Chef Resume Example
Restaurant owners hire chefs who can cook well and run a profitable kitchen. Recruiters look for the covers you handle, the food cost you control, the team you lead and your food safety credentials.
Sous Chef
marcus.bennett@email.com · +1 (555) 619-3045 · linkedin.com/in/marcusbennettchef
Sous chef with 8 years of experience in high-volume Italian and New American kitchens. Run a 12-cook brigade serving 250+ covers a night, cut food cost from 34% to 29% and created 12 seasonal dishes for the menu.
Mar 2021 – Present
- Lead a 12-cook brigade for 250+ covers per night across 2 seatings
- Lowered food cost from 34% to 29% through recipe costing and supplier changes
- Developed 12 seasonal dishes, 3 of which became top-5 sellers
Jun 2017 – Feb 2021
- Ran grill and sauté stations for a 150-cover farm-to-table restaurant
- Trained 8 new cooks and kept 100% scores on 4 consecutive health inspections
Hyde Park, NY · Sep 2015 – May 2017
Chef resume summary examples
Line cook trained at culinary school with 2 years on the grill and sauté stations of a 150-cover bistro. ServSafe certified, fast under pressure and eager to grow into a sous chef role.
Sous chef with 6 years of experience in high-volume Italian kitchens serving 250+ covers a night. Developed 12 seasonal dishes and lowered food cost from 34% to 29%.
Executive chef with 12 years of experience leading brigades of up to 20 in fine-dining and hotel kitchens. Opened 2 restaurants, manage a $900K annual food budget and earned a 4-star local review.
Best skills for a Chef resume
Hard skills
Soft skills
Chef resume FAQ
What should a chef put on a resume?
Describe each kitchen with numbers: cuisine, covers per night, brigade size and your station or rank. Then show results such as food cost percentage, waste reduction or new dishes that sold well. Add ServSafe or equivalent certifications and culinary training. A link to a photo portfolio or menu you created can also help.
How do I move from line cook to sous chef on my resume?
Emphasize any leadership you already take on: training new cooks, running the pass when the sous chef is off, writing prep lists or placing orders. Quantify consistency and speed, for example tickets out on time. Include menu items you contributed and food safety certification to show you are ready for responsibility.
Do I need culinary school on a chef resume?
No, many chefs come up through apprenticeships and years on the line, and employers value proven experience over diplomas. If you have a culinary degree, list it in education; if not, put certifications like ServSafe and any stages in respected kitchens. Your experience section and measurable kitchen results will carry the resume.