Chef Resumes

A resume is an important part in obtaining an interview in order to gain new positions, so it is pertinent to take the time to properly compose this document.  Information relating to work history, educational background, and personal achievements should be gathered and ready for presentation.  Before organizing this information, time should be taken to write an objective statement which will highlight what skills the candidate has to offer an organization.  Make sure to be accurate and concise, with the objective being between three to five sentences in length. 

A resume should begin with the candidate’s identification and contact information.  These lines should be separate from the rest of the resume to ensure employers are able to identify the author from the beginning.  Directly following the candidate identification should be the prepared objective statement, with the body of the resume directly after.  There are many titles candidates can include in this section, but educational background and work history should never be excluded.  Most employers prefer chronological resumes, so it is important to list all information in reverse chronological order (most recent achievements first).  Optional titles generally consist of military service, skill summary or accomplishments, professional affiliations or memberships, foreign language fluency, certifications and/or licenses, references, or numerous others.  Due to increasing technology, listing any computer experience or knowledge may also be helpful.

When writing a resume, it is important to remember that employers only spend 10-30 seconds evaluating them.  Bulleted points, followed by short sentences or statements will organize data and emphasize necessary information.  Be sure to use positive text and include action words, explaining exact duties.  Specific data such as percentages, cash amounts, and numbers are important.  A chef may include statements such as ‘managed 45 culinary professionals in a $2 million dollar organization', which will intrigue the reader while delivering necessary information. 

Resumes should not exceed two pages, only including major accomplishments and achievements.  Font on these pages should be ten point or larger, and fancy scripts only deter employers from reading further into the resume.  Before submitting a resume, ensure all data, especially contact information, is accurate.  There are many services that offer resume critiquing, but often times, friends or family members may be able to review and give enough advice that other services are unnecessary. 

For more information on how to create a resume for the culinary field, please visit the following sites:

• Recipe for a Resume
• MegaDox
• Write Resumes 101 
• Helpful Information
• Dominion

Let iHireChefs help get your resume out into the culinary industry.  We offer resume fax and email blasting to companies in your area for a small fee, or have your cover letter sent out for no charge.