examples of your success as a sous chef — this helps restaurant managers envision you as a valued kitchen staff member. Brainstorm times when you helped the head chef cut costs, improve food quality, develop menu options, boost restaurant sales, or motivate kitchen staff during busy periods. Then quantify these achievements with relevant data, such as the amount of money saved by a new food vendor or the percentage of rave reviews for a new entrée menu.
Professional Experience Example
Sous Chef, Tokugawa Fusion, Philadelphia, PA | May 2016 to Present
[Five-star restaurant providing Japanese-French fusion cuisine, with $2M annual revenue]
- Help manage a team of 15 kitchen staff, and maintain a collaborative work environment during high volume periods
- Coordinate with executive chef to oversee kitchen operations, lead culinary teams, and create weekly specials
- Manage preparation, cooking, and presentation of dishes
- Analyze $60K in weekly inventory, and procure fresh ingredients from vendors
- Oversaw full-scale menu redesign to better incorporate Japanese ingredients and techniques. Popular new menu led to a feature article in the Philadelphia Inquirer and helped grow annual sales by $200K
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Show your knowledge base by citing any degrees, coursework, or mentor programs you’ve done in culinary arts or other subjects related to the role of sous chef. Also, include any relevant certifications you’ve earned from groups like the American Culinary Federation or National Restaurant Association.
Below are templates and examples to help you format your education and certification details. Note optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template
- Degree Name — [Major, Minor], School Name, [City, ST] | [Year]
- [Select Coursework]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Culinary Arts, San Diego Culinary Institute, San Diego, CA | 2016
Certification
Template
- Certification Name or Title, [Awarding Organization] | [Year] [Description]
Example
- ServSafe Food Handler, National Restaurant Association | 2020
4. List key skills and proficiencies
Add a key skills section to show how to contribute as a sous chef. Include terms that reflect your strengths as a leader, collaborator, and kitchen team member. Also, cite the types of cuisine you’ve prepared if they overlap with your current job goals. Below are some common skills and keywords to consider for this section of your resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Catering | Cooking |
| Cost reduction and elimination | Culinary arts |
| Customer relations | Efficiency improvement |
| Event management | Executive chef support |
| Food and beverage service | Food preparation |
| Food presentation | Food safety |
| Food storage | Fine dining |
| Head chef support | Hospitality management |
| Inventory monitoring | Menu design |
| Menu development | Operations management |
| Restaurant management | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Team leadership |
| Vendor relations | |
How To Pick the Best Sous Chef Resume Template
As with most vocations, sous chefs should use a resume template that’s clear and straightforward. Opt for a layout that lets the hiring manager quickly review your best career details. Select a traditional resume font, and avoid any template with a colorful or elaborate design. Also, make sure the template complies with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by employers to screen resumes.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sous Chef Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for sous chef resumes? -
One of the best ways to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the hiring manager’s attention and show the varied nature of your experience. Find a good mix of action verbs for your resume with the list below:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Assisted |
| Collaborated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Delivered | Designed |
| Developed | Drove |
| Enhanced | Evaluated |
| Expedited | Facilitated |
| Improved | Led |
| Managed | Oversaw |
| Performed | Pinpointed |
| Planned | Prevented |
| Provided | Ranked |
| Streamlined | Strengthened |
| Supported | Won |
How do you align your sous chef resume with a job posting?-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for chefs and head cooks will increase by about 5% between 2022 and 2032.
You can get more interviews in this growing field if you tailor your resume for each application. One great way to do this is by briefly describing the restaurants or other food service places you’ve worked in [brackets] right next to or below the employer's name.
Restaurant descriptions let you show any similarities between your past employers and the one who posted the job. For example, maybe you’ve worked for restaurants of a similar size or cuisine. Or you might have worked at organizations with a similar leadership approach or service philosophy. Working these details into your descriptions makes your resume more relevant to the job opening.
What is the best sous chef resume format? -
Most sous chefs should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format’s experience section and the functional format’s profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
A combination resume offers the best of both worlds by fusing these features. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history – essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section lets you showcase your career highlights at the top, regardless if they’re from that work history or another part of your background. The resulting resume is straightforward but also strategic. It gives hiring managers the clearest possible view of your experience and relevant strengths, so they can decide to call you for an interview.
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To increase your chances of an interview, write and submit a strong cover letter. The key to a good cover letter is tailoring it to each job opening. Read our main cover letter guide to learn how. See our food service and restaurant manager cover letter guides for other related examples.
