Chef Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

Are you having trouble drafting a chef resume to help you land your dream job?

You’re not the only one! Those who want to get a job as a chef de partie must submit a winning resume.

Fortunately, this article outlines five stellar chef resumes to help you get started on crafting your own.

A good chef’s resume should display your work history, experience, skills, and education. Here we will be looking at five of the best chef resume samples and analyzing why they work. Our goal is to help chefs of all experience levels apply for new jobs.

Chef Resume Examples

There are many different types of chefs, and they must submit resumes regardless of experience level. We are going to look at resumes for chefs in different stages of their careers. Our goal is to ensure everyone can use one of the five resumes below as a starting point.

Entry-Level Chef Resume Example

Writing an entry-level chef resume is more challenging than when you have more experience. When applying for an entry-level position, you do not have much experience, and, as a result, it can be challenging to make your resume look appealing. Luckily, there are things you can include to make yourself stand out from the competition.

Objective:

Hard-working and easy-going professional with customer service experience. Seeking to expand my skills as an entry-level chef at your restaurant to prepare delicious courses, assist waiting staff, and maintain a clean working area.

Work Experience 1: Server

• Memorized 30+ menu items and answered inquiries based on customer preferences, food sensitivities, and allergies.
• Recommended menu items for customers with dietary restrictions, increased sales by $74 on average per shift.
• Established a cleaning checklist for the closing shift, contributing to being awarded Most Hygienic Restaurant 2017 by the city.
• Greeted and seated 75+ customers per shift, arranged table settings, delivered checks, and collect payments.
• Awarded Kitchen Employee of the Quarter in every quarter in 2019.

Work Experience 2: Host

• Cross-sold appetizers, drinks, and desserts according to customer preferences, increasing sales by $200 per shift on average.
• Inspected restaurant and kitchen to ensure compliance with restaurant standards and public health rules and regulations.
• Collaborated with bar and kitchen staff to ensure prompt delivery of orders, decreasing table wait time by 21%.
• Welcomed, directed, and seated 110+ customers, assisting children and special needs customers.
• Answered 30+ phone calls per shift to provide information on reservations, menu items, restaurant hours, and resort services.

Project Experience:

• Worked with management to establish a cleaning checklist for the closing shift to ensure the morning shift would have an easier time starting.
• Conducted inspections of the restaurant to ensure it passed health and safety checks in the event of an audit.
• Successfully implemented new serving policies to help increase significantly increase sales on my shifts.

Skills:

• High-volume food service
• Verbal communication
• Kitchen equipment
• Food preparation
• Customer service

Education:

• Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
• Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO

Licenses & Accreditations:

• Certified Foodservice Professional
• Certified Working Pastry Chef
• Certified Decorator

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it highlights how the person’s experience working in a restaurant has prepared them for the role of a chef. They have extensive experience working as a host and a server, and as a result, they will not be surprised by any of the realities of working in a restaurant.

Additionally, the resume does not try to pass off anything as direct experience working in the kitchen. That type of honesty can go a long way as an entry-level chef. The hiring manager can see the qualifications as part of the education and certifications. They can then decide on whether the candidate is suited for a position.

Remember, when applying for an entry-level position, they are not expecting you to have a tremendous amount of experience. All they want to see is that you are qualified and motivated to perform in the position.

Executive Chef Resume Example

You might think by the time you are an executive chef, you do not need to worry about sending in job applications, but that is not the case. Unless you are a world-renowned chef like Gordan Ramsay, you must submit chef resumes as part of your application.

The food industry is notoriously fickle, and high-end restaurants can shut down unexpectedly, so you cannot expect to hold the same position for a decade. Here is what you should include on your chef resume.

Objective:

Talented kitchen leader and team motivator that was successful at maintaining staff focus, efficiency, and productivity in high-volume, fast-paced operations. Experience with several types of cuisine, sourcing ingredients, controlling budgets, and boosting restaurant profiles.

Work Experience 1: Executive Chef

• Collaborated with production manager to budget and plan purchases based on consumption, saving nearly $30K per year.
• Developed daily kitchen schedules to improve workload distribution and maintain individual goal achievement, increasing employee retention by 29%.
• Organized recipes and staff preparations for company events, resulting in an average of $16K per event.
• Scouted and trained young chefs from local high schools to create unique monthly dishes, increasing sales of specialized dishes by $35K annually.
• Enforced 100% compliance with state and federal health codes, resulting in 24 “A” health inspection grades.

