What is the purpose of a CV?
To write a successful CV for a chef de partie position, you must first be confident with its purpose. Your CV is the first chance you get to make a good impression on a potential employer. A top-quality CV will considerably boost your chance of getting a face-to-face interview, so it is worth spending time and effort on the content and presentation. It will make all the difference in obtaining the position you want. You must therefore highlight your skills, expertise and value.
So what should you include on your CV when applying for a Chef de partie role
Personal details – Include your name and address, a phone number, and your email address. You may also add your nationality, gender and date of birth if you wish, but they are not obligatory.
Personal profile – This is optional, but it can be very effective in summarising your areas of expertise and characteristics as a chef de partie. It is good to include your enthusiasm about working as a chef and what motivates you about the hospitality industry. Keep it brief and concise.
Key Skills – Include any skills you have learnt being a chef so far, being a chef de partie you will become an expert in your section. Expressing your skills to impress your potential employer is a great start when trying to get through the kitchen door, even before your interview.
Employment history – Start with your current or last employer and work backwards. You should include the dates of employment, your job title, name of employer, responsibilities, duties and achievements. Try not to leave gaps in your employment history; if you do, it is advisable to account for such times.
Education and qualifications – Write in chronological order a brief list of school, college and university qualifications, such as GCSEs, A levels, etc. Then list any further qualifications you have obtained; these could be any culinary qualifications such as food safety training and safety courses – a chef de partie or any level chef will need these qualifications.
Interests – This is optional but gives you a chance to portray something about your personality. Keep it simple, mention what you do in your free time and note any achievements. Also, use this section to talk about your passion in culinary arts, maybe you cook or experiment with cooking at home or you attend extra courses.
References – There is no need to write the details of your referees on your CV. Simply state that they are available on request, but make sure that you know who your referees are and that you have asked their permission to use them.
Yes, these are the standard points to include on your CV but how can you put our own spin on it?
Make your chef de partie CV your own:
- Don’t be generic. Work out who your CV is destined for and tailor it to highlight the right aspects of your experience for them, whether it’s a restaurant, pub or hotel – every company is different and as a chef de partie you are a key part of the kitchen brigade, make sure you portray your knowledge of the business from the outset, your CV is a great way to showcase this.
- Check and check again. Avoid errors. This means spelling mistakes, dates which conflict with one another and incorrect email address and phone number - This is key when employers try to contact you for an interview.
- Update. Firing off an old CV will look unprofessional. Each job you have had up until now would have provided you with great experience to become a chef de partie and most importantly, varied experience throughout your years of working in different establishments.
So from reading the above, WHY is it important to have a great CV?
Your CV for becoming the chef de partie will play a huge role in your application process. It’s a fundamental document that makes the difference between getting an interview or being left on a pile of no thank you’s.
Your CV will be written for a potential employer. In the case of a chef de partie application, this is likely to be the head chef or general manager who will interview you. The goal is to demonstrate that you have the personal qualities to withstand the high pressure of the kitchen, the culinary & leadership skills to perform the job to your highest standard. To do this, you must identify the most important attributes of a successful chef de partie.
As a chef de partie you could be given the task of training juniors within the kitchen, by explaining your personal and professional skills within your CV will be key for this particular position. You will be third ranking in the kitchen next to the sous chef and head chef so make sure your CV points you in that direction and your professional qualities are highlighted.
The head chef or general manager, as you know, are busy and will not want to search for key information for the details they are looking for, hand it to them in a simple (maximum 2 pages) format, this way and you will be walking through that kitchen door in no time at all.
If you are looking to apply for a chef de partie role, please click here to view all jobs available on Hospitality Jobs UK.
Don’t forget to register your CV with Hospitality Jobs UK.