Crafting a CV that adequately showcases your diverse culinary expertise and ability to manage kitchen staff can be a daunting challenge for any sous chef. Our comprehensive guide offers tailored advice and practical templates to help you articulate your skills convincingly, ensuring your CV stands out to potential employers.
Land the job of your dreams with our bespoke guide on how to:
- Design and format your professional sous chef CV;
- Curate your key contact information, skills, and achievements throughout your CV sections;
- Ensure your profile stays competitive by studying other industry-leading sous chef CVs;
- Create a great CV even if you happen to have less professional experience, or switching fields.
When writing your sous chef CV, you may need plenty of insights from hiring managers. We have prepared industry-leading advice in the form of our relevant CV guides.
Resume examples for sous chef
Explore additional sous chef cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Role
Executive Sous Chef
- Structured Career Progression - Lily Cooper's CV showcases a logical career trajectory, moving from Chef de Partie to Senior Sous Chef, indicating consistent growth and increased responsibilities over time. This progression demonstrates her commitment to advancing within the culinary field and her capacity to take on leadership roles in prestigious kitchen environments.
- Diverse Skill Set with Technical Expertise - The CV effectively highlights industry-specific skills, such as menu development and inventory management, vital for kitchen operations. Additionally, it underscores technical depth by mentioning certifications like the Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate, ensuring food safety compliance – a key element in maintaining high operational standards.
- Impact-Oriented Achievements - Achievements are presented with quantitative and qualitative impacts, such as improving customer satisfaction by 20% and reducing food waste costs by 10%. These metrics not only highlight Lily's ability to enhance kitchen efficiency but also demonstrate her positive contribution to the business's bottom line and customer experience.
Sous Chef de Cuisine
- Career advancement and stability - The CV demonstrates a solid career trajectory from Chef De Cuisine to Junior Sous Chef, showing sustained advancement within prestigious establishments. Each role builds on the previous one, highlighting a logical growth in responsibilities and leadership capabilities, which shows the candidate's reliability and capacity for growth in high-demand environments.
- Efficient and impactful process improvements - Ivy Ward has a track record of implementing changes that lead to quantifiable improvements, such as increasing kitchen efficiency by 30% and reducing food waste by 15%. These achievements indicate a proactive approach to problem-solving and a strong understanding of operational efficiencies, closely aligned with business goals.
- Diverse expertise in training and leadership - The inclusion of leadership roles and team training demonstrates the candidate's commitment to developing others and improving team dynamics. Leading a team of 15 chefs and training kitchen staff in specific protocols underline Ivy's ability to manage people as well as processes efficiently, which is crucial in a kitchen environment.
Sous Chef de Partie
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is meticulously organized, with each section clearly delineated and logically arranged to provide a coherent and concise overview of the candidate's qualifications, experience, and achievements. The layout facilitates easy navigation, helping the reader swiftly identify key information relevant to the role.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Florence Knight demonstrates a clear upward career trajectory, moving from roles such as Chef de Partie to more responsible positions like Junior Sous Chef. The progression indicates growing expertise and responsibility, and it underscores the candidate's ability to adapt and thrive in increasingly challenging environments.
- Emphasis on Innovation and Sustainability - The CV highlights Florence Knight's focus on culinary innovation and sustainable practices, such as introducing a waste-tracking system and developing seasonal menus. These efforts not only enhance culinary offerings but also align with contemporary industry trends towards environmental responsibility and creative menu development.
Regional Sous Chef
- Impactful Career Trajectory - Florence Knight’s CV masterfully illustrates her growth in the culinary industry, moving from Chef de Partie to Regional Support Chef. Each role highlights a significant increase in responsibility, showcasing a career path centered around leadership and operational excellence.
- Strategic Use of Industry-Specific Tools - The inclusion of details like implementing waste tracking systems and modernizing menu offerings demonstrates Florence’s proficiency with industry methodologies. These elements underline her capability to leverage specific tools to drive efficiency and elevate service standards.
- Achievements with Measurable Business Impact - The CV shines by translating achievements into concrete business benefits, such as a 25% increase in patron engagements or a reduction in supply costs by 10%. This approach effectively communicates her contributions beyond mere responsibilities, illustrating real-world impact.
By Industry
Sous Chef in Fine Dining
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized, featuring clearly defined sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. Each section is concisely written, making it easy for the reader to identify the candidate's key qualifications and experiences that align with the culinary field.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Mia Ward's career progression from Chef de Partie to Junior Sous Chef demonstrates a strong upward trajectory, showcasing growth and increasing responsibilities over a six-year period. Her roles at prominent establishments like The Ledbury and The Fat Duck highlight her capability to work and thrive in high-caliber, fine dining environments.
