How to Write a CV for a Commis Chef

Published
24 Jan 2020

24 Jan 2020

What is the purpose of a CV?

To write a successful CV for a Commis chef 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. Your CV will 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.

So what should you include on your CV when applying for a Commis Chef 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 passion for becoming a Commis Chef. 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, or the skills you have learnt within an apprenticeship. Expressing your skills or passion 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. Or if none as of yet, be sure to include any courses you have attended later on in your CV when speaking about your education.

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 Commis Chef 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 Commis Chef CV your own:

  1. 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 Commis Chef, although its an entry level chef role you are a key part of the kitchen brigade.
  2. 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.
  3. Update. Firing off an old CV will look unprofessional. Make sure your CV is relevant to the job you are applying to.

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

Your CV for becoming the Commis 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 Commis 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.

The head chef, is incredibly 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 Commis 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.