Chef Resume Examples: 25+ Writing Tips, Template & Skills

Need a chef resume? A sous chef resume? You’re halfway there. You know the four tastes (five?) and how they interact. And you can do it all with speed and volume. But can you convince the restaurant manager on one sheet of paper? If you don’t, you’ll blend in like a lone egg in a slab quiche.

But don’t worry. We’ve got the recipe for a chef resume that gets jobs.

In this guide:

• A chef resume sample better than most.
• How to write a resume for chefs that gets attention.
• How to customize a chef job description for resumes.
• Why you can’t just list chef skills (and what to do instead).

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Not looking for a resume for chef jobs? Trying to do something else with food service? See our guides:

• Bar Manager Resume Sample & Guide
• Dietary Aide Resume Sample & Guide
• Bartender Resume Sample & Guide
• Barista Resume Sample & Guide
• Culinary Resume Sample & Guide
• McDonald's Resume Sample & Guide
• Line Cook Resume Sample & Guide
• Hospitality Resume Sample & Guide
• Restaurant Resume Sample & Guide
• Server Resume Sample & Guide
• Starbucks Resume Sample & Guide

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Samples.

Chef Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

Here’s how to write a chef resume restaurant managers will love:

1. Use the Correct Chef Resume Format

Presentation matters. Garbled resume formatting can get your resume ignored. So—follow the right recipe with your chef resume. The best choice is the reverse-chronological resume. It combines all the right elements for success.

Chef Resume Format

• Put your freshest job up top.
• Write a 1-page resume. Set 1-inch margins.
• 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.

So concoct a winning career objective or career summary. It’s the menu for your resume for chef jobs.

Add:

1. An adjective (creative, efficient)
2. “chef”
3. Years of experience (3+, 4+)
4. Where & what you’ll do (produce creative cuisine at The Respectable Ocelot)
5. Best chef moments (170% more business...)
6. 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

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%.

Experienced 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.

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

Efficient 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.

Entry-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.

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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

What chef skills go down well? Here’s a list of the best:

Chef Resume Skills List

Hard Skills	Soft Skills
Kitchen Management	Interpersonal Skills
Food Safety	Leadership
French Cooking	Communication
Farm to Table	Collaboration
Italian Cooking	Organization
Sauces	Problem Solving
Desserts	Efficiency
Plating	Stress Management
Baking	Thick Skin
Hiring and Firing	Adaptability

But don’t blend them all into your resume. Target your resume instead. To write a top chef job description for your resume:

1. Select the skills to put on a resume from the ad online.
2. Put them in a resume keywords list.
3. Show you used those skills to help your restaurant.

See these chef resume samples:

Say the job needs these chef skills: kitchen management, menu design, training, farm-to-table.

Chef Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

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.

• Disciplined and counseled employees to ensure food safety and adherence to all restaurant policies.
• Prepared delicious, healthy meat, fish, and vegetarian options.
• Fulfilled needs for banquet entrees and desserts.
• Supervised 3 sous chefs in high-end restaurant.

The first of those chef resume examples hits the spot with kitchen management, menu redesign, and other skills the job ad mentioned.

Now a resume for entry-level jobs. The job wants these chef skills: entree design, food prep, vendor management. See these sous chef resume examples:

Sous Chef Resume Job Description [Sample]

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.

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.

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.

4. Delight Them with Your Education Section

The good news? For chefs, any education works. But, the education section of your resume for chef positions needs skills proof. See this pastry chef resume sample:

Chef Resume Example—Education

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.

That education section tells them you can handle it.

5. Perfect Your Chef Resume with “Other” Sections

A resume with just experience and education is half-baked. Tempt them with a few added resume sections.

Add a couple of these:

• Associations (ACF, National Barbecue & Grilling Association)
• Conferences (BBQ, Seafood Expo)
• Media mentions
• Publications
• Certifications (ServSafe, Master Chef)
• Foreign languages
• Groups
• Volunteer work
• Freelance work
• Additional activities
• Fitness

See these sample chef resume examples:

Chef Resume—Extra Sections

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.

Additional Activities

• Juggling
• Hiking

The first of those executive chef resume examples has flavor. Sprinkle in details like that and you’re set.

Expert Hint: Do you know how 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.

Haven't written your cover letter yet? See:

• Restaurant Manager Cover Letter Examples
• Server Cover Letter Examples

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

Here’s how to write a chef resume:

• Use the chef resume template up top. It folds in all the right ingredients to get you hired.
• List chef skills, but show they helped restaurants you’ve worked for.
• Write a head cook resume summary up top. Put your best chef moments in it to get mouths watering.
• Include “extra” resume sections like certifications or additional activities.

Got questions on how to write great resumes for chef jobs? Not sure how to put chef on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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