Commis Chef Resume Guide
Commis Chefs are responsible for assisting in the preparation of meals and other culinary tasks. They work under the guidance of a head chef, helping to prepare ingredients for dishes, cook food items according to recipes, plate up dishes prior to serving customers, and keep their work area clean and organized.
You have a knack for preparing delicious meals and creating culinary masterpieces. But hiring managers won’t know that unless you write a resume that captures their attention and highlights your experience in the kitchen.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Commis Chef Resume Sample
Elaina Howe
Commis Chef
[email protected]
178-826-0447
linkedin.com/in/elaina-howe
Summary
Seasoned commis chef with 1+ year of experience preparing meals in busy, high-volume kitchens. Expertise in creating innovative recipes while adhering to health and safety regulations. Proven track record of success ensuring positive guest experiences by delivering dishes on time and meeting all quality standards. Seeking to join the ABC team as a commis chef, where I can use my passion for cooking to create memorable culinary experiences.
Experience
Commis Chef, Employer A
Arlington, Jan 2022 – Present
- Assisted head chef in the preparation of 500+ meals per week, ensuring that dishes were cooked according to recipes and plated with a high standard of presentation.
- Followed all safety guidelines when handling kitchen equipment and ingredients; reduced food contamination incidents by 30%.
- Represented restaurant at cooking competitions, placing 1st twice due to meticulous attention to detail during meal preparation process.
- Assessed customer feedback on daily basis and adjusted portions/seasoning accordingly; achieved 98% satisfaction rating over 6-month period from diners across 3 locations.
- Efficiently managed inventory levels for fresh produce orders each week, cutting costs by 15% compared to previous year’s budget expenditure for same items.
Commis Chef, Employer B
Tampa, May 2021 – Dec 2021
- Sanitized kitchen equipment and workstations to comply with health regulations, resulting in a 15% decrease in foodborne illnesses over 6 months.
- Supervised junior staff on basic kitchen procedures such as knife skills and ingredient preparation techniques; trained 5 new hires on the job to become proficient cooks within 3 months.
- Facilitated smooth transitions between meal services by quickly preparing appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts for up to 200 guests at a time; reduced daily prep times from 4 hours down to 2 hours through efficient organization of ingredients & supplies.
- Garnished dishes with intricate designs using sauces, herbs, fruits & decorations while adhering strictly to recipes given by head chefs; improved customer satisfaction ratings by 10%.
- Actively participated in menu planning sessions alongside other chefs which enabled us to introduce seasonal specials that attracted an additional 35 customers per day on average during peak seasons.
Skills
- Cooking
- Teamwork
- Catering
- Food and Beverage
- Culinary Skills
- Hospitality Industry
- Food Safety
- Food
- Hospitality
Education
Culinary Arts Diploma
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Commis Chef Certification
American Culinary Federation
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
Your resume summary or objective should be a snapshot of your best qualities and accomplishments as a commis chef. In this section, you can mention the culinary school you attended, the number of years of experience in professional kitchens that you have, any awards or recognitions received for your cooking skills, and how passionate you are about creating delicious dishes.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Accomplished commis chef with 1+ year of experience in high-end restaurants. Experienced in preparing a variety of dishes and managing kitchen staff, as well as maintaining health standards and creating innovative menus. At XYZ Restaurant, successfully prepared 400 meals per night while adhering to strict time constraints. Received numerous commendations from customers for outstanding food quality and presentation skills.
Diligent and experienced commis chef with a decade of experience in food preparation and service. At XYZ, successfully managed the kitchen staff in a high-pressure environment while maintaining compliance standards for health and safety. Recognized for producing consistent quality dishes within budgeted cost parameters. Skilled at working long hours to meet tight deadlines without compromising on taste or presentation.
Professional commis chef with 1+ year of experience working in a variety of kitchen environments. Proven success in creating high-quality dishes that meet the needs of customers and chefs alike. Competent in all aspects of food preparation, cooking techniques, presentation methods, and menu development. Skilled at adapting recipes to suit dietary requirements while maintaining flavor profiles desired by clients.
Proficient commis chef with over 1 year of experience in the culinary industry. A creative and innovative cook who enjoys the challenge of creating delicious dishes from fresh ingredients, while adhering to health & safety regulations. Seeking to bring my passion for cooking and knowledge of food preparation techniques to ABC Kitchen where I can contribute valuable skills towards a successful team.
Determined and passionate commis chef with 5 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Seeking to join XYZ as a part-time Commis Chef, leveraging knowledge and skills obtained from ABC Culinary School. Experienced in all aspects of kitchen operations, including food preparation and presentation, recipe development and management, inventory control, cost optimization and customer service.