- Innovative Culinary Techniques - The CV highlights Mia's proficiency in advanced culinary practices such as sous-vide and molecular gastronomy, showcasing her technical depth in the industry. This establishes her as a culinary innovator with a drive for incorporating cutting-edge techniques in her cooking, making her a valuable asset in the culinary arts landscape.
Sous Chef in Casual Dining
- Prominent Emphasis on Sustainable Practices - The CV uniquely highlights Freddie's commitment to sustainability within the culinary industry. It details various initiatives, such as sourcing 80% of ingredients locally and reducing kitchen waste by 40%, that not only align with modern eco-friendly trends but also demonstrate a responsible and forward-thinking approach to cooking.
- Diverse Culinary Experience and Advancement - Freddie's career trajectory is clearly articulated, showing progress from a Chef de Partie to a Senior Sous Chef. This advancement across esteemed establishments like Jamie Oliver's Fifteen and The Botanist showcases his development in skillset, responsibility, and leadership capabilities, underscoring his commitment to professional growth within the culinary world.
- Leadership and Mentorship - The CV provides strong evidence of leadership qualities and mentorship skills. Freddie has successfully led large teams to achieve notable improvements in efficiency and kitchen operations. His ability to mentor junior chefs is emphasized through achievements that have resulted in team members' promotions, illustrating his dedication to developing talent within the industry.
Sous Chef in Catering Services
- Clear structure with a focused introduction - The CV opens with a concise and clearly defined header, showcasing Finley Robinson's title and key areas of expertise such as menu development and team leadership. The summary further reiterates this focus, effectively setting up the reader for the detailed career accomplishments that follow.
- Demonstrates significant career growth - Finley's career trajectory illustrates a clear path of advancement within the culinary industry, from a Chef de Partie to a Sous Chef at renowned establishments. This progression highlights Finley's ability to take on increasing responsibilities and showcases their continuous development within competitive culinary environments.
- Emphasis on impactful achievements and business outcomes - The CV does an excellent job of quantifying successes, with notable achievements like boosting customer satisfaction by 30% and reducing food waste by 20%. These numbers are not only impressive but also directly connect Finley's contributions to tangible business improvements at previous workplaces.
Sous Chef in Hotel Industry
- Structured and Concise Content Presentation - Oscar Evans' CV is neatly organized with clearly defined sections, making it easy for the reader to find relevant information quickly. The bullet-point format under each job position allows for concise presentation of responsibilities and achievements without extraneous detail, supporting readability and efficiency.
- Impressive Career Progression and Specialization - The CV illustrates a well-defined career trajectory, starting from a Lead Line Cook to a Sous Chef, with significant roles in reputable establishments like The Ritz London and The Kitchin. This progression highlights his increasing responsibilities and expertise, particularly in farm-to-table cuisine and culinary innovation, which are essential for advancing in the culinary industry.
- Focus on Culinary Innovation and Sustainability - Oscar emphasizes his commitment to sustainable sourcing and farm-to-table cuisine, reflecting a modern and responsible approach to cooking. His passion for culinary innovation and sustainable practices aligns with contemporary industry trends, showcasing his leadership in adopting forward-thinking culinary methods.
Sous Chef in Baking and Patisserie
- Structured and concise presentation of qualifications - The CV is exceptionally well-organized, with clear headers and bullet points that ensure easy navigation through Alfie Edwards’ professional journey. Each section highlights key accomplishments and responsibilities concisely, allowing readers to quickly grasp the scope of his skills and achievements.
- Consistent career progression in the culinary industry - Alfie Edwards demonstrates a clear upward trajectory, moving from Chef de Partie to Sous Chef, and then to Head Chef. This progression highlights his growing leadership responsibilities and successful mastery of increasingly complex roles in renowned culinary establishments across the UK.
- Concrete achievements with a focus on operational impact - The CV emphasizes Alfie’s success in driving business improvements through initiatives like reducing food waste by 25% and increasing customer satisfaction by 15%. These achievements not only showcase his focus on efficiency and quality but also underline the tangible impact of his efforts on business performance.
Sous Chef in Seafood Restaurants
- Structured Presentation for Impact - The CV is designed with clear and concise sections that guide the reader through Theodore Green's professional journey effectively. Details are organized in a logical way, highlighting each position with specified dates and locations, which helps maintain clarity and ease of understanding.
- Strategic Career Progression - Theodore Green's career trajectory shows consistent growth within the culinary industry, from a Chef de Partie to a Sous Chef at a renowned restaurant group. This linear progression emphasizes his expanding responsibility, skill set, and sustained passion for Scottish cuisine.
- Innovation in Culinary Practices - The CV uniquely emphasizes his dedication to industry-specific trends like zero-waste practices and modern cooking techniques. These elements reflect a forward-thinking mindset and align with current sustainability trends in the culinary world, enhancing his profile attractiveness to potential employers.
Sous Chef in Vegetarian Restaurants
- Structured and Clear Presentation - The CV is well-organized with concise sections that provide a comprehensive view of the candidate's journey. Each section is clearly labeled, making it easy for the reader to navigate through Daniel Baker's professional history, educational qualifications, skills, and achievements without getting overwhelmed.
- Impressive Career Progression - Daniel's career trajectory reflects consistent growth in the culinary industry, starting from Chef de Partie and advancing to his current role as Head Chef. This progression demonstrates his capability to take on greater responsibilities and adapt to more complex roles within high-pressure kitchen environments.
- Achievements with Tangible Impact - The CV highlights Daniel's achievements in improving kitchen operations and customer satisfaction. By providing specific metrics, such as a 30% improvement in customer favorites and a 20% reduction in food waste, the CV emphasizes his ability to make impactful contributions that drive business success.
Sous Chef in Italian Cuisine
- Strong Career Growth Path and Culinary Expertise - Amelia Murphy's CV effectively outlines a clear career trajectory from Junior Sous Chef to Senior Sous Chef, demonstrating her growth within the Italian culinary field. Her progression signifies her increasing responsibilities and mastery of complex culinary techniques. This path reflects dedication to her craft and a deepening expertise in Italian cuisine, making her a valuable asset in any high-quality restaurant environment.
- Business-Impact Achievements with Tangible Results - The CV highlights numerous impressive achievements that underline Amelia's ability to make a significant positive impact on business operations. From spearheading a menu development that boosted restaurant sales by 15% to optimizing inventory management reducing food waste by 25%, each accomplishment is depicted with concrete metrics that demonstrate her ability to enhance profitability and operational efficiency.
- Structured and Comprehensive Presentation - The CV is well-organized, presenting information clearly and succinctly. Sections such as summary, experience, education, and achievements are logically structured, providing a comprehensive view of Amelia’s qualifications. The use of bullet points under each experience section ensures clarity and allows readers to quickly grasp her contributions and expertise. The inclusion of relevant certifications and language skills further enriches her professional profile, aligning with the role's requirements in Italian cuisine.
Sous Chef in French Cuisine
- Well-Structured Presentation - The CV offers a clear and structured format, making it easy to follow and digest. Each section is distinct and logically ordered, starting with personal details, flowing through work experience and education, and culminating in skills and certifications. This clarity ensures that hiring managers can quickly identify key qualifications.
- Career Progression in French Cuisine - Rosie's career trajectory demonstrates substantial growth within the French culinary sector, progressing from Commis Chef to Chef de Partie. This upward movement shows her dedication to mastering her craft, particularly in developing specialty dishes and participating in high-stakes culinary environments which align with her passion for French cuisine.
- Emphasis on Impactful Achievements - The CV highlights Rosie's ability to significantly improve operational and customer-facing aspects of restaurants. Through her initiatives, such as menu development and waste reduction, Rosie not only showcases her culinary skills but also her strategic mind, contributing to both enhanced customer satisfaction and sustainability goals.
Sous Chef in Asian Cuisine
- Strong focus on culinary innovation and sustainability - Isabella's CV emphasizes her passion for integrating international culinary traditions with modern techniques, as shown by her achievements in menu development. Her dedication to sustainable cooking practices highlights her industry-specific knowledge and commitment to eco-friendly initiatives, aligning well with contemporary culinary trends.
- Demonstrated growth through progressive roles - The career trajectory outlined in the CV is impressive, illustrating Isabella's rise from Chef de Partie to Head Chef. Each role reflects a clear progression of responsibilities, knowledge accumulation, and skill enhancement, culminating in leading a prestigious kitchen at Hakkasan. Her ability to adapt and thrive in different culinary environments showcases her strong career development.
- Emphasis on leadership and team success - The CV highlights Isabella's leadership skills, as seen in her effective team management and training programs that boosted kitchen efficiency and morale. Her efforts resulted in heightened team engagement and high staff retention rates, demonstrating her ability to cultivate a positive and productive work environment, crucial for any head chef role.
Sous Chef in Indian Cuisine
- Structured and Comprehensive Presentation - The CV is well-organized, presenting key information in a clear and concise manner. Sections such as experience, education, and skills are distinctly labeled, making it easy to navigate and understand the candidate's background quickly. The use of bullet points under each job title effectively highlights specific achievements and responsibilities, allowing for a concise yet comprehensive overview of past roles.
- Impressive Career Progression - Florence Knight's career trajectory showcases a clear growth pattern, from starting as a Commis Chef to assuming leadership positions as a Sous Chef. Each role reflects a step up in responsibility and expertise, indicating a strong commitment to professional development within the culinary industry, particularly focusing on South Indian cuisine.
- Depth of Culinary and Leadership Skills - The CV highlights Florence's unique industry-specific capabilities, such as developing 30 unique South Indian dishes and her adeptness in culinary techniques. Furthermore, her ability to lead teams and mentor junior chefs underscores her leadership skills, which are essential for managing complex kitchen operations and ensuring high standards are maintained.
Sous Chef in Mexican Cuisine
- Career Development and Recognition - Oliver Smith's progression from Chef de Partie to Sous Chef illustrates a clear career development trajectory, marked by increasing responsibilities and leadership roles. His achievements, such as the "Sauce of the Year Award" and the "Sustainability Champions Recognition," highlight recognition from external bodies, underpinning his industry impact and professional growth.
- Innovative and Sustainable Practices - The CV effectively showcases Smith's commitment to sustainability through various initiatives like reducing kitchen waste by 30%. His focus on using high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients illustrates a modern, eco-conscious approach to culinary arts, aligning with current industry trends towards sustainability and the farm-to-table movement.
- Comprehensive Skill Set in Culinary Arts - The document covers a wide array of skills specific to the culinary industry, including live-fire cooking, supplier management, and culinary creativity. These competencies, combined with formal education and courses, demonstrate a deep technical proficiency and ongoing commitment to mastering the craft of cooking.
Sous Chef in Mediterranean Cuisine
- Exemplifies a clear and organized structure - The CV's layout is easy to navigate, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, and achievements, allowing the reader to quickly comprehend the candidate’s comprehensive qualifications.
- Showcases progressive career growth - George Johnson's career trajectory highlights steady progression from a Chef de Partie to a Sous Chef role, reflecting professional growth and enhanced responsibilities in higher stakes positions.
- Highlights expertise in Mediterranean and pizza cuisine - Industry-specific skills such as wood-fired pizza techniques and Mediterranean cooking stand out, showcasing a focused expertise that is critical in George's culinary niche.
Sous Chef in Fusion Cuisine
- Effective Content Presentation - The CV is meticulously structured, presenting information in a clear and concise manner. Each section is well-organized, allowing the reader to easily identify key achievements, skills, and career milestones. The use of bullet points aids in skimming through specific accomplishments at a glance.
- Solid Career Trajectory - Eva Fisher’s career growth is prominently highlighted, starting from a Chef de Partie and advancing to a Junior Sous Chef. The progression within renowned establishments like The Ritz London and The Ivy Collection underscores her ability to thrive in high-pressure environments and assume greater responsibilities over time.
- Strong Focus on Culinary Innovation - The CV emphasizes industry-specific elements such as menu development and culinary innovation. Eva’s accomplishments in experimenting with new flavors and leading menu collaborations exhibit technical depth and a commitment to enhancing dining experiences, thus making her a standout candidate in the culinary field.
Sous Chef in Gourmet Food Services
- Emphasis on Team Leadership and Development - Florence Knight's CV highlights her strong leadership capabilities, as seen in her role at The Ivy Collection where she led a kitchen team of 15, resulting in a significant improvement in food delivery times and staff morale. Her commitment to mentoring young culinary talent is also emphasized, showcasing her dedication to developing future leaders in the culinary field.
- Achievements with Tangible Impact - The CV meticulously details Florence's achievements, demonstrating her ability to drive meaningful outcomes. For instance, her implementation of a waste reduction program not only decreased food waste by 17% but also saved the company over £12,000 annually, underscoring her effectiveness in cost management and environmental responsibility.
