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Chefs are culinary professionals who oversee the preparation and presentation of food in restaurants, hotels, and other dining establishments. They create menus, develop recipes, manage kitchen staff, ensure food quality and safety standards, and often handle inventory and budgeting. Writing an excellent chef resume lets you showcase your culinary expertise, creativity, and leadership skills which is a perfect recipe for attracting the recruiters’ attention.

Insights from 11 million resumes crafted with our builder show that:

  • Chefs usually list 12.6 skills on their resumes.
  • The most common skills for chefs are meal preparation, menu development, cost control, purchasing, and equipment maintenance.
  • Resumes for chefs are, on average, 2 pages long.

Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.

Create your resume now

Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume examples here.

Chef Resume Example

Olivia M. Carter

Chef

(555) 123-7890

olivia.m.carter@email.com

linkedin.com/in/olivia-m-carter

Summary

Passionate and creative chef with 4 years of experience in culinary arts. Proven ability to create delicious and visually appealing dishes while maintaining high standards of food safety and kitchen hygiene. At Greenfield Restaurant, contributed to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction through innovative menu items and exceptional service. Known for strong teamwork, attention to detail, and dedication to culinary excellence. Eager to leverage culinary skills and creativity in a Chef role to enhance the dining experience at Savor 5.

Experience

Line Cook

Greenfield Restaurant, Sunnyvale, CA

June 2019–July 2024

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Prepared and cooked a variety of dishes according to recipes and customer preferences.
  • Assisted the head chef in menu planning and development, contributing creative ideas for new dishes.
  • Maintained a clean and organized work station, ensuring compliance with food safety and sanitation standards.
  • Monitored inventory levels and assisted in ordering supplies to ensure the kitchen was well-stocked.
  • Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure efficient and timely food service during peak hours.
  • Provided excellent customer service by accommodating special dietary requests and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Key Achievement:

  • Contributed to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction through innovative menu items and exceptional service.

Education

Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

California Culinary Academy, San Francisco, CA

September 2017–June 2019

Skills

  • Menu Planning
  • Food Preparation
  • Kitchen Hygiene
  • Customer Service
  • Team Collaboration
  • Inventory Management
  • Creativity
  • Attention to Detail

Certifications

  • ServSafe Food Handler Certification, National Restaurant Association, 2019

Languages

  • English—Native
  • Spanish—Intermediate

Create your resume now

Entry-Level / Junior Chef Resume Example

An entry-level or junior chef is typically new to the culinary field but has a solid foundation in culinary techniques and a passion for cooking. They are eager to learn and contribute to the kitchen while developing their skills. Here's a resume sample for an entry-level chef:

Ava M. Johnson

Chef

(555) 123-7890

ava.m.johnson@email.com

linkedin.com/in/ava-m-johnson

Objective

Passionate and creative chef with 2 years of experience in fast-paced kitchen environments. Proven ability to prepare high-quality dishes, maintain kitchen cleanliness, and assist in menu development. At Sunnyvale Bistro, contributed to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction through innovative dish creations. Known for excellent knife skills, attention to detail, and strong teamwork abilities. Eager to bring culinary skills and creativity to Fork & Plate to create memorable dining experiences.

Experience

Line Cook

Sunnyvale Bistro, Sunnyvale, CA

June 2022–July 2024

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Prepared and cooked a variety of dishes, ensuring high quality and consistency in taste and presentation.
  • Assisted in menu development by suggesting new dishes and improving existing recipes.
  • Maintained kitchen cleanliness and organization, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
  • Monitored inventory levels and assisted in ordering supplies to ensure kitchen operations ran smoothly.
  • Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure timely and efficient service during busy periods.
  • Provided excellent customer service by accommodating special dietary requests and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Key Achievement:

  • Contributed to a 15% increase in customer satisfaction through innovative dish creations and high-quality food preparation.