Work Experience 2: Executive Chef

• Introduced “burrito relleno” on the breakfast menu, increasing breakfast sales by an average of $165 per day.
• Implemented monthly team training sessions, increasing employee retention by 25%.
• Managed budgets based on consumption plans that reduced wasteful purchases by 15% a year.
• Managed new outside catering services, becoming the biggest revenue earner for the restaurant in 2015.
• Observed and maintained high hygiene standards during all stages of food production.

Project Experience:

• Oversaw the introduction of new items to the breakfast menu. Some of these items were creations of my own.
• Worked with the production manager on budgets, allowing me to learn about the financial side of the industry.
• Developed a program that allowed several young chefs to learn from professionals. Many chefs were later hired by the restaurant.

Skills:

• Fine dining
• Food preparation
• Recipe creation
• Team management
• Kitchen equipment maintenance

Education:

• Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
• Laney College, Oakland, CA

Licenses & Accreditations:

• Certified Executive Chef
• Master Certified Food Executive
• Certified Chef de Cuisine

Why This Resume Works

The resume for an executive chef must establish the experience and expertise of the candidate. You cannot fake being an executive chef, and as a result, there needs to be extensive information related to your history as a chef. This resume does a good job of displaying the candidate’s history as an executive chef and what they did to help the restaurants grow.

An executive chef should also have several high-level certifications in addition to their education. This resume displays the licenses in an easy-to-read format below the education section, so there is no question about what the chef’s qualifications are.

Sous Chef Resume Example

Although a sous chef is not as advanced as an executive chef, they still must have extensive experience in the industry. Often the sous chef does more cooking than the executive chef because they need to deal with management responsibilities. So, a sous chef’s resume must display an impressive work history.

Objective:

A sous chef with entry-level experience within the food industry, specializing in menu development, food safety, inventory management, and customer service. Adept at coordinating with culinary teams to deliver high-quality meals to guests and patrons.

Work Experience 1: Sous Chef

• Updated menu based on seasonal ingredients and restaurant promotions, increasing annual sales by 22%.
• Revised inventory budget based on menu offerings and customer trends, saving $3.8K per month on average.
• Prepared over 70 types of menu items according to company recipes.
• Ensured 100% compliance with city health standards, contributing to winning the Clean Plate Award in 2020.
• Implemented take-and-go options during the pandemic, increasing revenue by nearly 90%.

Work Experience 2:

• Prepared and inspected 13 dinner dishes according to restaurant standards, reducing errors and customer complaints by 19%.
• Formulated cost-effective operation processes for food preparation, increasing efficiency by 35%.
• Managed kitchen-related activities and 20 staff, including hiring, scheduling, and performance improvement.
• Coordinated with restaurant management to budget order supplies, revise dinner menu, and hire staff.
• Monitored inventory levels by inspecting, organizing, and ordering supplies as needed, saving the restaurant an average of $3K per month.

Project Experience:

• Tasked with formulating cost-effective operation processes for food preparation. My system is still in place to this day.
• Tasked with revising the inventory budget to reduce operations costs.
• Oversaw compliance with health standards at the restaurant.

Skills:

• Budgeting
• Cost reduction
• Food safety
• Food preparation
• Customer service

Education:

• Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
• North Seattle College, Seattle, WA

Licenses & Accreditations

• Certified Foodservice Professional
• Certified Sous Chef
• Certified Working Pastry Chef

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it shows the chef’s ability to lead others, a skill that is necessary as a sous chef. However, it also shows the candidate is willing to learn under their executive chef and upper management. Sous chefs are often an intermediary between the kitchen staff and upper management, so having mediation skills are crucial.

Additionally, the layout of this resume works well because it places the work history at the top. Work history is more important than anything else in this industry, so placing it where the hiring manager will see it first is crucial.

Pastry Chef Resume Example

A pastry chef is more specialized than other restaurant chefs. They often need more attention to detail because of the nature of baking vs. cooking. Here we will look at a fantastic example of a pastry chef’s resume.

Objective:

Creative and passionate pastry chef with 17 years of industry experience creating artisan bread, chocolates, pastries, desserts, and various confections. Eager to create sweet treats, assist with dessert service, and ensure a delightful experience for guests at your restaurant.

