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

Need a chef CV? A sous chef CV?

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 CV that gets jobs.

In this guide:

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

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

• Bartender CV Sample & Guide
• Barista CV Sample & Guide
• Line Cook CV Sample & Guide
• Hospitality CV Sample

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

Chef CV Sample You Can Copy and Use

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

1. Use the Correct Chef CV Format

Presentation matters.

Garbled CV formatting can get your CV ignored.

So—follow the right recipe with your chef CV.

The best choice is the reverse-chronological CV. It combines all the right elements for success.

Chef CV Format

• Put your freshest job up top.
• Write a 1-page CV. Set 1-inch margins.
• Fold in a little white space to make it look inviting.
• Pick a CV font like 10–12pt Georgia or Garamond.
• Write CV sections like Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Send a PDF CV. Those look appetising 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 CV format is your first step toward landing one you want.

2. Write a Chef CV Objective or Summary

You need an appetiser.

The first part of your chef CV needs to make them want more.

So—

Concoct a winning career objective or career summary.

It’s the menu for your CV 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 CV examples:

Chef CV 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.

Oops.

The second of those chef CV 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 CV for chefs?

Same same, with whatever job you have.

See this sous chef CV sample:

Sous Chef CV 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 CV 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 CV 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 CV in our CV builder now.

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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 CV Skills List

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

But:

Don’t blend them all into your CV. Target your CV instead.

To write a top chef job description for your CV:

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

See these chef CV samples:

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

Chef Job Description for a CV [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.
• Reorganised 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 counselled 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.

Delectable.

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

Now a CV for entry-level jobs.

The job wants these chef skills: entree design, food prep, vendor management.

See these sous chef CV examples:

Sous Chef CV 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.

Yuck.

The second sous chef CV example lacks flavour. It ignores entree design, food prep, and vendor management.

Expert Hint: Only 1.1% of chefs have a master’s degree. Most have no university degree at all. Don’t worry if your CV 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 CV for chef positions needs skills proof.

See this pastry chef CV sample:

Chef CV Example—Education

Education

AA Culinary Arts, Community University of Pennsylvania

2012–2014

• Completed 400 hours of on-the-job experience.
• Recognised by professor for attention to detail.

On point.

That education section tells them you can handle it.

5. Perfect Your Chef CV with “Other” Sections

Oh-oh.

A CV with just experience and education is half-baked.

Tempt them with a few added CV sections.

Add a couple of these:

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

See these sample chef CV examples:

Chef CV—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

Delicious.

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

Expert Hint: Create a cover letter for your CV for chef jobs. Get to know a bit about the restaurant first so you can show why you’re passionate about this chef job.

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

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Key Points

Here’s how to write a chef CV:

• Use the chef CV 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 CV summary up top. Put your best chef moments in it to get mouths watering.
• Include “extra” CV sections like certifications or additional activities.

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

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