Education

Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

California Culinary Academy, San Francisco, CA

September 2020–June 2022

Skills

  • Food Preparation
  • Menu Development
  • Kitchen Safety
  • Inventory Management
  • Customer Service
  • Team Collaboration
  • Knife Skills

Certifications

  • ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, National Restaurant Association, 2022

Languages

  • English—Native
  • Spanish—Intermediate

Create your resume now

Middle Chef Resume Example

A middle-level chef has a few years of experience in the field and is proficient in various culinary techniques and kitchen management. They have developed a good understanding of kitchen operations and can handle more complex culinary tasks. Here's a middle-level chef resume sample that I’ve created for you:

Lucas J. Grant

Chef

(555) 234-5678

lucas.j.grant@email.com

linkedin.com/in/lucas-j-grant

Summary

Experienced and innovative chef with 5 years of experience in creating and executing diverse menus, managing kitchen staff, and ensuring high standards of food quality. At BlueTech Bistro, increased revenue by 20% through the introduction of seasonal and specialty menus. Eager to support Zenith Bistro in delivering exceptional dining experiences and driving culinary excellence. Known for creativity, leadership skills, and a passion for fine dining. Ready to bring extensive professional expertise to enhance the culinary offerings at Zenith Bistro.

Experience

Sous Chef

BlueTech Bistro, New York, NY

August 2021–July 2024

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Assisted the head chef in daily kitchen operations, including menu planning, food preparation, and staff management.
  • Developed and executed seasonal and specialty menus, incorporating fresh and local ingredients.
  • Ensured food quality and presentation met high standards, consistently delivering exceptional dining experiences.
  • Trained and mentored kitchen staff, promoting a collaborative and efficient work environment.
  • Monitored inventory levels and managed supply orders to maintain optimal stock levels.
  • Maintained a clean and safe kitchen environment, adhering to food safety and sanitation regulations.

Key Achievement:

  • Increased revenue by 20% through the introduction of seasonal and specialty menus, attracting new and repeat customers.

Junior Chef

Metro Fine Dining, New York, NY

July 2019–July 2021

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Prepared and cooked a variety of dishes, ensuring consistency in taste and presentation.
  • Assisted in the development and testing of new recipes, contributing creative ideas for menu enhancements.
  • Maintained cleanliness and organization of the kitchen, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
  • Collaborated with kitchen staff to ensure smooth and efficient operations during service.
  • Provided support in inventory management, including tracking stock levels and ordering supplies.

Key Achievement:

  • Recognized for exceptional creativity and innovation in developing new dishes that enhanced the restaurant's menu.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts

New York City College of Technology, Brooklyn, NY

September 2017–June 2019

Skills

  • Menu Development
  • Culinary Techniques
  • Kitchen Management
  • Food Presentation
  • Team Leadership
  • Inventory Management
  • Creativity
  • Customer Service

Certifications

  • Certified Executive Chef (CEC), American Culinary Federation, 2022

Languages

  • English—Native
  • French—Intermediate

Create your resume now

Experienced / Senior Chef Resume Example

An experienced or senior chef has extensive experience in the field and is highly skilled in managing kitchen operations, creating innovative menus, and leading culinary teams. They are capable of ensuring high efficiency and quality in various culinary functions. Below you’ll find a resume sample for a senior chef.

Nathan R. Thompson

Senior Chef

(555) 345-6789

nathan.r.thompson@email.com

linkedin.com/in/nathan-r-thompson

Summary

Accomplished and strategic senior chef with 14 years of experience in culinary leadership, menu innovation, and kitchen management. At Stellar Restaurant, led the culinary team to achieve a 40% increase in annual revenue through creative menu offerings and exceptional service. Adept at developing and implementing culinary strategies, managing kitchen staff, and ensuring high standards of food quality. Known for strong leadership abilities, culinary creativity, and excellent communication skills. Committed to enhancing the dining experience and achieving culinary excellence, ready to leverage vast professional expertise to contribute to the success of Pinnacle Restaurant.

