How To Write a Sous Chef Resume
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.
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.
Sous Chef Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- #1
- #2
- #3
Andrew McCormick
(123) 456-7890 | and[email protected] | Nashville, TN 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
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.
Key Skills
- Food preparation
- Food safety
- Head chef support
- Inventory management
- Menu development
- Quality control
Professional Experience
Sous Chef, Jacob’s Steakhouse, Nashville, TN | May 2021 to Present
- Coordinate with head chef to prepare meals, design menus, and manage food inventory for this high-volume steakhouse
- Monitor portion control while ensuring alignment with presentation standards and guest expectations
- Inspect, clean, and maintain kitchen equipment in compliance with food safety protocols
- Modify and adapt meals to guests’ allergies or diet restrictions
Line Cook, Olive Garden, Nashville, TN | June 2020 to May 2021
[High-volume Italian restaurant with 150+ guests per day]
- Efficiently prepared appetizers, salads, pasta, and entrees
- Maintained portion control to minimize food costs
- Ensured compliance with food storage protocols, and conducted inspections to prevent food contamination for gluten and nut allergies
- Coordinated with sous chefs and line cooks to meet high demand, and helped streamline production of takeout orders and dine-in meals
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Culinary Arts, Nossi College of Art, Nashville, TN | 2021
Certification
ServSafe Food Handler, National Restaurant Association | 2020
Language
Fluency in Spanish
Sarah Ortiz
(123) 456-7890 | sa[email protected] | San Diego, CA 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Sous Chef with five years of experience helping oversee preparation of quality Mexican cuisine for upscale restaurants. Recognized for leading culinary teams to streamline operations and reduce waste by up to 20%.
Key Skills
- Cost reduction and elimination
- Executive chef support
- Food presentation
- Kitchen operations
- Latin American cuisine
- Menu design
- Process improvement
- Team leadership
Professional Experience
Sous Chef, Spice Cocina, San Diego, CA | May 2018 to Present
- Collaborate with executive chef to create and prepare innovative Latin dishes, design menus, and enhance food presentation
- Lead a team of eight line cooks and kitchen personnel, coordinate daily kitchen operations, and ensure compliance with quality standards
- Created three dishes with Carolina Reaper and Scorpion pepper ingredients (including a carne asada meal with Scorpion chili-infused guacamole), leading to a new spice challenge that grew sales $100K
Sous Chef, Cantina La Vida, San Diego, CA | May 2016 to May 2018
- Developed menu, prepared food, and managed inventory in coordination with head chef
- Trained restaurant personnel on safe food storage and effective portion control
- Helped kitchen team reduce waste by over 20%, saving $40K per year
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Culinary Arts, San Diego Culinary Institute, San Diego, CA | 2016
Certification
ServSafe Manager, National Restaurant Association | 2016
Hajime Sato
(123) 456-7890 | hajime@example.com | Philadelphia, PA 12345 | www.linkedin.com/example
Profile
Sous Chef with over seven years of experience creating innovative fusion cuisine. Strong background leading diverse teams of culinary and hospitality professionals to deliver a quality dining experience. Quickly adapt to new work challenges and industry conditions.
Key Skills
- Executive chef support
- Food preparation
- Fusion cuisine
- Menu design
- Menu development
- Operations management
- Team leadership
- Vendor management
Professional Experience
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
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Culinary Arts, Walnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA
Certification
ServSafe Food Handler, National Restaurant Association | 2011
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.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
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.
