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Chef Resume Examples: 25+ Writing Tips, Template & Skills
Chef Resume Examples: 25+ Writing Tips, Template & Skills
You can run a kitchen, keep the staff in line, and satisfy an endless stream of customers, but can you prove it to the restaurant manager? You can with this chef resume sample.
Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Samples.
Chef Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use
Finley Sainato
Chef
Personal Info
Phone: 267-530-3366
Email: finleyzsainato@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/finleyzsainato
twitter.com/finleyzsainato
Summary
Creative chef with 4+ years of experience. Seeking to produce creative and intriguing cuisine at The Respectable Ocelot Restaurant. At Geroux's BBQ, managed kitchen operations with team of 11 staff. Performed menu redesign resulting in 170% more business. 5-Star rating in Philadelphia Magazine. Slashed food waste by 70%.
Experience
Chef
Geroux's BBQ, Philadelphia, PA
2016–2019
Managed kitchen team of 11 staff members.
Redesigned menu, resulting in 170% more business.
Received 5-star rating in Philadelphia Magazine writeup.
Recruited and trained 7 staff members with 90% employee retention.
Reorganized kitchen flow for 40% efficiency increase.
Reduced food waste 70% by connecting with local farmers for farm-to-table sourcing and scrap re-use program.
Sous Chef
Bourbon Landing, Philadelphia, PA
2014–2015
Redesigned cheese steak sandwich, winning a spot in the "Best Philly Cheese Steaks in History" guide from Philadelphia Magazine.
Prepared lunches in 20-table restaurant during busy shifts.
Reduced food costs 10% through better vendor management.
Education
AA Culinary Arts, Community College of Pennsylvania
2012–2014
Completed 400 hours of on-the-job experience.
Recognized by professor for attention to detail.
Certifications
ServSafe Food Safety Certification
Certified Master Chef, ACF
Additional Activities
Member, American Culinary Federation.
Member, National Barbecue & Grilling Association
Mentor 15 ACF members in food safety and menu design.
Conferences
2019 - Virginia Farm to Table Conference - led servant leadership panel.
Hard Skills:Counseling, creating treatment plans, assessment, Mandt system
Soft Skills:Interpersonal skills, communication, active listening, empathy
Here’s how to write a chef resume restaurant managers will love:
Fold in a little white space to make it look inviting.
Pick a resume font like 10–12pt Georgia or Garamond.
Write resume sections like Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
Send a PDF resume. Those look appetizing on any screen.
Expert Hint: There are only 139,000 chef jobs in the US, and not all of them are good chef jobs. Your resume format is your first step toward landing one you want.
2. Write a Chef Resume Objective or Summary
You need an appetizer.
The first part of your chef resume needs to make them want more.
Where & what you’ll do (produce creative cuisine at The Respectable Ocelot)
Best chef moments (170% more business...)
Job skills (kitchen management, menu design...)
Your summary belongs at the top, but—
Write it last for best results.
See these executive chef resume examples:
Chef Resume Summary—Example
Good ExampleCreative chef with 4+ years of experience. Seeking to produce creative and intriguing cuisine at The Respectable Ocelot Restaurant. At Geroux's BBQ, managed kitchen operations with team of 11 staff. Performed menu redesign resulting in 170% more business. 5-Star rating in Philadelphia Magazine. Slashed food waste by 70%.Bad ExampleExperienced chef, skilled in French cuisine, farm-to-table, and operating Vulcan 70in. range. High-level experience with Infrared Salamander, sauces, and desserts. Efficient and creative with a proven track record of supplying a high volume of well-prepared food.
Oops.
The second of those chef resume samples says, “I’ve got the skills.”
But the first shows you managed a kitchen staff of 11, got 170% more business, and cut food waste 70%.
Those details matter to restaurant managers.
Now—
What should you do in an entry-level resume for chefs?
Same same, with whatever job you have.
See this sous chef resume sample:
Sous Chef Resume Objective
Good ExampleEfficient chef with skills in menu design and preparing crowd-pleasing food. Seeking to delight patrons at Darrell’s Rib Rack. As sous chef at Bourbon Landing, prepped lunches on busy weekday shifts for 20 tables and approximately $2,000 in revenue. Redesigned our cheese steak sandwich to win a spot in “Best Philly Cheesesteaks” per Philadeliphia Magazine.Bad ExampleEntry-level chef. Have never worked as a chef yet, but I was a sous chef for one year at Bourbon Landing and I definitely developed the skill set. I’m adept at menu design, working busy shifts, and reducing food costs.
Mystery meat anyone?
The second of those sous chef resume examples says you’re good at menu design and working busy shifts. The first shows you’ve done it.
Expert Hint: The average chef salary is only $34,559. To get into a higher paying chef job, grab the restaurant manager with the best resume summary you can write.
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.
3. Whip Up a Great Chef Job Description and Skills Section
The job wants these chef skills: entree design, food prep, vendor management.
See these sous chef resume examples:
Sous Chef Resume Job Description [Sample]
Good Example
Sous Chef
Bourbon Landing, Philadelphia, PA
2014–2015
Redesigned cheese steak sandwich lunch entree, winning a spot in the "Best Philly Cheese Steaks in History" guide from Philadelphia Magazine.
Prepared lunches in 20-table restaurant during busy shifts.
Reduced food costs 10% through better vendor management.
Bad Example
Sous Chef
Bourbon Landing, Philadelphia, PA
2014–2015
Prepared entrees including chicken, steak, and seafood.
Closed restaurant and cleaned up after shifts.
Worked well in high-stress situations.
Maintained proper food safety at all times.
Yuck.
The second sous chef resume example lacks flavor. It ignores entree design, food prep, and vendor management.
Expert Hint: Only 1.1% of chefs have a master’s degree. Most have no college degree at all. Don’t worry if your resume education section is light, but see below to spice it up.
Mentor 15 ACF members in food safety and menu design.
Conferences
2019 - Virginia Farm to Table Conference - led servant leadership panel.
Bad Example
Additional Activities
Juggling
Hiking
Delicious.
The first of those executive chef resume examples has flavor. Sprinkle in details like that and you’re set.
Expert Hint: Do you knowhow to write a cover letter for your resume for chef jobs? Get to know a bit about the restaurant first so you can show why you’re passionate about this chef job.
Tom Gerencer is a career advice writer and a resume expert at ResumeLab. Tom has been featured on BBC News, NBC, The Economist, Business Insider, Fast Company, and dozens of other outlets. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages. Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.
Writing a resume is hard work, but with our best resume tips and advice, it's a piece of cake. Here are over 50 of our professional resume dos and don'ts, along with resume mistakes to avoid.