Crafting a compelling CV as a cook can prove challenging when trying to convey the uniqueness of your culinary style and experiences. Our guide offers targeted advice to distil your kitchen prowess into an engaging narrative that captures the attention of potential employers.
- Applying the simplest CV design, so that recruiters can easily understand your expertise, skills, and professional background;
- Ensuring you stand out with your header, summary or objective statement, and a designated skills section;
- Creating your CV experience section - no matter how much expertise you have;
- Using real life professional CV examples to enhance the structure and outline of your profile.
If you still have no muse to write your professional CV, find some more industry-leading examples.
Structuring your cook CV layout: four factors to keep in mind
There are plenty of best practices out there for your CV layout and design. At the end of the day, a clear format and concise CV message should be your top priority. Use your CV design to enhance separate sections, bringing them to the forefront of recruiters' attention. At the same time, you can write content that:- Follows the reverse chronological order in the experience section by first listing your most recent jobs;
- Incorporates your contact information in the header, but do skip out on the CV photo for roles in the UK;
- Is spotlighted in the most important sections of your CV, e.g. the summary or objective, experience, education, etc. to show just how you meet the job requirements;
- Is no longer than two-pages. Often, the one-page format can be optimal for your cook CV.
Before submitting your CV, you may wonder whether to export it in Doc or PDF. With the PDF format, your information and layout stay intact. This is quite useful when your CV is assessed by the Applicant Tracker System (or the ATS) . The ATS is a software that scans your profile for all relevant information and can easily understand latest study on the ATS , which looks at your CV columns, design, and so much more.
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For certain fields, consider including infographics or visual elements to represent skills or achievements, but ensure they are simple, professional, and enhance rather than clutter the information.
The top sections on a cook CV
- Professional Summary details your passion and expertise.
- Employment History showcases your experience in kitchens.
- Culinary Skills highlight the techniques you've mastered.
- Education & Training show your formal culinary qualifications.
- Food Safety Certification proves your knowledge in hygiene.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your culinary skills and techniques by detailing specific dishes or cuisines you are proficient in, which showcases your expertise and area of specialisation in the kitchen.
- Emphasize any experience with menu planning and development, as this demonstrates creativity and an understanding of pairing flavours and designing meals that appeal to various palates.
- Include any formal culinary education or apprenticeships, to validate your technical knowledge and commitment to the craft of cooking.
- Mention experience with inventory management and cost control, which are crucial for a cook's role in maintaining kitchen efficiency and profitability.
- Note any accolades or recognition you have received, such as awards or positive reviews, to provide evidence of your talent and successful track record in the culinary field.
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What information should you include in your cook CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their cook CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for cook:
- Sous Chef | Innovative Mediterranean Cuisine | Health & Nutrition Focused | Culinary Arts Degree | 5+ Years Experience
- Pastry Chef de Partie | French Patisserie Specialist | Chocolate Artistry | Level 3 Patisserie Diploma | 3 Years Expertise
- Executive Chef | Fine Dining & Menu Development | Leadership in Multi-Cultural Teams | 10+ Years Culinary Journey
- Commis Chef | Fast-Paced Brasserie | Food Safety Certified | Passion for Local Produce | 2 Years Professional Cooking
- Head Chef | Gastropub Excellence | Farm-to-Table Advocate | Menu Innovation | Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate | 7 Years
- Junior Sous Chef | Asian Fusion Expert | Creative Recipe Design | Culinary Management Graduate | Rising Star with 4 Years’ Experience
Catching recruiters' attention with your cook CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your cook CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a cook job:
- With over a decade of experience as a Head Chef in bustling London bistros, I possess a robust repertoire of Mediterranean and French cuisines, coupled with a track record of reducing food costs by 30% through strategic menu development and ingredient sourcing.
- Dedicated Pastry Chef with 8 years of creating exquisite French pastries in the vibrant patisseries of Paris, awarded “Best Chocolate Confection” at the 2021 Paris Baking Exhibition, seeking to bring international expertise to a new culinary environment.
- A former Sous-Chef with a passion for Japanese cuisine, transitioning to a career as a Sushi Chef, currently mastering the art of sushi preparation with prominent Tokyo mentors to bring authentic flavours and innovative presentations to a dynamic team.
- An experienced Farm Manager with a newfound love for culinary arts, actively pursuing a Diploma in Culinary Management, eager to apply sustainable farming practices and knowledge of fresh, organic produce to creative and health-conscious menu planning.
- As a newcomer to professional kitchens, I aim to leverage a meticulous approach and a rapid learning curve developed during a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management to excel in cooking and create memorable dining experiences for guests.
- Aiming to merge an enthusiastic approach and admiration for global cuisines with a recent Culinary Arts certification, I’m seeking to ignite my cooking career by contributing freshly acquired skills and embracing the mentorship of a seasoned kitchen brigade.
The best formula for your cook CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Demonstrated proficiency in high-volume environments by efficiently preparing up to 150 meals per shift whilst maintaining high-quality standards.
- Specialised in Mediterranean cuisine, successfully incorporating authentic ingredients to create traditional dishes for an exclusive clientele.
- Implemented inventory control procedures that reduced food waste by 20%, demonstrating a strong understanding of cost-effective kitchen management.
- Collaborated with a team of 10 chefs, ensuring seamless kitchen operations during peak hours and maintaining exceptional levels of customer satisfaction.
- Developed and executed a rotating menu that increased repeat customer visits by 30%, showcasing culinary creativity and responsiveness to customer preferences.
- Maintained an impeccably clean and sanitary kitchen workspace in compliance with food safety regulations, scoring 98% in health inspections consistently.
- Pioneered a farm-to-table programme that supported local producers and resulted in fresher ingredients for the restaurant's seasonal menus.
