Kitchen Steward Resume Guide
Kitchen stewards are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the kitchen area. This includes sweeping and mopping floors, washing dishes and utensils, and cleaning countertops. Kitchen stewards also may be responsible for stocking supplies and keeping the kitchen organized.
You’re an expert at keeping a kitchen clean and organized, but restaurant employers don’t know who you are. To get their attention, you need to write a resume that highlights your experience and skills.
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.
Kitchen Steward Resume Sample
Leilani Nolan
Kitchen Steward
[email protected]
021-012-3895
linkedin.com/in/leilani-nolan
Summary
Amicable and efficient kitchen steward with two years of experience in medium to high-end restaurants. Actively seeking a position at ABC where I can utilize my knowledge of cleaning procedures and chemical handling to create a safe and sanitary work environment. As a member of the XYZ team, cleaned an average of 200 dishwares per hour while adhering to all company safety protocols.
Experience
Kitchen Steward, Employer A
Hollywood, Jan 2018 – Present
- Sanitized all kitchen surfaces, utensils and equipment in accordance with health and safety standards; lowered the risk of food contamination by 23%.
- Reliably closed down the kitchen at night, including turning off all appliances, setting alarms and locking doors; helped to prevent break-ins on 3 occasions.
- Organized ingredients, dry goods and other supplies in an orderly manner within storage areas; reduced search time for chefs by 15 minutes per day on average.
- Streamlined dishwashing operations by implementing a new loading/unloading system for the dishwasher; increased efficiency by 30%.
- Spearheaded a recycling initiative that saw all kitchen waste being recycled or composted; diverted 100kg of waste from landfill every month.
Kitchen Steward, Employer B
Plano, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Optimized the kitchen’s layout and storage system, resulting in a 22% decrease in food preparation time.
- Reorganized the spice rack alphabetically and implemented a new labeling system for all dry goods, saving 5 minutes per dish on average.
- Cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom every night, ensuring that all surfaces were sanitized and free of contaminants; lowered health inspection violations by 10%.
- Efficiently managed the dishwashing station, washing an average of 100+ dishes per hour while maintaining quality control standards.
- Trained 2 new hires on proper sanitation practices, food safety procedures and efficient workflow in the kitchen.
Skills
- Food Preparation
- Food Safety
- Knife Skills
- Dishwashing
- Cleaning
- Organizational Skills
- Time Management
- Teamwork
- Communication
Education
High School Diploma
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Sanitation Certificate
National Restaurant Association
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary/objective for a kitchen steward position should highlight your experience in the foodservice industry as well as your hardworking and detail-oriented nature. Some examples of accomplishments you could mention include successfully keeping a clean and organized kitchen, working effectively with little to no supervision, and going above and beyond what is expected.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Determined kitchen steward with 3+ years of experience in all back-of-the-house operations. Seeking to leverage organizational and multitasking skills as the next kitchen steward at ABC restaurant, where I can continually grow my knowledge of food service and advance my career. As a kitchen steward at XYZ, improved organization by developing a new system for storing equipment.
Well-rounded kitchen steward with 3+ years of experience in dishwashing and food preparation. Skilled in menu planning, procurement, sanitation, and inventory management. Seeking to leverage abilities to become the next kitchen steward at ABC restaurant. At previous job, decreased food waste by 25% through effective portion control and efficient storage practices.
Proficient kitchen steward with 3+ years of experience in a high-volume, fine dining restaurant. Seeking to leverage expertise in kitchen organization and sanitation to improve efficiency at ABC. At XYZ, oversaw the cleanliness of all kitchen areas including dishes, utensils, and cookware. Maintained an inventory of all cleaning supplies and equipment.
Talented and dedicated kitchen steward with 4+ years of experience in keeping kitchens clean and organized. Able to work long hours on feet and lift up to 50 lbs. Efficiently restocks supplies and preps areas for service. Committed to meeting the highest standards of cleanliness set by management while also being an excellent team player.
Seasoned kitchen steward with 4+ years of experience in dishwashing, food preparation, and general kitchen maintenance. Efficiently cleaned and sanitized all dishes, utensils, and cooking equipment while keeping pace with the high volume of a busy kitchen. Seeking to leverage my experience and efficiency to contribute to your team’s success.
Committed kitchen steward with 3 years of experience in busy restaurants. Skilled in cleaning and maintaining kitchen equipment, restocking supplies, and keeping the work area organized. Seeking a challenging role as a kitchen steward at ABC Restaurant where I can utilize my skills to contribute to the smooth operation of the kitchen.
