How To Write A Chef Resume (With Template And Example)

When you apply for a role as a chef, the hiring manager may review your resume to learn about your experience in the food service industry and your ability to prepare quality cuisine. If your resume impresses the employer, you may receive an invitation to an interview, which can increase your chances of securing the role. For your job search, it is important to communicate your credentials effectively on your resume so the employer knows you can handle the duties of a chef.

In this article, we explain how to write a chef resume, list guidelines required to consider and provide an example to help you craft yours better.

How To Write A Chef Resume?

The following steps can help you write an effective chef resume:

1. Mention communication methods

Write your first and last name at the top of the document, so the hiring manager knows who you are. If they want to learn more about your professional background, then they can use your contact information to initiate a conversation. Include your updated contact information beneath your name, so you can deliver a prompt response to any employer's enquiries. You can also include a link to an online job profile or career portfolio, which can display pictures of food you prepared in previous chef positions.

Related: How to Write a Resume Employers Will Notice

2. Compose a professional summary

The professional summary on your resume is a brief paragraph that introduces you and your professional skills and achievements to the hiring manager. You can include relevant qualifications that make you an ideal candidate for the position.

For example, you can indicate how long you have been a chef at restaurants or highlight the achievements of your professional career, such as creating menu items that increased restaurant sales. The recruiting manager may also learn about the goals you hope to accomplish and if it matches with the company before hiring you. Specify the contributions you can make to the eatery to show your commitment.

Related: How To Write a Resume Summary (With 30 Examples)

3. Indicate your education

The education section of your resume conveys the courses you completed that helped you acquire the required skills that qualify you to work as a chef. Write the name of the degree you earned and mention the higher education institution that you attended, along with the year in which you passed. If you have multiple schooling credentials, then you can place the diploma that you earned most recently first to make your resume effective.

4. Outline work experience

The work experience section of your resume shows your employment history, particularly previous jobs in the food service industry. The hiring manager may feel more confident about your employability if they discover that you have experience working as a chef and are aware of the responsibilities the role entails. Indicate the official job title you fulfilled and the name of the company that employed you.

Remember to add the location of the company, the month and year you started working there and the month and year you completed it. Next, using bullet points, compile a list of the responsibilities you handled while you were in that role. Start each item on the list with a strong action verb, such as orchestrated or coordinated. Make sure that your duties match with the tasks that the potential employer may expect you to undertake.

Related: How Much Does A Chef Make? (Factors That Affect Salary)

5. Discuss your skill set

Another important section to emphasise in your resume is your skill set, including both soft and hard skills. The hiring manager may assess your abilities and experiences to decide if you can cook diverse types of food and maintain cleanliness in your work section. They may also want to know if you can fulfil your tasks efficiently during higher customer influxes in the restaurant and build productive relationships with your coworkers to work together in reaching business goals. Demonstrate to the employer that you have the expertise to follow recipes and create your own to benefit the eatery where you work.

Related: Sous Chef Skills: Examples And Ways To Improve Them

Tips For Writing A Chef Resume

Here are some tips you can follow when creating a resume for your desired job as a chef:

• Learn about employer requirements. If you are applying to multiple chef positions throughout your job search, you may encounter employers who value different qualifications in candidates. Review the job description to learn what the employer wants so you can highlight work experience and skills that apply to certain roles.

• Create a one-page document. An engaging resume is concise and easy to read, only containing information that appeals to the hiring manager's interests. Prioritise details about your professional background that are most relevant to preparing meals, working in the kitchen and designing menus.

• Use white space. As you have multiple sections on your resume, it can be essential for the hiring manager to distinguish one section from the other conveniently. Insert white space between your headings and subheadings so the reader can skim the content easily.

• Incorporate quantifiable units. Use data to validate the achievements and responsibilities that you want to summarise on your resume. For example, you can quantify the number of years you have worked as a chef, indicate the percentage of increases in restaurant sales or customer satisfaction and discuss briefly how many menu items you introduced to benefit the establishment.

• Use the same keywords. As you examine the job description, give attention to the keywords that the employer uses to describe the expectations of its potential employees. Identify keywords that exemplify you as a professional and include them in your resume to convince them you are ideal for the job.

• Request feedback. Deliver a copy of your resume to a former supervisor or friend and ask them to give you feedback on how you can improve it. For example, you can ask them if you highlighted the most important job duties and implement any feedback you feel is useful.

Template Of A Resume For A Chef

Here is a template of a resume to adhere to when you create your own:

[First name] [Last name]
[Phone number] | [Email address] | [City], [State]

Professional Summary

[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications and achievements as an entry-level professional.]

Related: 12 Chef Certification Options To Advance Your Career

Education

[Degree], [Major] | [Date of graduation]
[Name of School or University]

Work Experience

[Job title], [Employment dates]
[Company Name], [City], [State]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

[Job title], [Employment dates]

[Company Name], [City], [State]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

• [Job duty]

Skills

[Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Example Resume For Chefs

Below is a sample resume for chefs you may use as a reference while you draft yours:

Yogendra Dutt
+91 385 914 3623 | dutt.cooks@email.com | RK Puram, New Delhi | www.jamesduncancook.portfolio.com

Professional Summary

Results-driven and passionate professional with two years of experience in the restaurant industry. Designed appetisers to add to the menu that increased restaurant sales by 8% in the first two months. Seeking a Chef position at Fine Dinnertime Restaurant to apply leadership and interpersonal communication skills and expertise in food chemistry.

Education

Bachelor of Hotel Management, Culinary Arts |May 2020
TN Saha Scholar University

Work Experience

Chef, May 2020–Current
Bistro Feast and Food, RK Puram, New Delhi

• Prepare signature dishes, such as butter chicken, fish curry and chickpea stew

• Oversee food presentations for marketing campaigns to increase restaurant traffic

• Spearhead recruitment to attract talented food service members to the bistro

• Perform extensive sanitation procedures in the workstation and kitchen

• Update ingredients list to maintain productivity in the kitchen

Chef, January 2019–May 2020
Yum Tummy Restaurant, RK Puram, New Delhi

• Tested ingredients and presentation designs to improve menu

• Conducted inventory of cookware and cleaning supplies

• Created a cooking schedule that decreased restaurant waste by 12%

Skills

Cookware management | Menu design | Food presentation | Time management