- Mentored four junior cooks through a rigorous apprenticeship programme, enhancing overall team skills and contributing to the restaurant's reputation for excellence.
- Regularly received commendations for attention to detail and artful presentation, evidencing the ability to not only cook but also beautifully plate dishes.
- Consistently maintained high levels of customer satisfaction, contributing to a 30% increase in repeat diners at a renowned gastropub.
- Streamlined the food preparation process by introducing a more efficient mise en place, thereby reducing food waste by approximately 20%.
- Collaborated on a new seasonal menu that led to a 15% uplift in overall sales, reflecting patrons' appreciation for locally sourced ingredients.
- Orchestrated kitchen operations for large scale events, serving up to 500 guests per event, whilst upholding exceptional quality standards.
- Implemented a stock control system that reduced inventory costs by 10% without impacting the availability of key ingredients.
- Played a pivotal role in the kitchen's achievement of a 5-star hygiene rating from local health authorities, demonstrating a commitment to cleanliness and food safety.
- Developed a new line of plant-based dishes, increasing the menu's vegetarian options by 40% to cater to a wider clientele.
- Signed a deal with a prominent food supplier which enhanced ingredient quality and resulted in a better overall dining experience for guests.
- Successfully managed a team of 10 kitchen staff to ensure seamless service during peak hours, which resulted in minimal customer wait time.
- Pioneered a culinary apprenticeship program, mentoring 15 trainees who have gone on to secure prominent culinary positions.
- Optimized supply chain logistics, shortening ingredient replenishment cycles from 1 week to 3 days, thus ensuring fresher produce in dishes.
- Led the kitchen team to win the 'Best Restaurant' award in a local food festival, bolstering the establishment's reputation and customer base.
- Liaised with nutritionists to create a balanced menu for a health-focused cafe, leading to a 25% increase in lunchtime traffic.
- Increased kitchen efficiency by 35% by implementing advanced cooking techniques and state-of-the-art culinary equipment.
- Reduced average meal preparation time by 5 minutes without compromising on the quality, handling up to 150 orders per shift.
- Supervised a multicultural kitchen staff, fostering a dynamic environment where culinary creativity flourished and employee turnover dropped by 15%.
- Introduced a popular 'Farm to Fork' weekly special that increased customer visits by 20% and emphasized the use of sustainable, local produce.
- Managed budgeting effectively, cutting food costs by 8% annually, whilst continually enhancing menu variety and quality.
- Expertly accommodated dietary restrictions for customers, resulting in positive reviews and an average rating of 4.7 stars on a major dining platform.
- Revitalized the restaurant's dessert menu by crafting innovative sweet treats, leading to a 50% increase in dessert sales.
- Controlled food cost by negotiating with suppliers, leading to a sustainable margin improvement of 5% over the tenure.
- Spearheaded a cross-functional team to launch a gourmet food truck, ultimately expanding the brand's reach and generating an additional £100k in annual revenue.
- Crafted over 20 new fusion recipes that became instant hits, solidifying the food truck's reputation for innovation and taste.
- Enhanced team productivity by 25% through the implementation of a rotational work schedule, thus preventing burnout and retaining high-performing staff.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your cook CV. Even if you don't happen to have much or any standard (full-time contract) professional experience, this doesn't mean you shouldn't apply for the role. Instead of a bespoke CV experience section:
- Showcase more prominently any internships, part-time roles, and volunteer experience that are applicable to the role and have taught you job-crucial skills;
- Feature a strengths or achievements section with your transferrable skills or talents you've obtained thanks to your work or life experience;
- Write an objective statement that clearly outlines your values as a candidate and defines your career ambitions;
- List your education or certificates that match the job profile closer to the top of your CV.
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Include examples of how you adapted to new tools, environments, or work cultures, showing your flexibility.
Mix and match hard and soft skills across your cook CV
Your skill set play an equally valid role as your experience to your application. That is because recruiters are looking for both:
- hard skills or your aptitude in applying particular technologies
- soft skills or your ability to work in a team using your personal skills, e.g. leadership, time management, etc.
Are you wondering how you should include both hard and soft skills across your cook CV? Use the:
- skills section to list between ten and twelve technologies that are part of the job requirement (and that you're capable to use);
- strengths and achievements section to detail how you've used particular hard and soft skills that led to great results for you at work;
- summary or objective to spotlight up to three skills that are crucial for the role and how they've helped you optimise your work processes.
One final note - when writing about the skills you have, make sure to match them exactly as they are written in the job ad. Take this precautionary measure to ensure your CV passes the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment.
Top skills for your cook CV:
Food Preparation
Cooking Techniques
Knife Skills
Baking
Grilling
Food Safety & Hygiene
Inventory Management
Recipe Creation
Kitchen Equipment Operation
Time Management
Communication
Adaptability
Teamwork
Attention to Detail
Stress Management
Organisation
Creativity
Problem-Solving
Passion for Cooking
Customer Service Orientation
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If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your cook CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your cook CV:
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Focus on describing skills in the context of the outcomes they’ve helped you achieve, linking them directly to tangible results or successes in your career.
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Key takeaways
Impressing recruiters with your experience, skill set, and values starts with your professional cook CV. Write concisely and always aim to answer job requirements with what you've achieved; furthermore:
- Select a simple design that complements your experience and ensures your profile is presentable;
- Include an opening statement that either spotlights your key achievements (summary) or showcases your career ambitions (objective);
- Curate your experience bullets, so that each one commences with a strong, action verb and is followed up by your skill and accomplishment;
- List your hard and soft skills all across different sections of your CV to ensure your application meets the requirements;
- Dedicate space to your relevant higher education diplomas and your certificates to show recruiters you have the necessary industry background.
