Food Service & Hospitality Resume Examples

Chef Resume Example & Writing Guide

Create a standout chef resume. Includes head chef and sous chef resume examples, culinary skills, and tips to showcase menu development and kitchen management.

ATS-Optimized Expert-Written Updated 2026

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Chef Resume Example

Here's a professional chef resume example that you can use as a reference. This example highlights the key sections and content that hiring managers look for.

Alex Johnson

Chef

New York, NY | alex.johnson@email.com | (555) 123-4567 | linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson

Professional Summary

Executive Chef with 10+ years of progressive culinary experience in fine dining, catering, and high-volume restaurant environments. Expert in menu development, food cost control, and kitchen team leadership. Managed kitchens serving 500+ covers nightly with consistently high reviews and a food cost below 28%.

Work Experience

Senior Chef

2022 – Present

ABC Corporation, New York, NY

•Led a 15-person kitchen team serving 500+ covers nightly at a Michelin-recommended fine dining restaurant
•Reduced food costs from 34% to 27% through waste tracking, menu engineering, and vendor negotiations
•Developed 4 seasonal menus generating a 22% increase in repeat customer visits

Chef

2019 – 2022

XYZ Company, Chicago, IL

•Achieved a 4.8/5 average health inspection score across 3 years of operations
•Catered 100+ private events (50-500 guests) generating $350K in additional annual revenue

Skills

Menu Development • Food Cost Control • Kitchen Management • French Cuisine • Farm-to-Table • Inventory Management • Staff Training • Food Safety (ServSafe) • Catering Operations • Plating & Presentation • Recipe Development • Vendor Relations • Banquet Operations • Dietary Accommodations • POS Systems

Education

Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management

Culinary Institute Certificate

Use This Template in Resume Builder

Chef Resume Summary Examples

Your resume summary is the first thing hiring managers read. Here's a strong example for achef with 10+ years of experience:

Good Example

“Executive Chef with 10+ years of progressive culinary experience in fine dining, catering, and high-volume restaurant environments. Expert in menu development, food cost control, and kitchen team leadership. Managed kitchens serving 500+ covers nightly with consistently high reviews and a food cost below 28%.”

Avoid This

“Hardworking chef looking for a challenging position where I can utilize my skills and experience. I am a team player with excellent communication skills.”

Why the first example works: It includes specific years of experience, quantified achievements, technical skills, and certifications — all things ATS systems and hiring managers look for.

Work Experience Bullet Points

Here are powerful, metrics-driven bullet points for a chef resume. Notice how each one starts with an action verb and includes specific numbers:

Led a 15-person kitchen team serving 500+ covers nightly at a Michelin-recommended fine dining restaurant
Reduced food costs from 34% to 27% through waste tracking, menu engineering, and vendor negotiations
Developed 4 seasonal menus generating a 22% increase in repeat customer visits
Achieved a 4.8/5 average health inspection score across 3 years of operations
Catered 100+ private events (50-500 guests) generating $350K in additional annual revenue

Pro Tip: Use the formula: Action Verb + Task + Quantified Result. For example: “Managed” + “team of 12 engineers” + “delivering project 20% under budget.”

Key Skills for a Chef Resume

Include these skills on your chef resume to pass ATS screening and impress hiring managers:

Menu Development

Food Cost Control

Kitchen Management

French Cuisine

Farm-to-Table

Inventory Management

Staff Training

Food Safety (ServSafe)

Catering Operations

Plating & Presentation

Recipe Development

Vendor Relations

Banquet Operations

Dietary Accommodations

POS Systems

ATS Keywords for Chef Resume

These are the most important keywords that Applicant Tracking Systems scan for in chef resumes. Include them naturally throughout your resume:

chefexecutive chefsous chefmenu developmentfood cost controlkitchen managementculinaryServSafecateringfine dininginventory managementfood safetybanquet

Important: Don't stuff keywords. Use them naturally in your summary, experience, and skills sections. ATS systems can detect keyword stuffing and may flag your resume.

Education & Certifications

Education

Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
Culinary Institute Certificate

Certifications

ServSafe Manager Certification
Certified Executive Chef (CEC)
Food Handler's License
TIPS Alcohol Certification
First Aid/CPR

Expert Tips for Your Chef Resume

Quantify covers served, food cost percentages, and team sizes

Highlight cuisine specialties and menu development achievements

Include food safety certifications prominently

Show revenue impact from events, menu changes, or new concepts

Mention any awards, press coverage, or Michelin recognition

Chef Salary & Job Outlook

Entry Level

$35K

Median Salary

$57K

Experienced

$90K

Job Outlook

5% growth (2022-2032), about as fast as average

Source: BLS 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a chef include on a resume?

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Include your culinary education, cuisine specialties, covers served nightly, food cost control metrics, team size managed, and any awards or press recognition.

How do I write a chef resume with no formal education?

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Focus on hands-on experience, progression through kitchen ranks, specific cuisines mastered, and quantifiable achievements. Many successful chefs are self-taught — show your results.