

You create magic in the kitchen, but you’re not sure how to prove it in your resume? Follow these expert tips and look at our examples to turn your chef resume into a chef's kiss.
You are a culinary wizard, a trained expert in the exquisite art of gastronomy, and every dish you create and present looks like an artistic masterpiece.
But if you want to get the best chef jobs out there, you cannoli get so far with a resume that doesn’t stand out.
Season your resume to perfection, and whet employers’ appetites with a mouthwatering chef resume recipe for success.
This guide will show you:
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Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.
Ethan Mackinnon
Sous Chef
Phone no: (02) 6782 8297
Email: EthanMackinnon@email.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ethanmackinnon
Summary
Proactive and talented Sous chef and kitchen leader with 5+ years experience, skilled in French cuisine and sourcing ingredients. Seeking to boost Le Jardin’s restaurant profile in fast-paced operations through budget control, improving efficiency and productivity, and maintaining staff focus. At Gotzon & Bocar, reduced kitchen costs by 25% and developed 8+ successful menus.
Experience
Sous Chef
Gotzon & Bocar, Sydney, NSW
June 2019–January 2022
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievement:
Station Chef (Chef de Partie)
Tarra Tarte, Melbourne, Vic
May 2016–May 2018
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievement:
Education
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery & Certificate III in Patisserie
Le Cordon Bleu, Melbourne, Vic
2014–2016
Bachelor of Science in Major Food Science
University of Southern Queensland, Queensland, QLD
2010–2013
Skills
Certifications
Here’s how to write a job-winning chef resume:
You want your resume to read like a fine dining restaurant menu—not a cheap and inexperienced fast-food diner.
And like a three-star Michelin menu, it’s important to have a well-formatted resume that’s neatly structured.
Here are some chef resume template formatting rules to follow to make sure you get it right:
Keep your chef resume nice and safe and send it in PDF format unless specifically instructed otherwise. Microsoft Word documents can often change the format and look weird on different devices—saving it as a PDF is a sure-fire way to keep your resume looking pristine.
Read more about resume formatting: Resume Formats: How to Pick the Ideal One
Your work experience section is, without a doubt, the most important part of your resume—so it’s best to spend the most time on crafting it to perfection.
Nothing proves that you can conjure up a culinary masterpiece and know the tricks of the cooking trade better.
Here’s how to ensure that it’s chef’s kiss:
RIGHT |
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Sous Chef Francia Zinn February 2018–November 2019
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WRONG |
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Gaston Botford, 2014–2016 Sous Chef
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What a difference, right?
I bet you won’t believe that they are both from the same candidate.
In the right example, they focused on quantifiable results, while highlighting achievements that are backed up.
In the wrong example, the candidate simply listed a few basic achievements and responsibilities, but didn’t develop them further or provide any measurable results.
Hoping to get your foot in the door with an entry-level beginner chef resume and don’t have any outstanding achievements just yet? Don’t worry.
You can still create a great impression and an effective work experience section even if you don’t have much experience.
This example below will point you in the right direction.
RIGHT |
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Volunteer Cook Craft Dish February 2018–November 2019
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WRONG |
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Aspiring chef fresh out of university with no professional experience, but with a passion for cooking that is driven to succeed.
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The right example emphasises aspects that are relevant to being a chef, whereas the wrong example barely contains any information, and what it does include is very vague.
Did you have an internship experience that is somehow related to cooking? Include it!
Your entry-level chef resume experience section still needs to be tailored to the job that you are applying for, with your strengths and skills highlighted so that they are impossible for the hiring manager to ignore.
Read more: How to Write a Resume in Australia
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
There’s no denying that it takes more than just a formal education to make a good chef. But even with the most impressive work history in the world, recruiters are still bound to check what kind of education you have.
Most education sections in resumes tend to be the same—so you want to make yours sizzle as much as you possibly can.
