Sous Chef Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

Sous Chef Resume Examples

Years of Experience

Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for Sous Chef Resumes

Incorporating key skills and action verbs that align with the job description is essential for meeting the requirements of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Although not all restaurants rely on ATS to screen applicants, larger organizations do, which is why it’s important to feature keywords from the job posting in your resume. This strategy will also help hiring managers to see that you’re a qualified candidate who has all the necessary experience and skill sets to succeed in the position. Below, you’ll find a list of key skills and action verbs that you may encounter during your job search.

Tips for Writing a Better Sous Chef Resume

Quantify your culinary experience

Incorporating numbers and metrics into your resume can significantly enhance the impact of your bullet points and help you stand out in the eyes of hiring managers. Restaurants value candidates who can identify cost reduction opportunities and improve the quality of menu items to drive sales. Showcasing specific examples of this from your career will send a strong message to employers that your background warrants a job interview. Below, you’ll see a bullet point from the mid-career resume example:

This example is effective because it accomplishes a number of objectives. First, it clearly showcases a substantial increase in sales due to the introduction of the new menu items. In addition, this bullet point also highlights the sous chef’s ability to create innovative dishes using a wide variety of ingredients. Showcasing specific achievements such as this will be much more effective in helping hiring managers grasp the full breadth of your culinary expertise, whereas candidates who provide generic job responsibilities are much more likely to be passed over during the application process. 

Feature your leadership abilities

The hospitality industry is often high-volume, with fast-paced work environments that can be highly stressful. Organizations don’t just want candidates who can prepare quality dishes. They also want professionals who collaborate effectively with team members even during stressful conditions. Incorporating bullet points that provide valuable insights into your leadership capabilities will showcase other aspects of your professional experience and further increase your chances of landing the interview. Below, you’ll see a bullet point from the senior level resume example:

This bullet point is effective because the candidate establishes a sense of scope for their leadership experience. Managing a team for a five-star restaurant generating $2M in revenue will be quite different from serving as the lead chef for a small establishment. Still, without the added context, the hiring manager will have no way of knowing this. The candidate also draws attention to their ability to create an effective work culture even during stressful periods where guest volume is particularly high, which is essential for delivering a quality fine dining experience within the restaurant industry.

How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description

Aligning your resume with the job description is a critical part of the resume-building process. If your document doesn’t effectively market your qualifications and skill sets that match the organization’s needs, employers will be much less likely to contact you for an interview. Incorporating keywords directly from the posting is the surest way to optimize your resume for the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

When determining what experience to feature on your document, you should refer to the job description and evaluate how the information is presented on the page. Prioritize keywords that appear within the opening paragraphs and pay close attention to key terms repeated more than once, as these are clear indicators that the company is tracking these qualifications during the initial ATS scan. Below, you’ll find examples to help you align your resume with the job description.

According to the job description, the ideal job applicant should have the following qualities and/or experience:

• Culinary Arts
• Sous Chef
• Fine Dining
• Restaurant Management
• Menu Development
• Kitchen Operations
• Operations Management
• ServSafe Certification
• Process Improvement
• Food Preparation
• Inventory Management
• Vendor Management
• Food Safety
• Team Leadership
• Hospitality

Next, take what you highlighted from the job description and include your experience and skills that match. Below is an example of how to incorporate them into your resume to your advantage: