How To Write a CV For a Pastry Chef

Published
27 Jan 2020

27 Jan 2020

Not only is a pastry chef an extremely interesting job title, but this massive industry can offer lifelong opportunities for those who encounter the most appropriate company. An attention to detail, an artistic eye and a desire to succeed are key traits to possess. However, all of these talents will fall upon deaf years if an applicant does not embrace the proper presentation during a preliminary interview. This is why formatting a CV is so very important.

Read below to find some top tips of how to make your Pastry Chef CV the best it can be.

So what should you include on your CV when applying for a Pastry Chef role

Personal details – Include your name and address, a phone number, and your email address.

Personal profile – This is optional, but it can be very effective in summarising your passion for becoming a Pastry Chef. It is good to include your enthusiasm about working in the pastry kitchen 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 Pastry 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?

Seven CV tips for making your Pastry Chef CV your own:

  1. Keep it real!

Usually a CV should be no more than two pages – and that’s two pages of A4 paper! The head chef will spend, an average, just 8 seconds looking at any one CV, and a surefire way of landing yourself on the no pile is to send them your entire life story. Keep it punchy, to the point, and save those niggly little details for your interview.

  1. Tailor it

We’ve all done it. Whizzed the same CV out to lots of employers to save time… Stop! Take the time to change your CV for each role that you apply for. Research the company or establishment and use the job advert to work out EXACTLY what skills you should point out to them. They will appreciate the obvious effort.

  1. Include a personal statement

Don’t just assume an employer will see how your experience relates to their job. Instead, use a short personal statement to explain why you are the best person for the job. This should be reflected in your cover letter as well see our tips to the perfect cover letter.

  1. Keep it current

You should keep your CV up-to-date whether you’re looking for a job or not. Every time something significant occurs in your chef career, record it so you don’t later forget something that could be important.

  1. Make it keyword friendly

If you’ve uploaded your CV to a job site so recruiters can find you, keywords are very important. Job titles and job buzzwords will help a search engine pick out your CV from the pile.

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

Your CV for becoming the pastry 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 pastry 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 pastry 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.