RIGHT |
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Certificate III in Commercial Cookery & Certificate III in Patisserie Le Cordon Bleu, Melbourne, Vic
Bachelor of Science in Major Food Science University of Southern Queensland, Queensland, QLD
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As a chef, your skill is your bread and butter.
Whether it’s whipping up a creme brulee or creating a Pasta Con Pomodoro E Basilico, your skills are what defines your success.
It’s what earns you your bacon.
But how do you know which to include on your resume?
The right recipe? Tailoring to the job you are applying for while making sure that you include the perfect mix of soft skills and technical culinary abilities.
Here’s a list of chef skills that would look great on a resume:
Here’s an example of what your skills section should look like:
RIGHT |
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Skills
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A resume without an extra section? That may look like a meal that’s a little under-cooked.
And nobody wants to take a risk on that—especially not recruiters.
Add a pinch of seasoning and an extra section to elevate your resume to the next level and show your potential employers that you’re not just a great chef—but a culinary genius who practises their craft in many different forms.
These are some great options for chef jobs:
RIGHT |
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Certifications
Languages
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Choosing the perfect candidate is like sorting rice from lentils one by one.
Pretty tiresome.
Each resume only gets a few seconds, so you need to grab the employer's attention straight away. Wham. Bam.
And while you can't serve up a dish that makes their taste buds dance to do that, you can still entice.
How? Create a resume objective or summary at the top of your chef resume.
Here are some extra tips to get you started:
Let’s take a look at some examples:
Right |
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Self-motivated chef who leads by example. 5+ years of proven track record of managing kitchen operations and staff, estimating food costs, planning 20+ menus, developing recipes, and tracking inventory. A versatile individual who can work under pressure, seeking to reduce labour costs while motivating and coaching staff at La Guinguette to improve performance. |
Wrong |
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Having been head chef for over seven years now, I am highly skilled and specialise in Italian cuisine. I am brimming with experience and would make a great addition to any team. |
See the difference?
The first example explains HOW they would benefit the new employer.
The second example sounds friendly and nice, sure. BUT anyone can say they have experience—it doesn’t always mean it’s true. And recruiters know that.
You want to show how you are the best fit for the job.
Now for some entry-level examples:
Right |
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Passionate Culinary Arts Management graduate from William Angliss Institute with a Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) credential. Looking to apply management, creativity, and menu planning skills to deliver high-quality meals and hospitality at Le Restaurant. Skilled in American and Middle Eastern dishes and fluent in Spanish. |
Wrong |
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Recent university graduate with a BA in Food Science and certificate in food preparation and cooking. Seeking a chef position to learn from an experienced team. |
The right example shows a specific skill that can benefit the employer while highlighting soft skills, making them an attractive all-around candidate.
The wrong example talks about what they want to gain from the employer, not what they can offer. Remember, you need to make the employer an offer, not the other way around.
It's true—some employers require cover letters, while others don't. And even when it is a requirement, not everyone will read them.
But it's also true that they can be the extra sprinkle of salt that brings out the flavour in your whole application.
In fact 83% of recruiters have said that cover letters were important in their hiring decisions, so if you're thinking of giving it a miss—don't. Employers will appreciate the extra effort.
Need some extra motivation? In 2020 there were 94,000 chefs in Australia. This figure is expected to rise to reach 112,700 by 2025 showing that you are in demand.
So follow these instructions and add a chef cover letter to go with your resume to give yourself an advantage over other candidates, and give yourself a fighting chance:
Read more: How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Here’s how to write a resume for chef step by step:
Now you are all set to write your resume for a chef!
Remember, always follow up on every job application and contact the employer by phone or email if you haven’t heard back within a week to get an update on your application.
Thanks for reading my guide! Now I’d love to hear from you:
Let’s chat below in the comments, and thanks for reading!
Tell your employer what their employees couldn’t—present a solution to their problems. How? Your career objective is the tool. Find out how to write the best one ever.