Work Experience 1: Pastry Chef

• Managed kitchen budget by assessing ingredient consumption, labor costs, and customer preferences, reducing production costs by nearly 40%.
• Trained six pastry chef assistants, improving production by nearly 30% and increasing monthly profits by $4.7K on average.
• Collaborated with the main kitchen to offer collections of courses based on flavor profiles and allergen sensitivities, increasing revenue by 9% and customer satisfaction by 58%.
• Produced 40+ custom cakes for weddings and various celebrations, increasing brand awareness on social media by 15%.
• Maintained quality standards for the restaurant’s dessert menu.

Work Experience 2: Pastry Chef

• Established a court-side delivery system along with the main kitchen, increasing overall revenue by 21%.
• Collaborated with two pastry chefs to design and prepare chocolate dishes for sale in-house, increasing dessert revenue by 38%.
• Trained and supervised sight pasty assistants, decreasing errors by 24% and time to productivity by 12%.
• Collaborated with the head pastry chef to plan budgets based on previous monthly POR rations, saving $6K per month.
• Monitored inventory levels and ordering trends to revise menus, reducing waste by nearly 75% and increasing customer satisfaction by 14%.

Project Experience:

• Trained several amateur pastry chefs to work in our restaurant.
• Gathered data on which items were selling more than others to help reduce waste.
• Collaborated with the head pastry chef to help manage the budgets and learn about the technical side of the industry.

Skills:

• Cost reduction
• Food safety
• Pasty preparation
• Equipment maintenance
• Inventory management

Education:

• Associate of Science in Culinary Arts
• Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA

Licenses and Accreditations

• Certified Working Pastry Chef
• Certified Decorator
• Certified Culinary Educator

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it shows the candidate’s expertise as a pastry chef. A pastry chef is much more specialized than other types of chefs. As a result, they must have licenses and certifications to prove their expertise.

On top of that, the person displays their work history and experience. Their project experience helps show how they have grown as a pastry chef over the years. Everything is easy to view, making the life of the hiring manager easier.

Sushi Chef Resume Example

Being a sushi chef requires a lot of technical expertise. They need a culinary background, but that is not enough. They also need on-site experience to prove their proficiency. Here we will look at what a sushi chef’s resume should look like.

Objective:

Dynamic sushi chef with a talent for creating beautiful delicacy dishes in a fast-paced environment. Smart and driven to work hard, educate patrons, and project a pleasant demeanor. Looking to work as a sushi chef with your organization, where I can employ my culinary expertise.

Work History 1: Sushi Chef

• Cooked and presented all dispensed station menu food items.
• Complied with the process mentioned in the employee handbook comprising of apt uniform conduct and grooming.
• Monitored the performance of kitchen employees and worked manually at every workstation.
• Prepared and presented food items, hot and cold, as per sushi outlet standards and norms.
• Provided training and guidance to staff members regarding sushi culinary cooking procedures and plating.

Work History 2: Sushi Chef

• Developed and executed menu in association with preferences and choices of customers visiting the outlet as established by the executive chef.
• Offered sushi recipes and mentored all kitchen employees to enhance their performance at work.
• Ensured to execute high-end norms of appearance and personal hygiene of the entire kitchen staff.
• Reported to the supervisor about illness or absence of any employee at work following the appropriate system.
• Used tools and equipment to perk up the work atmosphere in the kitchen.

Project Experience:

• Developed new sushi recipes to help personalize the restaurant’s menu.
• Helped organize schedules and work with employees to work around their availabilities.
• Trained several new junior chefs to help them become top performers at the restaurant.

Skills:

• Food preparation
• Menu development
• Quality control
• Food safety
• Budget management

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food and Nutrition
• Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, OK

Licenses & Accreditations

• Sushi Chef Certification
• Certified Sushi Instructor
• Advanced Sushi Chef Certification

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it goes into detail about the technical aspects of being a sushi chef. The resume outlines the technical skills the chef has, as well as their experience. Their education is easy to view, as are their licenses.

As always, part of delivering a high-end resume is ensuring it is organized well. This resume includes the most essential information up top before progressing to the less essential information. While all information included is crucial, work history is more important than anything else and should be included at the top.