Well-rounded commis chef with over 1 year of experience in the hospitality industry. Skilled at preparing a variety of dishes, from Italian to French cuisine and international specialties. Adept at managing all aspects of food preparation, including kitchen hygiene and safety protocols. Seeking an opportunity to join ABC Restaurant’s team as a commis chef for their award-winning menu items.
Driven commis chef with 1+ year of experience in professional kitchens. A proven leader and strong communicator, able to effectively supervise kitchen staff while keeping tabs on inventory, quality control and daily production goals. Looking to join ABC Kitchen as a commis chef where I can leverage my culinary knowledge and skills to create delicious dishes for their customers.
Amicable and hardworking commis chef with 1+ year of experience in a variety of professional kitchen settings. Proven ability to prepare dishes for large groups quickly and efficiently, while ensuring the highest levels of quality and presentation. Seeking to join ABC restaurant as a commis chef to help develop their menu offerings using my international culinary expertise.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience section, you will provide details on your work history. It should be written in reverse chronological order, with your most recent job listed first.
Stick to bullet points when describing what you did; this makes the information easier for the reader to digest quickly. When writing each point, take some time to think about the specifics of what you did and any quantifiable results that were achieved as a result of it.
For example, instead of saying “Prepared meals,” you could say something like “Prepared three-course meals for up to 100 guests per day using fresh ingredients sourced from local suppliers.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Prepared
- Cooked
- Plated
- Monitored
- Stocked
- Organized
- Assisted
- Followed
- Inspected
- Portioned
- Sanitized
- Trained
- Supervised
- Measured
- Garnished
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Developed over 200 dishes per day, utilizing fresh ingredients and high-quality products to ensure a consistent level of quality in all restaurant meals.
- Plated over 3,000 exquisite gourmet dishes during peak service periods with precision and creativity; increased customer satisfaction ratings by 23%.
- Formulated new recipes for the menu based on customer feedback, seasonality and trends in global cuisine; designed four signature dishes that have been featured regularly at the restaurant since launch.
- Meticulously monitored stock levels and replenished supplies as needed while adhering to established food safety regulations; reduced food wastage rates by 15% within two months of starting employment here.
- Streamlined order preparation processes through improved organization techniques which resulted in faster turnover times between orders – now able to plate up 4 course meals within 30 minutes or less!
- Advised and instructed kitchen staff on the preparation, cooking and presentation of food items; trained 12 new commis chefs in a span of 6 months, leading to improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Spearheaded multiple menu redesigns that incorporated fresh ingredients while ensuring cost-effectiveness; decreased ingredient costs by 15% over the last year.
- Demonstrated exemplary culinary skills when preparing up to 500 dishes per day for high volume restaurants; received glowing compliments from customers regarding taste & appearance of meals served.
- Measured ingredients precisely according to recipes & instructions provided by head chef with utmost accuracy; reduced wastage significantly due to increased portion control measures implemented across all kitchens managed by me personally (down 22%).
- Competently worked under pressure in fast paced environments as part of a team or independently depending on situation at hand enabling successful service delivery every time no matter how challenging the circumstances were.
- Participated in the preparation of over 500 meals each week for a large, busy kitchen; reduced food wastage by 20%.
- Stocked pantry items and ingredients to ensure that all necessary supplies were available at any time per head chef’s instructions.
- Coordinated with team members in order to complete tasks efficiently and meet service deadlines during peak hours; improved efficiency by 30%.
- Reliably cooked breakfast dishes, appetizers, entrees & desserts within set time frames while adhering strictly to recipes and sanitation guidelines; earned commendations from customers on quality of dishes served.
- Compiled accurate inventory reports every two weeks detailing stock levels used/needed in the kitchen; saved up $500 annually through buying bulk orders at discounted prices.
- Introduced new food dishes and recipes to the menu, resulting in an 8% increase in sales.
- Monitored quality of ingredients sourced from vendors; successfully identified contamination issues and reduced wastage costs by 10%.
- Mentored junior staff on culinary techniques, recipe adherence & proper sanitation protocols during peak service hours; assisted with training for 3 new commis chefs over a 6-month period.
- Resourcefully managed kitchen inventory and supplies, reducing order fulfillment time by 15 minutes which allowed for faster preparation times overall.
- Reorganized storage areas within the kitchen to maximize space utilization while ensuring all hygiene standards were met or exceeded – ultimately increasing efficiency of day-to-day operations by 20%.
- Organized and managed the kitchen production process to expedite food preparation, resulting in a 20% decrease of customer wait times during peak hours.
- Optimized inventory control system and properly stored ingredients, reducing stock wastage by 40%.
- Expedited meal assembly operations while adhering to strict health and safety regulations, achieving an average 95% quality score on all dishes served.
- Improved cooking efficiency by training cooks on new techniques and recipes; singlehandedly increased speed of delivery for over 200 orders per day by 15 minutes each order.
