Tips for Writing Your Chef Resume

Becoming a chef is a serious undertaking, so if you're planning to embark on a full time career, start with a strong resume.  Your resume is your ticket to some of the best exposures for internship, training, experience and promotion.  Here's how to build a chef resume that will highlight your expertise and get you noticed:

Mind the form
Resumes, regardless of the chef position you're applying for, should follow a standard form.  Take note of the proper margins on all sides, fonts and format.  After the heading, which contains your name, address and contact information, write down your education and training.  Include all certifications you have earned that are related to your chosen career. 

Next, outline your experience as a chef.  Include the dates, name of establishments and your positions.  Write your experience as a chef and highlight your management skills. 

Show your skills.
Your resume should be a short but concise showcase of your skills and abilities as a chef so make sure they are included in detail.  Do you have extraordinary accomplishments as a chef at a fine dining restaurant?  Include that in your resume.  Make sure to highlight your special tenures or work experiences, especially in excellent and reputable establishments and use bullet points if necessary. 

Mention achievements such as increasing business and saving costs for the restaurants you’ve worked.  Potential employers like to see that you have the ability to attract new business and maintain old ones.  They also want to see that you are cost conscious and are capable of implementing cost-efficient measures without sacrificing quality.

Mention words that are related to your cooking skills and include those that highlight your management experience such as quality control, menu planning and selection and staff training.  Your resume should show that you are capable of handling a group and managing day-to-day activities in the kitchen.

Mention your special skills and abilities
Your certification is a good source of information about your extra skills but it's best to include a separate portion of your resume that will highlight your special abilities.  If you are aware of kosher and halal dietary laws, write it down. 

If you are knowledgeable about wine and spirits or can speak Italian, French or German, don't be shy about mentioning it.  Don’t forget to mention your affiliations and memberships.  Your chef's resume should show that you can do more than just man the kitchen and that you can actually interact with your customers.

Never lie about anything
It's easy to check your references as a chef and whatever exaggerations you make on your resume will be found out, sooner or later.  Best stick to the facts.