- Structured Presentation with Industry-Specific Expertise - The CV's structured layout effectively presents Florence's culinary journey, emphasizing key skills such as menu development, inventory management, and food safety regulations. Her advanced culinary certification from Le Cordon Bleu and a strong educational background reinforce her technical depth and readiness to tackle complex challenges in culinary innovation.
How complex should the format of your sous chef CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your sous chef CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:
- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
PRO TIP
Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a sous chef CV
- Professional Summary to highlight career goals and expertise.
- Core Skills to outline essential culinary and management abilities.
- Work Experience shows growth and achievements in the kitchen.
- Educational Background demonstrates formal training and qualifications.
- Culinary Certifications to showcase specialised knowledge and standards.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your culinary skills and specific cooking techniques you excel in, as these are essential for a sous chef to support and innovate within the kitchen team.
- Emphasise your experience in menu development and your ability to work with the head chef to create innovative dishes that align with the restaurant's concept and seasonal availability.
- Demonstrate your leadership and management abilities by mentioning any experience you have in supervising kitchen staff, training new team members or managing inventory.
- Showcase your understanding of health and safety regulations, as well as proficiency in maintaining high kitchen standards, which are critical for a sous chef's responsibilities.
- Include any experience with cost control, such as managing budgets, reducing waste or negotiating with suppliers, as these skills contribute to the efficient operation of a restaurant's kitchen.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning sous chef CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for sous chef:
- Sous Chef | Contemporary Italian Cuisine Specialist | City & Guilds Level 3 Certified | 10 Years' Experience
- Senior Sous Chef | Fine Dining Expertise | Menu Innovation | HACCP Certified | 15+ Years in Culinary Arts
- Junior Sous Chef | Modern European Dishes | Culinary Arts Graduate | Passion for Pastry | 4 Years Professional
- Sous Chef de Cuisine | Farm-to-Table Advocate | Advanced Diploma in Professional Cookery | 7 Years' Experience
- Executive Sous Chef | Asian Fusion Styles | Staff Leadership & Training | 12 Years Culinary Expertise
- Sous Chef | Bistro and Casual Dining | Food Safety Manager Certification | Progressive Career 6 Years
Your sous chef CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
sous chef candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you sous chef CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a sous chef job:
- With a robust 10 years of culinary experience in high-paced, upscale restaurants, this sous chef brings expertise in French and Mediterranean cuisine, strong leadership in kitchen management, and a history of reducing food cost by 20% at a Michelin-starred establishment.
- Offering 7 years of dedicated experience within bustling seafood eateries, this candidate possesses a track record of developing award-winning seasonal menus and mentoring junior chefs to win regional cooking contests.
- Transitioning from a career in food journalism, this individual comes with a fresh perspective and a deep understanding of global gastronomy, eager to apply their strong writing and communication skills to creatively present dishes and enhance menu offerings.
- A financial analyst with a passion for gourmet cooking, looking to embrace a new culinary career path, brings a meticulous eye for detail and a strong foundation in analytical skill sets, coupled with extensive knowledge of international cuisines from personal travel and research.
- Aspiring sous chef, with no formal kitchen experience but a profound appreciation for Italian culinary traditions, seeks to contribute to a dynamic team with innovative approaches while honing skills in pasta preparation and regional Italian sauces.
- Keen to dive into the culinary arts, this recent culinary school graduate is adamant about blending a love for Asian fusion dishes with an eagerness to learn under seasoned professionals and contribute fresh insights into contemporary menu development.
The best formula for your sous chef 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
- Managed a team of 8 chefs, assigning tasks and ensuring that all kitchen activities were executed efficiently and to a high standard, promoting teamwork and maintaining harmony among staff.
- Developed seasonal menus in collaboration with the head chef, incorporating fresh, local ingredients to maintain an innovative and competitive edge, whilst also managing inventory and reducing food wastage.
- Rigorously enforced food safety and sanitation protocols, consistently passing health inspections with high ratings, and providing regular staff training to maintain compliance.
- Streamlined kitchen operations by implementing a new stock rotation system, ensuring all produce remained fresh and high quality, reducing spoilage and cutting costs by 15%.
- Collaborated with suppliers to secure the best prices on high-quality ingredients, building strong relationships that ensured the restaurant could offer premium dishes at a competitive price point.
- Acted as the key liaison between the kitchen and front-of-house staff, facilitating clear communication to ensure guest satisfaction and the smooth delivery of services during peak times.
- Designed and executed special event menus, receiving commendations for creativity and attention to detail, which elevated the dining experience and attracted positive media coverage.