Common Skills & Action Verbs To Include on a Chef Resume

Every resume will be different depending on the job you apply for and your professional background. However, there are some common skills and action verbs that can appear on almost all resumes.

Here we will look at the most common skills and action verbs to include to stand out in the eyes of hiring managers.

Common Skills for Chef Resumes

Here are 20 of the most common skills included on chef resumes:

• Menu planning and development
• Food preparation and cooking techniques
• Inventory management and ordering
• Budgeting and cost control
• Team leadership and management
• Food safety and sanitation practices
• Culinary creativity and innovation
• Recipe development and adaptability skills
• Ingredient sourcing and selection
• Plating and presentation
• Dietary restriction management
• Time management and multitasking
• Kitchen organization and cleanliness
• Staff training and development
• Communication and collaboration
• Customer service and satisfaction
• Catering and event planning
• Knife skills and kitchen equipment usage
• Pastry and baking techniques
• Wine and beverage pairing and service

Common Action Verbs for Chef Resumes

Here are the 15 top action verbs to include on chef resumes:

• Prepared
• Created
• Developed
• Designed
• Supervised
• Managed
• Trained
• Organized
• Cooked
• Seasoned
• Baked
• Plated
• Presented
• Improved
• Streamlined

Tips for Writing a Better Chef Resume

Even if you have years of experience as a chef, you might struggle to write the right type of resume. After all, your job is to make food, not write.

So, we are here with some tips for writing a better chef resume. These tips should be helpful to people of all experience levels and different types of chefs.

1. Know What the Employer Is Looking For

One of the best tips we can give to people applying for jobs is to know what the employer is looking for. Read and reread the job description so that you know what to include on your resume. Depending on the job, not all of your experience might be relevant. So, understanding what the employer is looking for will help you determine what to include. Highlight achievements that are relevant to the position.

2. Use a Clean and Professional Format

Employers read over dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes whenever they are looking for a new hire. As a result, you do not want to add to the clutter by making your resume messy. If your resume is messy and challenging to read, the hiring manager or employer will ignore your resume. You can never get a chance if you do not have a good format.

So, you should take the time to make your resume easy to read and visually appealing. Do not be afraid to use bullet points, bold headers, and clear font. Keep everything concise, and make your resume exciting so that you stand out.

3. Highlight Your Soft Skills

When applying for a job, so many people spend all their time highlighting their hard skills. These skills are essential to include and display your capabilities in the position. However, all jobs have soft skills that are valuable and can serve as tiebreakers between candidates.

Examples of soft skills in the culinary industry include leadership and communication skills. If you are applying for a role that includes management responsibilities, discuss your experience with budgeting.

4. Emphasize Your Culinary Education and Training

While on-the-job experience is crucial, employers also want to see that their chefs have formal culinary training. So, include all degrees, certifications, and licenses you have that are relevant to the position.

5. Proofread for Errors

Finally, all prospective employees should proofread their resumes for errors. It is easy to have typos in your resume, and while they seem harmless, they show a lack of attention to detail. So, always proofread your resume before submitting it to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before we wrap up, we want to ensure you have all the information you need to write an excellent chef resume. Here are answers to a few more questions you might have:

Similar Resume Types to Reference

When writing a resume, you do not always need to look at examples from people who have applied for the same position. Instead, you can look at resumes of people applying for similar jobs.

It can be helpful to look at slightly different resume types to get ideas on things to include that you would not normally consider for a chef’s resume.

• Server Resume: If you are applying for an entry-level chef position, you might have similar work experience to that of a server. So you can get ideas on what to include from their resumes.
• Bartender Resume: If you have certifications related to alcohol and drink making, it can be helpful to see how they are formatted on bartender resumes.
• Restaurant Manager Resume: If you apply to be an executive chef, you need management experience. So, seeing how restaurant managers format their resumes can be helpful.

Wrapping Up

Being a chef is an exciting career choice. You get to be around all kinds of interesting people from all around the world. You can meet new people every day and learn about their cultures. However, it takes a lot of work to become a chef. Not only do you need to get a degree, but you must go through several years of training to reach a high level.

Unfortunately, the work does not end there; you must learn how to write a chef’s resume. Although you might not be comfortable with the process, it is not challenging to learn. Regardless of the position you are applying for, you should be able to find one of the five resume examples above useful.