Experience

Executive Chef

Stellar Restaurant, Chicago, IL

April 2015–July 2024

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Led the culinary team, overseeing menu development, food preparation, and kitchen operations.
  • Developed and implemented innovative menus that attracted new customers and increased repeat business.
  • Managed kitchen staff, providing training, mentorship, and performance evaluations to ensure high performance.
  • Ensured food quality and presentation met the highest standards, delivering exceptional dining experiences.
  • Conducted inventory management, including ordering supplies, tracking stock levels, and minimizing waste.
  • Maintained a clean and safe kitchen environment, adhering to food safety and sanitation regulations.

Key Achievement:

  • Led the culinary team to achieve a 40% increase in annual revenue through creative menu offerings and exceptional service.

Head Chef

Prime Bistro, Chicago, IL

June 2010–March 2015

Key Qualifications & Responsibilities

  • Supervised kitchen operations, including food preparation, menu planning, and staff management.
  • Developed and tested new recipes, ensuring consistency in taste, presentation, and quality.
  • Trained and mentored kitchen staff, promoting teamwork and a collaborative work environment.
  • Monitored inventory levels and managed supply orders to maintain optimal stock levels.
  • Ensured compliance with food safety and sanitation regulations, maintaining a clean and organized kitchen.
  • Collaborated with front-of-house staff to ensure smooth and efficient service during peak hours.

Key Achievement:

  • Implemented a new menu strategy that increased customer satisfaction and repeat business, resulting in a 25% growth in revenue.

Education

Doctor of Culinary Arts (DCA)

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL

September 2006–June 2010

Master of Science in Culinary Arts

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL

September 2004–June 2006

Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL

September 2000–June 2004

Skills

  • Culinary Leadership
  • Menu Innovation
  • Kitchen Management
  • Food Presentation
  • Team Leadership
  • Inventory Management
  • Creativity
  • Customer Service

Certifications

  • Certified Master Chef (CMC), American Culinary Federation, 2019

Languages

  • English—Native
  • Italian—Intermediate

Create your resume now

Resume Templates for Chefs

After analyzing 11 million resumes using the Zety Resume Builder, these are chefs' top 3 resume template choices.

Cascade

For chefs, the Cascade resume template is an excellent choice. Its dual-column layout prioritizes clarity and organization, distinctly separating your personal details from your professional experience. I find that this template’s clean design allows you to showcase your culinary skills, kitchen management abilities, and menu development achievements effectively. Such minimalistic resume style ensures that your key qualifications and career highlights are presented without unnecessary distractions, giving your resume a professional and polished appearance.

Concept

The Concept resume template is ideal for chefs who prefer a practical and modern resume design. This template stands out because of its single-column layout combined with a stylish sidebar that highlights your contact information and core competencies. The main section provides ample space to detail your work history and significant culinary achievements. I believe the Concept’s sleek and polished format helps draw attention to your expertise in diverse cuisines, team leadership, and kitchen operations. This elegant template ensures your resume is professional and visually appealing.

Diamond

From my perspective, the Diamond is a visual resume template offers a sophisticated and detailed presentation for chefs. Its two-column design effectively divides personal details and a professional summary on one side, with comprehensive sections on experience, education, and certifications on the other. The Diamond template’s use of bullet points and section dividers enhances readability and directs attention to your culinary accomplishments, such as menu creation, catering events, and managing kitchen staff.

How to Write a Chef Resume:

1. Use the Best Chef Resume Format

You wouldn't throw food on the cooking surface before it's heated up, would you? Same here—You can't just skip right to the writing on a resume for chef jobs. According to the National Restaurant Association, 63% of American adults have, at some point in their lives, worked in the restaurant industry. If you want to stick to this career path, your resume must be awe-inspiring.

