How To Write A CV For A Chef

So, you want to be a chef and you’re wondering how to write a great CV? First of all, 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 chef position you want. You must therefore highlight your skills, expertise and value.

Make sure that you are concise and accurate. Your CV should not, generally, be longer than two pages, so make sure that you tailor it specifically to the job you are applying for and include the skills, qualifications and experience which are most suited to the job.

Top tips for writing your Chef CV:

Below is a collection of great CV writing tips to help you land your next dream Chef job.

1. Know the purpose of your CV - The objective of your CV is to land an interview, and the interview will land you the job (hopefully!). If you try to write your Chef CV with the purpose of it solely being responsible for landing your dream job, you’re likely to end up with a really long and boring document that makes you look like a desperate job hunter.

1. Two pages (no more) - The ideal length for a CV is always up for debate. Most employers and recruiting specialists, however, say that it should be no more than two pages at maximum. Just keep in mind that provided all the necessary information is there, the shorter your CV, the better.

1. Back up your qualities and strengths - Instead of creating a long (and boring) list with all your qualities try to connect them with real life and work experiences. In other words, you need to back these qualities and strengths up or else it will appear that you are just trying to inflate things.

1. Put the most important information first - This point is valid both to the overall order of your CV, as well as to the individual sections. Most of the time your previous work experience as a chef will be the most important part of the CV, so put it at the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most important ones first.

1. Use bullet points - No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and professional objectives. Think about how busy you are as a Chef and imagine the person reviewing your CV is in a similar position!

1. Go with what you’ve got - If you’ve never had any real working experience, just include your summer jobs or volunteer work. As long as the points you list are relevant to the job in question, it doesn’t matter if they are official or not.

1. List all your positions - If you have worked a long time for the same company (over 10 years) it could be a good idea to list all the different positions and roles that you had during this time separately. You’ve probably had different responsibilities and developed different skills during each role, which will be of interest to an employer.

1. Proofread it twice - It would be difficult to over emphasise the importance of proofreading your CV. One small typo and your chances of getting hired could slip. Proofreading it once is not enough, so do it twice, three times or as many as necessary.

1. Get someone else to review your CV - Even if you think you’re CV is looking good, it’s prudent to get a second and third opinion about it. We usually become blind to our own mistakes or way of reasoning, so another person will be in a good position to evaluate the overall quality of your CV and make appropriate suggestions.

1. Update your CV regularly - It is a good idea to update your CV on a regular basis. Add all the new information that you think is relevant, as well as courses, training programs and other qualifications that you might receive along the way. This is the best way to keep track of everything and to make sure that you will not end up sending an obsolete document to the employer.

So from reading the above, WHY is it important to have a great CV?

Your CV for becoming the Chef 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 application, this is likely to be the head chef who will interview you. The goal is to demonstrate that you have the personal qualities to withstand the high pressure of the kitchen.

If you are looking to apply for a Chef role, please click here to view all jobs available on Hospitality Jobs UK.

Don’t forget to register your CV with Hospitality Jobs UK.