How to write an effective chef CV?

A chef’s job requires passion for cooking, solid organization, and the ability to work under time pressure. A well-prepared chef CV clearly shows your experience, culinary specialization, and readiness to work in hospitality!

Table of contents

1. Why is a chef CV so important?
2. Chef CV – sample structure
3. Which skills to list in a chef CV?
4. Chef CV template – tips
5. Key information for a chef CV – what to include?
6. FAQ – How to become a chef?
7. Summary

Why is a chef CV so important?

Restaurants, hotels, and catering companies receive many applications for a single chef role. Recruiters often have little time to read them all.

A well-prepared chef CV:

• clearly presents work experience,
• shows your culinary specialization,
• emphasizes knowledge of kitchen standards.

Chef CV – sample structure

👨‍🍳 Clear • Logical order • One A4 page

👤 1. Personal details

Include basic contact details:

• 📌 full name
• 📌 phone number
• 📌 email address

📝 2. Professional summary

The professional summary (3–4 sentences) is one of the most important elements of a chef’s CV:

• 📌 define your experience
• 📌 indicate your culinary specialization
• 📌 highlight your approach to quality and organization

Example:

“Chef with 6 years of experience in Polish and European cuisine. I specialize in the hot station and à la carte dishes. I value high quality, strong organization, and teamwork.”

💼 3. Work experience

Describe your workplaces from most recent to oldest:

• 📌 restaurant or hotel name
• 📌 employment period
• 📌 scope of duties

Example:

• • preparing dishes according to recipes
• • working hot and cold stations
• • plating and quality control
• • collaborating with the kitchen team
• • maintaining hygiene and HACCP standards

✨ Tip:
In a chef CV, focus on specific skills and experience. The more precisely you describe your duties, the higher your chances of an interview.

Which skills to list in a chef CV?

The skills section is key in a chef’s CV. Focus on practical competencies.

• preparing à la carte dishes,
• HACCP knowledge,
• hot and cold station work,
• kitchen workflow organization,
• working under time pressure,
• team collaboration.

Chef CV template – tips!

When creating a chef CV from a template, keep a few core rules in mind that truly raise your odds of an interview:

• tailor your CV to the venue type (fine dining, bistro, hotel, catering),
• state your culinary specialization and station (e.g., hot, cold, pastry),
• keep the layout simple, readable, and logically ordered,
• focus on concrete duties rather than generic descriptions,
• proofread for language accuracy and consistency.

Key information for a chef CV – what to include?

A strong chef CV should clearly present your work experience, culinary skills, and kitchen organization. Recruiters and head chefs care about specifics, so avoid vague phrases and describe real tasks:

✨ Tip:

In a chef CV, specifics matter: stations, techniques, and scope of duties. The more precisely you describe your experience, the higher the chance your CV will stand out.

Summary

• A professionally prepared chef CV significantly raises your chances of an interview invitation.
• Using a ready chef CV template lets you quickly build a document that shows your experience, skills, and commitment to hospitality.

FAQ – How to become a chef?