Show them what’s cooking with the proper chef resume format:

  • Go with the reverse-chronological format. It’s the most common, so restaurant managers and head chefs will instantly recognize it. List the most recent items first (in experience and education), followed by the one before that, and so on.
  • Use popular resume fonts such as Calibri, Didot, or other fan-favorites.
  • Apply consistent line spacing: 1 to 1.15.
  • Set the font size to11–12 points.
  • Utilize resume headings (13–14 points) to show where each section starts.
  • Set regular resume margins: 1 inch all the way around.
  • Use bullet points, aligned neatly like the buttons on your chef’s coat.
  • Save your chef's resume as a PDF because the PDF format keeps the layout in shape (unlike the way your lobster bisque keeps no one in shape).

There are other formats you could consider for your chef resume. See our guide: 3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]

2. Describe Your Chef Experience on a Resume

“Wow. This chef! I’m so glad I chose this!” That’s what diners say upon tasting your food. But, it’s also the reaction you hope to elicit from the restaurant manager as they read your chef's resume job description.

Here's how to rave about your work experience in a way that tingles their tastebuds like a tart ceviche:

  • Are chef jobs in your employment past? Then choose the most relevant chef duties that match the interests of this particular eatery. List your past cooking responsibilities in detail, and if you can, present your accomplishment in a tangible, quantified way.
  • If you've never been a chef before, you'll have to work just a bit harder. If you were, let’s say, a barista before, list your relevant restaurant duties and kitchen achievements that translate perfectly, whether for Michelin 3-star restaurant job applications or for your local happy place.

When detailing your experience as a chef, focus on your culinary skills, kitchen management, and ability to create exceptional dishes. Here are some sample responsibilities for chef’s resumes:

Chef Keywords for a Resume

  • Develop and execute menus that showcase culinary creativity and meet customer preferences.
  • Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring food quality, safety, and sanitation standards are maintained.
  • Train, supervise, and mentor kitchen staff, fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment.
  • Manage inventory, including ordering, receiving, and storing food supplies to ensure freshness and minimize waste.
  • Prepare and cook high-quality dishes, ensuring consistency and presentation align with restaurant standards.
  • Collaborate with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless service and customer satisfaction.
  • Monitor food costs and manage budgets to achieve financial goals and profitability.
  • Innovate and introduce new recipes and techniques to keep the menu current and appealing.
  • Handle special dietary requests and accommodate food allergies or preferences.
  • Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, conducting regular inspections and maintaining records.

To make your resume more impactful, use action verbs to effectively convey your responsibilities and achievements in your chef role. I’ve prepared some examples for you down below:

Chef Resume Action Verbs

  • Developed
  • Executed
  • Oversaw
  • Trained
  • Managed
  • Prepared
  • Collaborated
  • Monitored
  • Innovated
  • Ensured

Looking for the right achievements to add to a resume for chef jobs? Check out this guide: How to Put Achievements on a Resume - Complete Guide (30+ Examples)

3. Add Education to Your Chef Resume

You may not need a fancy university education on a chef's resume. Still, it doesn't mean you can skip talking about your academic past.

So, here's how to add education to chef resumes:

  • List Degrees and Certifications: Start with your highest degree or certification, including the name of the degree, major, and the institution where you earned it.
  • Include Dates: Mention the start and end dates for each educational program. If you're still studying, use the format "Expected Graduation: [Month, Year]."
  • Highlight Relevant Coursework: If applicable, list a few courses relevant to the job you're applying for, especially if you lack work experience in the field.
  • Mention Honors and Awards: Include any academic honors, scholarships, or awards to showcase your achievements.
  • Use Reverse Chronological Order: Arrange your education history, starting with the most recent or current education and working backward.

One last thing: have you earned your culinary school certificate or a degree from college? In that case, leave your high school history off your resume.

Want to make the best use of education on a chef's resume? Then check out: How to Put Your Education on a Resume

4. Highlight Chef Skills on a Resume

Two events force a restaurant manager to jolt right up in excitement: a perfectly prepared dish, and… an amazing chef resume. So, it's time to list your chef skills and cooking abilities.

