Sample Resume: How to write a Restaurant Resume

As the job market has been flooded with job vacancies, eager applicants have also come out in droves. If you want to stand out from the crowd and land an interview, there is only one option: having an impeccable restaurant resume.

From the description of your employment history to the presentation of your skills, even the layout – discover how to write a restaurant resume that will secure you an interview. In this guide, we will also provide you with an example restaurant resume to give you some inspiration.

Average wages vary depending upon levels of skill, experience and qualifications as follows:

• Food Preparation workers: $12.50 per hour
• Waiter / Waitresses: $11.42 per hour
• Chefs and Head Cooks: $25 per hour
• Food Service Managers: $27 per hour

Before we get started, did you know that you can make things easier for yourself by using our customizable sample resume? All you need to do is pick the resume template that suits you best, complete a few details then download it as a PDF or Word file!

Ready to write a resume that’ll land you a job in the restaurant industry (kitchen porter, kitchen assistant, chef, head chef, etc)? Then let’s go!

How can I get a top-rate resume for a chef or kitchen assistant position?

When you’re writing up your restaurant resume, bear in mind that you won’t be the only one aiming for the post. To make yourself stand out, ensure that you showcase your strengths in your resume.

Let’s look at the work experience section for example. If you have already worked in a well-known restaurant, be sure to include this. This is a sure-fire way of capturing your recruiter’s attention.

Likewise, don’t forget to mention if you are trained in preparing a particular kind of cuisine (Japanese, Creole, Chinese, etc.).

Of course, in any case, you need to include information that lines up with the expectations of your future employer. It is for this reason that, before filling in your resume, you should go over the job offer description again.

And for the icing on the cake: pay close attention to the presentation of your restaurant resume. On one hand, as a testament to your professionalism. On the other hand, because it will help you make a great first impression.

The perfect resume layout for restaurant work: from head chef to commis chef or kitchen porter

A recruiter may be required to handle several application files in a single day. If you want to make their life a little easier, make sure your presentation is simply to die for. If you’re in need of inspiration, use our ready-to-use resume templates.

Take note of the following criteria if you want to achieve a simple, professional, and impactful resume layout:

• The font: choose a font type that’s easy on the eye (Arial, Avenir, Verdana, etc.)
• Font size: make sure the text is clearly legible (no smaller than font size 9)
• The length: ensure that your resume is no more than one side of A4
• Color scheme: opt for classic colors such as grey, blue, or red (you could even take a bit of a risk and combine two different colors)

Before we show you a sample restaurant resume, let’s take a look at how it should be structured:

• Header: to indicate your personal details (first name, surname, contact information, etc.) as well as the title of the job you are aiming for
• Personal statement: to summarize your job profile (important for catching the reader’s eye)
• Employment history: to demonstrate the development of your career (as well as the most relevant tasks carried out)
• Academic background: to prove that you are capable of taking up the position (kitchen porter, kitchen assistant, chef, head chef, etc.)
• Skills: to show your future employer all the assets you could bring to the table
• Optional sections: foreign languages, computer skills, and interests

Describing your work experience in your restaurant resume

As an essential part of a resume for restaurant work, it is worth ensuring that your work experience section is well presented. Indeed, by looking at your career journey, recruiters can see if you would be up to the task and able to succeed in the future position.

With that in mind, be sure to showcase any experiences which could help you bring real value to the establishment you are applying to. To help you stack all the odds in your favor, here are some good practices to follow:

• Describe your tasks using action verbs (prepare, manage, organize, develop, etc.) for more impact
• Lend more weight to your restaurant resume by backing up your statements with figures
• Present your experiences in a reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent and going backward)
• Don’t forget to include the contract dates, the name of the establishment as well as the job title

Sample Restaurant Resume: Correct presentation of the work experience section

CORRECT

April 2018 - Aug 2020

The Palm Court, London

Sous-chef (Pastry Chef)

• Coordinating a team of 4 chefs and 3 commis chefs
• Overseeing the preparation and distribution of all dishes (75 per day) in strict accordance with food safety and hygiene rules
• Maintaining the cleanliness of the premises and kitchen equipment

Sample Restaurant Resume: Incorrect presentation of employment history

INCORRECT

2018

The Palm Court, London

Sous-chef

• Leading a team of chefs
• Preparing several dishes every day
• Upkeep of reception rooms and kitchen equipment

Education, training, and experience as kitchen staff in your resume

Whether it’s a HACCP training course, a NVQ in Cookery, or a BTEC HND in Professional Cookery or in Hospitality and Catering, be sure to highlight these experiences in your restaurant resume. Indeed, many recruiters place a great deal of importance in their candidates’ credentials.