- Conducted monthly inventory audits and produced detailed reports for the management team, offering actionable insights to optimise food cost and manage budgets effectively.
- Mentored junior chefs through structured training programmes, encouraging continuous professional development and fostering a culture of culinary excellence and innovation in the kitchen.
Work Experience
Senior Sous Chef
The Ritz London
06/2019-Ongoing
- Oversaw the development and launch of a new seasonal menu, which increased customer base by 25% in six months.
- Supervised a kitchen team of 10, improving productivity by streamlining prep processes and reducing food waste by 20%.
- Collaborated with the head chef in designing special event menus for private dining experiences, contributing to a 30% increase in event bookings.
Work Experience
Executive Sous Chef
Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's
01/2016-12/2018
- Implemented a new inventory control system, reducing ingredient costs by 15% annually while maintaining quality standards.
- Led a kitchen brigade during lunch and dinner services, consistently achieving a 95% satisfaction rating from diners.
- Trained junior chefs on modern cooking techniques, ensuring consistent quality and increasing menu offerings by 10%.
Work Experience
Sous Chef de Cuisine
The Ledbury
04/2013-05/2015
- Managed a kitchen team to execute a high-volume service, serving up to 450 covers per night with precision and attention to detail.
- Pioneered a waste reduction initiative that saved the restaurant £3,000 per month in costs.
- Curated a series of pairing dinners that attracted renowned food critics and increased media exposure for the restaurant.
Work Experience
Associate Sous Chef
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
03/2011-03/2013
- Assisted in the kitchen redesign and menu overhaul, resulting in a Michelin Star re-acquisition within a year.
- Managed supplier relationships to ensure the highest quality of ingredients, achieving a 10% reduction in the cost of goods sold.
- Conducted staff training workshops, leading to a team with enhanced culinary skills and a 15% increase in kitchen efficiency.
Work Experience
Deputy Sous Chef
Sketch London
11/2017-01/2020
- Revamped the kitchen's operational workflow, which improved service speed by 25% during peak hours.
- Directed the introduction of an organic and locally sourced ingredients policy, boosting the restaurant's reputation for sustainability.
- Mentored three junior sous chefs who have since stepped up to lead sections, underlining the commitment to staff development.
Work Experience
Junior Sous Chef
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
07/2014-08/2017
- Created an award-winning dish that was featured in 'Eat Out' magazine, drawing significant attention to the restaurant's culinary creativity.
- Performed regular stock audits to track and reduce kitchen costs by 18% without compromising on the quality of dishes.
- Coordinated with the front-of-house team to enhance the guest dining experience, noticing a 20% uplift in repeat customers.
Work Experience
Assistant Sous Chef
Sexy Fish
05/2012-06/2014
- Spearheaded a kitchen equipment upgrade that resulted in a 30% faster preparation time and increased meal consistency.
- Developed a cross-training program where kitchen staff could learn different roles, improving versatility and team efficiency.
- Initiated a monthly cooking workshop for guests, enhancing the restaurant's community engagement and profile.
Work Experience
Sous Chef
Scott's Restaurant
02/2009-04/2011
- Designed and implemented a rotational menu system that increased repeat customer visits by 35% within the first year.
- Successfully managed the catering for several high-profile events, each for over 300 guests, ensuring top quality and service were delivered.
- Forged a partnership with local culinary schools to provide internships, fostering talent and creating a recruitment pipeline for the restaurant.
Swapping your professional experience (when you have none) with skills and more
Never underestimate the importance of relevancе when it comes to your sous chef 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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PRO TIP
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 sous chef 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 sous chef 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 sous chef CV:
HARD SKILLS
Knife skills
Food preparation
Cooking techniques
Menu planning
Inventory management
Food safety and hygiene
Cost control
Kitchen equipment operation
Recipe development
Pastry preparation
SOFT SKILLS
Leadership
Teamwork
Time management
Communication
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Creativity
Adaptability
Stress management
Mentoring
PRO TIP
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.
Your university degree and certificates: an integral part of your sous chef CV
Let's take you back to your uni days and decide what information will be relevant for your sous chef CV. Once more, when discussing your higher education, select only information that is pertinent to the job (e.g. degrees and projects in the same industry, etc.). Ultimately, you should:
- List only your higher education degrees, alongside start and graduation dates, and the university name;
- Include that you obtained a first degree for diplomas that are relevant to the role, and you believe will impress recruiters;
- Showcase relevant coursework, projects, or publications, if you happen to have less experience or will need to fill in gaps in your professional history.
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your sous chef CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