The skills section is similar to the spices you add while cooking—essential, but the wrong ones can destroy it. Don't give them ginger when the recipe calls for garlic.

What are some popular chef skills for resumes? I’ve prepared some examples:

Chef Resume Skills

Hard Skills

  • Vulcan 70in. Gas Range
  • Infrared Salamander Broiler
  • Beef Grinder 5000 Maintenance & Use
  • Restaurant Intercom Operation
  • Food Safety Consciousness
  • Culinary expertise
  • Knife handling
  • Baking
  • Ingredient selection
  • Pastry preparation
  • Food presentation

Soft Skills

But wait—These are random chef skills, and you shouldn't just add these to your resume. Browse the chef job description from the job offer like a menu, and take note of resume keywords from the responsibilities section. Then, simply use them to select the most relevant skills for your resume.

Pro Tip: Remember to list cuisines. To have the trifecta on your chef resume, listing the regional or international cuisines you're familiar with is just as crucial as listing hard skills and soft skills.

5. List Other Sections on a Chef's Resume

Your resume now has all the main ingredients. But, to really spice it up, add some extra components. This will help you snap up one of the best job offers out of 22,000 job openings projected to appear each year from 2022 to 2032.

Here are the most popular additional sections for chef resumes:

1. Volunteer Experience

Volunteer work on a resume looks awesome, whether for head chef resumes or junior chef resumes. However, stick to adding only the most relevant instances.

2. Hobbies & Interests

Like the right wine, there are interests and hobbies that pair well with a chef's resume. For example, sports such as volleyball show you work well in a team, and gardening shows you are knowledgeable about different fruits and veggies. 

3. Professional Certifications & Awards

Have any cooking certifications or chef awards? Remember to add them to a resume for chef jobs.

4. Foreign Languages

Like understanding French cooking methods as well as Indian cuisine, a second language opens up many opportunities.

Read more: What to Put for Additional Information on a Resume?

6. Create a Chef Resume Objective or Summary

You know the way people love your culinary creations? You want the restaurant owner to love your chef's resume like that. That means you need a personal chef resume objective or chef resume summary to use as a heading statement. 

Here's how to decide which heading statement is right for chef resumes:

  • Use a resume summary if you have plenty of experience working with professional chefs. A summary statement brags about your chef experience and achievements to make their mouths water.
  • Use the resume objective if you have no chef experience to talk about in your resume. The objective statement gives the restaurant your culinary career goals and includes a numbered achievement to verify you're as talented as you claim.

Hungry for more examples of a resume summary or resume objective for chef jobs? Check out our guides: How To Write A Resume Summary and Resume Objective Examples

7. Write a Cover Letter to Match Your Chef Resume

Would you serve a lobster without a plastic bib and a little two-pronged fork? Similarly not ready to serve is a resume without a chef cover letter. 

Here are a few flavorful tips for delivering a chef cover letter they’ll eat up:

Read more: Professional Chef Cover Letter Samples [Sous, Executive, Pastry]

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.

If you're considering other similar jobs in the food industry, make sure to see a dedicated resume writing guide:

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This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

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Danuta Detyna, CPRW
Danuta Detyna is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and career advisor writer who specializes in everything related to crafting resumes and cover letters. She has extensive experience in the field and is dedicated to providing practical and effective advice to help you advance your career. Drawing on her legal background, she places great emphasis on thorough research and accuracy when creating career guidance articles. Her ultimate goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to achieve greater professional satisfaction.
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Food Service Resume Examples [+ Skills & Job Description]

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A complete guide to writing a food service resume. Get actionable food service resume examples and tips from HR pros! See the best food service resume samples and use them today! In no time, you're going to have a resume for food service jobs better than 9 out of 10 others. Read on and land your new job quick!