- Consistently delivered high-quality dishes according to established standards; received numerous positive reviews from customers within six months of employment with the restaurant.
- Accurately and efficiently cooked a variety of dishes and meals, utilizing fresh ingredients to craft over 500 orders every week; reduced food wastage by 20%.
- Reduced kitchen costs through effective portion control and judicious use of expensive ingredients such as truffles, caviar & lobster; saved an average of $1,000 per month in the last fiscal year.
- Utilized contemporary cooking techniques to prepare high quality cuisine for up to 300 customers daily while adhering strictly to all health and safety regulations at all times.
- Inspected equipment on a regular basis for cleanliness compliance before operation; trained 5 new chefs on safe sanitation practices resulting in zero incidents since hire date.
- Cooked various meats, vegetables & starches according to specified recipes or customer requests within deadlines set by head chef; consistently met tight timelines without any errors reported from diners/customers.
- Trained and supervised a team of 15 kitchen staff members in food preparation and sanitation procedures, resulting in an increase of 25% efficiency.
- Presented over 200 menu items daily with an emphasis on quality control; reduced customer complaints by 45%.
- Substantially improved the consistency of sauces and stocks through revised recipes, earning commendations from head chefs for superior taste results.
- Structured efficient inventory systems to meet demand while minimizing waste; saved $1,500/month by reducing spoilage levels by 20%.
- Revised weekly menus according to seasonal availability from local suppliers; increased use of fresh produce ingredients such as vegetables and herbs by 40%.
- Independently prepared over 800 dishes per day for a busy restaurant, ensuring that all menu items were cooked according to established recipes and standards.
- Achieved an average plate presentation score of 95% from customers; successfully designed appetizers and desserts which reduced kitchen costs by 10%.
- Portioned ingredients accurately while preparing meals in order to minimize food waste, resulting in a 15% reduction in ingredient costs within 3 months of joining the team.
- Maintained high quality control standards throughout service periods to guarantee customer satisfaction levels remained at 97%.
3. Skills
Skill requirements will differ from employer to employer – this can easily be determined via the job advert. Organization ABC may require a commis chef with experience in French cuisine, while Organization XYZ may be looking for someone with expertise in Italian cooking.
It is essential to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job that you are applying for; this way, it has a better chance of passing through any applicant tracking systems used by employers. These computer programs scan resumes for certain keywords before they reach human eyes.
You should also elaborate on some of your most important skills throughout other sections of the resume (such as summary and work experience).
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Banquets
- Catering
- Chef
- Communication
- Cooking
- Culinary Skills
- English
- Fine Dining
- Food
- Food Preparation
- Food Safety
- Food Service
- Food and Beverage
- HACCP
- Hospitality
- Hospitality Industry
- Hospitality Management
- Hotels
- Menu Development
- Pastry
- Restaurant Management
- Restaurants
- Teamwork
- Time Management
4. Education
Adding an education section to your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have no prior work experience, include an education section below your resume objective. However, if you’ve been working as a commis chef for a while with plenty of different responsibilities to showcase, omitting the education section is perfectly acceptable.
If including an education section on your resume, try to mention courses and subjects related to the job role of commis chef that you studied during school or college.
Culinary Arts Diploma
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in a certain field. Employers often look for candidates with certifications as it shows that you have taken the initiative to stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices.
Including any relevant certifications on your resume can help you stand out from other applicants, so make sure to list them if they are applicable to the job you are applying for.
Commis Chef Certification
American Culinary Federation
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Elaina Howe, this would be Elaina-Howe-resume.pdf or Elaina-Howe-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Attaching a cover letter to your job application is a great way to make yourself stand out from the competition. It provides an opportunity for you to express why you are the perfect candidate and give recruiters more insight into who you are as a professional.
Cover letters usually consist of 2-4 paragraphs that explain in detail why your skills and experience match up with what the employer is looking for. They also provide some additional information that may not be covered in your resume or CV, such as extracurricular activities or volunteer work.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Cameron,
I am writing to apply for the commis chef position at your restaurant. As a highly skilled and motivated chef with experience in both fine dining and casual eateries, I am confident that I would be a valuable asset to your team.
In my current role as commis chef at [restaurant name], I prepare dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients while adhering to strict food safety standards. I have experience working in all areas of the kitchen, including prepping food, cooking meals, and plating dishes. My strong work ethic and ability to stay calm under pressure has allowed me to thrive in fast-paced environments.
I am also proficient in culinary software applications such as MenuPro and FoodTec Chef. This allows me to streamline menu development and recipe creation, saving time and reducing costs for the restaurant.
I am eager to put my skills and experience to work for your organization and would welcome the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to your team’s success. Thank you for your time and consideration; I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Elaina