Sous Chef Resume Example & Writing Guide

A great sous chef resume is the secret sauce that elevates your application and helps you land your next job in a professional kitchen. While your technical skills and knowledge will certainly be important to employers, being able to communicate how you’ve successfully managed the busiest of dinner services is the first step to convincing a restaurant that you’re the right choice.

Luckily, Resume.io is here for you. We’ll show you how to serve up your most relevant experience with just the right amount of detail. Here’s what we’ll cover in this resume guide, along with the corresponding resume example will cover the following topics:

• What does a sous chef do?
• How to write a sous chef resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a sous chef resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints

What does a sous chef do?

A sous chef is the kitchen’s second-in-command and usually answers to the executive or head chef. The sous chef is responsible for bringing the head chef’s vision to life and managing all aspects of the kitchen from sourcing ingredients to staffing needs. Some duties of a sous chef may include:

• Assigning stations based on strengths and experience levels of staff
• Assisting the head chef with menu planning and organization
• Ensuring that dishes are prepared correctly and promptly
• Cooking more difficult recipes and ensuring the quality of the final result
• Handling stocking needs and ordering ingredients from vendors

How to write a sous chef resume

The very first step in writing your sous chef resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

For restaurant roles like sous chef, your resume will be one piece of a larger picture the restaurant manager considers when deciding whether to hire you. Organization and cleanliness are top priorities for a sous chef and these qualities should extend to your resume. 

First, read the job description to determine the restaurant’s priorities. Customize your resume to include only the most relevant examples of your previous experience. If you have at least professional three kitchen experiences, we recommend leaving off all other unrelated jobs. If you do need to include outside roles, make sure to explain how the skills used in these positions will transfer to your role as a sous chef.

Choosing the best resume format for a sous chef

Sous chefs have two main options when it comes to choosing the best resume format. If you’ve previously worked as a chef or cook, the reverse chronological resume format is the right choice. This format focuses on your employment history section where you can dive into the skills and experiences gained in past positions. This is the format hiring managers expect to see, so we recommend using it whenever possible.

If you are just starting out or have untraditional employment to show, you may opt for a hybrid resume. This format begins with your top skills and a short description of each, possibly including where you gained the skill. This can be followed by a shorter employment history section with one or two bullet points for each entry. This structure works in a pinch but can make you come across as a less experienced candidate.

Resume summary example

The resume summary is the first 3-4 sentences at the top of the page that serve to catch the employer’s attention and give them a brief introduction to your experience and skills. For sous chefs, we recommend mentioning your top attributes along with any notable restaurants you’ve worked at or the length of time you’ve been cooking. Keep this section concise. The goal is to whet the restaurant manager’s appetite and convince them to read the rest of your resume. See our adaptable summary resume example below.

Employment history sample

The employment history section is the main course of your resume and should be treated with extra care. The goal is to allow the employer to imagine you in their restaurant whipping up delicious dishes on time. For each of your previous roles, add the restaurant or establishment name, your job title, dates worked, and location. Underneath, add 3-5 bullet points that describe the size of the restaurant, the average number of diners during a service, the size of the team you led, or any awards you or the restaurant won. You can even name-drop the head chef if they are well-known. See our adaptable employment history resume sample below for more ideas.

CV skills example

The skills section of your CV is the place to list your biggest strengths at a glance. Consider scanning the job description once more to find places where the employer’s needs and your skills overlap. These are the most important abilities to add to your resume. They could range from knowledge of certain techniques and processes to your kitchen leadership skills or mastery of a certain type of cuisine. Below you’ll find our adaptable skills resume example.

Sous chef resume education example

While sous chefs aren’t always required to have formal training, the education section offers more insight into your background. If you’ve attended culinary school or completed other types of kitchen education, make sure to list them starting with your most recent experience. Include the school name, degree or certificate obtained, dates attended, and location. You may also include 1-2 bullet points under each entry to describe your educational accomplishments like awards or other recognition. 

Resume layout and design

As mentioned earlier, a clean and organized resume quickly gives the hiring manager more insight into your work style as a sous chef. There’s no need to go overboard with colors or imagery. A simple, yet elegant resume design will do the trick. You may choose to use one accent color, as long as you’re sure that your layout does not distract the reader from what’s written on the page. A professionally crafted resume template can make it much easier to strike the right balance and ensure a good first impression.

Key takeaways for a sous chef resume

1. Kitchen staff including sous chefs are in high demand so now is a great time to prepare your resume!
2. Use your summary to offer a taste of your top skills and achievements to encourage the restaurant manager to read further down the page.
3. We recommend the reverse chronological resume format if you have relevant previous experience to show.
4. Get started creating an attractive and effective resume design with our adaptable sous chef resume sample.