How to Create a Sous Chef Resume (Skills, Examples)
Here's how to make a sous chef resume to help you land your next restaurant gig.
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Restaurant jobs are always in demand, especially the sous chef who is a crucial part of restaurant service.
The sous chef is the second-in-command in a kitchen, usually assisting the head or executive chef with supervising the team of cooks and managing the daily kitchen operations. Needless to say, this means hiring a good sous chef is a priority when a restaurant is staffing. The job outlook for a sous chef is positive - data predicts an 11% growth rate over the next ten years.
There are currently around 22,393 sous chef job openings in the United States, making it an excellent time to get your resume out there. To get hired as a sous chef, it’s important to set a good first impression with a strong resume. Learn how to make a sous chef resume that will grab a hiring manager’s attention and other tips for improving your chances of being hired as a sous chef.
Here are some sections to include on your sous chef resume.
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Professional Experience
Always remember that a resume serves as an introduction to a restaurant that may not know your experience as a sous chef. To make yourself stand out as the best sous chef to hire, take the time to type up a professional resume that’s eye-catching and easy to read.
Depending on your sous chef experience, you may have attended culinary school or trained in a culinary program. Or, you may have learned how to cook at home or in a previous kitchen job. Whatever your path to becoming a sous chef looks like, you should include your most recent kitchen experience.
Use bullet points to explain your responsibilities as a previous sous chef or kitchen cook and add any major milestones or accomplishments. If you can mention any specific data points, such as how your menu or recipes impacted the restaurant’s sales, these can also be listed as bullet points under your experience.
Another way to make your sous chef resume stand out is to incorporate keywords and skills that a kitchen manager or chef wants to see. Take a moment to read over the sous chef job description posted by the restaurant you are applying to, paying attention to the words they use to describe the tasks and responsibilities of the sous chef.
Use similar words found in the job description when writing about your experience. Doing so will make your resume stand out as a restaurant wants to hire a sous chef who matches their desires and expectations.
Personal Information
Depending on your experience as a sous chef, you might need to add more information to your resume or include personal experiences that will further showcase your qualifications. A good way to add personal experience to a resume is to consider any other jobs, volunteer gigs, or other relevant experiences related to the skills you employ as a chef.
This could include cooking meals for friends or family events, volunteer work as a cook in a food kitchen or shelter, and any personal catering or in-home cooking experience. These are just a few ideas, but take a moment to think about any personal experiences that might not be professional work experience but still exercises your cooking skills.
Write those down and consider adding them to your sous chef resume.
Skills
Beyond cooking and culinary skills, a sous chef should possess other skills to land a job at a restaurant. Some skills a kitchen is looking for are.
Leadership skills
Detail oriented multi-tasker
Ability to manage a team and supervise
Training and team-building
Budget and inventory management
Public speaking and communication skills
Ability to work in high-volume, fast-paced environments
Capacity to stay calm in high-stress situations
Knowledgeable about health and food safety regulations
Now, here’s a sample sous chef resume to get you started.
SOUS CHEF RESUME SAMPLE:
MARY A. YEMETZ
312-861-2245 | mayemetz@gmail.com
641 El Morro Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90042
SUMMARY:
Sous chef with 4+ years of experience managing and working in fast-paced kitchens. Detail and quality-oriented sous chef with good leadership skills, a positive attitude, and a passion for sourcing local produce. Also experienced in training staff, managing inventory, and going above and beyond to offer guests a great dining experience.
EDUCATION
Associate Degree, Culinary Arts
ICE Culinary Institute
2016-2018 | Pasadena, CA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sous Chef
Roberto’s On Main
March 2021 – Present
Created a cross-training program to help all kitchen staff learn more efficiently.
Collaborated with the head chef to increase local food purchasing.
Led, managed and trained a team of 8 professional cooks.
Prepared daily food prep and recipe assignments to increase productivity.
Created five new menu items leading to an increase in monthly sales by 12%.
Line Cook
Molly Moons
May 2018 – March 2021
Replenished produce, garnishes, sauces, and other ingredients in an efficient manner.
Worked with sous chef to increase local food purchasing and reduced inventory costs by 5%.
Properly labeled food products in storage and maintained inventory.
Assisted sous chef with side work or special menu items.
Finished plate garnishes and conducted quality control checks.
Awarded Employee of The Year in 2019
Conclusion
It’s a big decision to hire a sous chef. Often, this decision is made by a head chef and a kitchen manager. If the restaurant is not hiring from within its current team, it means they are looking for someone with a specific skill set or experience to add to its kitchen.
To get hired as a sous chef, a strong resume that communicates your qualifications, interest, and knowledge about the restaurant’s menu and customer base will make you stand out. Fortunately, there are a few other ways you can increase your chances of being hired as a sous chef.
Network within the restaurant industry.
Whether you have been working in the restaurant industry for a while or are just breaking in, reach out to your colleagues or a previous employer and network. Doing so could open the door to other opportunities, or someone you know may be able to help you get hired at the specific restaurant you want to be a sous chef.
Don’t be afraid to ask - networking among past or previous co-workers is a great way to increase your chances of being hired as a sous chef.
Apply at the restaurant in person.
Sometimes showing up in person can set you apart from the competition. If you go to the restaurant to apply or turn in your resume, it gives the impression that you’re hard-working, motivated, and ready to start. You can ask to personally hand in your resume to the head chef or restaurant manager, which allows you to introduce yourself and briefly explain why you want to work for them.
Doing so will put a face to your resume, increasing your chances of being hired as a sous chef.
Be creative with your cover letter.
One creative approach to applying to a sous chef job is to write a cover letter. If you decide to do so, a great way to make your resume and cover letter stand out is to personalize them. Eat at the restaurant and share what you like about the food and presentation in your letter.
You could even mention that you know how to make the item or that your previous kitchen made similar items to show that you have experience and the necessary skills for their menu. You should address your cover letter to the chef, restaurant manager, or owner to make your letter even more personalized.
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