Chef resume template: example & tips
Chefs and kitchen managers read a resume like a prep list: where you cooked, which station, what kind of kitchen and how many covers. Food safety certification is expected in most kitchens. A short, clear resume with these points gets you a working interview – where the rest shows.
Our pick
Clear
FreeATS-safe ✅Photo moduleWhy this template
Clear and direct – kitchens, stations and certifications, without the layout distracting from the craft. The free template is single-column and suitable for hotel and restaurant groups with online applications.
Example summary
Your summary sits right below your name. Replace everything in square brackets with your own details.
Chef with [number] years of experience in [restaurant/hotel/catering], most recently as [line cook/sous chef/chef de partie] on the [station] station. Experienced with [number] covers per night, ServSafe Manager certified, skilled in food cost control and menu development. Available from [date], including nights and weekends.
What a strong Chef resume looks like
Sample bullet points for your experience. Where it says [number], put your own figure – made-up numbers fall apart in the interview.
- Ran the [station] station in a restaurant serving [number] covers per night
- Prepared and plated banquets for up to [number] guests
- Helped develop the seasonal menu, including recipe costing
- Cut food cost by [number]% through better prep planning and waste reduction
- Kept HACCP logs and temperature records in line with health code
- Trained [number] new line cooks on prep and plating standards
- Received deliveries and placed orders with [number] suppliers
Hard skills
- Stations: [e.g. sauté, grill, garde manger, pastry]
- À la carte service and banquets
- Food safety and HACCP
- Allergen management
- Receiving, inventory and ordering
- Recipe costing and food cost control
- Menu development
- Training line cooks
Soft skills – with proof
- Calm and speed in a packed service
- Clear communication at the pass
- Clean, organized station
- Stamina for nights, weekends and holidays
ATS keywords for Chef resumes
Terms that come up often in job ads for this role. Only use what is true for you – ideally in the wording of the ad you are applying to.
- Chef
- Line Cook
- Sous Chef
- Cook
- Kitchen
- À la Carte
- Banquets
- ServSafe
- Food Safety
- HACCP
- Menu Development
- Food Cost
- Inventory
- Culinary
Tips for your Chef resume
- Describe each kitchen: type, size, style. “Hotel restaurant, 120 covers, modern American” tells a chef your pace and level.
- Name your stations and your position on the line – line cook, chef de partie, sous chef.
- List ServSafe or food handler certifications with expiration dates. Most kitchens need them on file.
- Seasonal jobs and kitchens abroad are a plus – they show adaptability and new techniques. List them with location and style.
- If you specialize – pastry, plant-based, seafood, high-volume – say so in the summary. Specialties often get you the interview.
Salary
Pay depends on location, employer, experience and certification – a single number says little. For current figures by occupation, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Occupational Outlook Handbook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)