If you need help with the layout of your education section, here are two restaurant resume examples:

Restaurant Resume Sample: the education section for an experienced commis chef

This sample resume for an experienced chef only shows the candidate’s most recent qualification, the year of completion and the institution. This is sufficient in this case, as the employment history section is enough to show the reader what the candidate is made of and to catch their attention. Too much information will clutter the resume and will have less impact on the reader.

Sample Resume: the education section for a commis chef with no experience

What should come first: experience or education in the Restaurant Resume?

The layout you need to opt for in these two sections will depend a great deal on your level of experience. If you already have some restaurant experience under your belt, indicate your employment history first and foremost. If not, put your education section at the top. But make sure you offer up a more detailed description of your academic background as shown above.

What are the most important job skills for a Restaurant Resume?

If you want to easily integrate the key skills that the company is looking for, look no further than the job offer description. Select the keywords that apply best to you as a worker. Then, in your restaurant resume, list the qualities and skills that will paint you as the ideal candidate for the job.

To give you a better idea of what this should look like, here are the 10 most sought-after skills and attributes for chefs:

• Menu design
• Adherence to food hygiene and safety rules
• Knowledge of food preparation techniques
• Optimization of cleaning and sanitization practices
• Inventory management ability
• Leadership skills
• Performance under pressure
• Teamwork skills
• Precision and speed
• Organizational skills

Other skills to include in a restaurant resume: languages, interests, and additional knowledge

Though these sections are optional, if you want to include them in your chef resume, opt for information that will be of real value to the company.

Here are some of the optional sections you could include in your language resume:

Language skills:

Crucial for restaurants opening their doors to lots of tourists

Hobbies and interests:

It’s up to you to decide on what information to include, but keep in mind that your hobbies are a way for recruiters to scope out your personality

Certifications

(Certified head chef in a community restaurant, for example): useful to give your future employer added reassurance

Key points for crafting a competitive restaurant resume

If you want to truly capture the recruiter’s attention with your chef resume, adhere to the following points:

• Ensure the layout is impeccable (use our customizable resume template to make it original and unique)
• Write a personal statement that incites the reader to read on and find out more
• Only include professional experiences that will be of interest to the potential employer (refer to the offer description)
• Use action verbs and figures when describing the tasks previously assigned to you
• Put your education section first (with a detailed account of the theoretical and practical examinations you took for each diploma) if you don’t have much experience

Writing a cover letter that will add value to your restaurant resume

Don’t forget to specify the position you’re going for. Briefly summarize the aspects of your career journey which are the most important and which directly link to what the company is looking for. You should also indicate your level of education. And be sure to dedicate a paragraph to the reasons behind your desire to join their team.

Frequently Asked Questions for a Restaurant Resume

What are the must-have personal attributes to be a great chef?

To be a good chef, you need to:

• Be extremely well-organized
• Demonstrate a high level of precision and speed when carrying out tasks
• Be highly adaptable to change
• Perform well under pressure
• Be a great team player

Where can a job as a kitchen assistant lead to?

With a few years of experience as a kitchen assistant under your belt, you can move up the ranks to become a chef, sous-chef, station chef, or even head chef. As food workers are required all over the world, you can potentially work anywhere in the world!

How can I make my restaurant resume stand out?

Before you launch into writing your resume, you should first make a list of all your assets which could put you one step ahead of other candidates. Make use of the job offer description to come up with information that lines up with the company’s expectations. This could be knowledge of Spanish or Indian cuisine, for example.

And last but not least, make sure the resume layout is polished if you want to grab the recruiter’s attention.