Professional kitchen steward with 4 years of experience in busy kitchens. Trained in food safety and handling, including HACCP certification. Seeking to leverage experience at XYZ restaurant to contribute to the ABC team. Consistently praised by customers and management for cleanliness, efficiency, and attention to detail.
2. Experience / Employment
The work history/experience section is where you talk about your employment history. It is important to list your jobs in reverse chronological order, which means your most recent job would be listed at the top.
When writing about what you did in each role, it is helpful to use bullet points. This will make it easier for the reader to take in all of the information. When composing the bullet points, try to include detail and specific examples whenever possible.
For example, instead of saying “Cleaned dishes,” you could say “Washed and sanitized dishes using a three-compartment sink; also responsible for keeping dishwashing area clean and organized.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Washed
- Cleaned
- Sanitized
- Organized
- Stocked
- Prepped
- Cut
- Sliced
- Diced
- Peeled
- Cooked
- Served
- Bussed
- Trained
- Supervised
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Assessed
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Reduced kitchen equipment maintenance and repair costs by 20% through proactive cleaning and preventative maintenance.
- Coordinated the activities of up to 5 kitchen staff during busy periods, ensuring that all orders were prepared on time and to the required standard.
- Expedited food production by prepping ingredients in advance and keeping work areas clean and organized at all times.
- Confidently communicated with front of house staff to ensure that customers received their meals promptly and as ordered.
- Supervised a team of 2 junior kitchen staff, providing training & guidance when needed while also completing tasks independently when necessary.
- Advised customers on food and wine pairings, as well as preparation methods for certain dishes.
- Prepared all mise en place for the kitchen prior to service, including chopping vegetables, making sauces and stocking stations with necessary supplies.
- Demonstrated excellent knife skills when prepping ingredients and filleting fish; completed entire prep list in under 2 hours on average shift.
- Meticulously cleaned all work areas, utensils and equipment throughout the night; ensured that the kitchen met all health department standards at closing time.
- Facilitated smooth communication between front-of-house staff and the kitchen by relaying accurate order information in a timely manner; helped to reduce ticket times by 3 minutes on average per order during busy periods.
- Diligently cleaned and sanitized all kitchen equipment, dishes, utensils, work surfaces and appliances according to strict health and safety guidelines.
- Introduced a new system for storing and organizing pots, pans and other cooking supplies which improved efficiency in the kitchen by 15%.
- Improved communication between front-of-house staff and back-of-house staff by implementing a new order tracking system.
- Revised the menu to include healthier options and accommodate special dietary requests; increased customer satisfaction by 15%.
- Diced vegetables for soup, chopped fruit for salad, cut meat for entrées; prepared food items according to recipes while adhering to strict food safety guidelines.
- Achieved daily KPIs for dishwashing, including washing an average of 300 dishes per hour and keeping the dishwashing area clean and tidy at all times.
- Peeled, chopped and prepared vegetables for use in soups, salads and other menu items; completed preparations within tight timeframes while adhering to strict health and safety guidelines.
- Compiled accurate stock orders on a daily basis, ensuring that all necessary kitchen supplies were always available; lowered costs by 10% through effective inventory management.
- Formulated new cleaning solutions to be used in the dishwashing process, resulting in cleaner dishes with fewer water spots and streaks.
- Successfully completed food safety certification coursework with a focus on preventing cross-contamination in food preparation areas.
- Structured and cleaned the kitchen area and ensured it was free of hazards at all times; completed regular checks for gas leaks, electrical faults and plumbing issues.
- Cooked meals for up to 100 people per shift, ensuring that all orders were prepared on time and to the correct specification.
- Mentored new kitchen staff members in food safety procedures, knife skills and other essential culinary techniques.
- Consistently achieved high scores in health and safety audits, with no incidents reported in over 6 months of employment.
- Served customers promptly and courteously, providing an excellent level of customer service at all times.
- Thoroughly washed all dishes, pots and pans according to sanitary standards; lowered the chance of food contamination by 10%.
- Stocked dishwashing area with clean towels, gloves and other necessary supplies; ensured that the dishwashing station was always stocked and ready for use.
- Prepped ingredients for cooks and assisted in preparing meals when needed; helped to reduce meal prep time by 4 minutes on average.
- Bussed tables after customers had finished their meals, removing dirty dishes and wiping down surfaces; cleaned up an average of 30 tables per shift.
- Demonstrated excellent customer service skills when interacting with customers; received positive feedback from customers on surveys/reviews 80% of the time.
- Developed an in-depth knowledge of all menu items and their ingredients, as well as the ability to make dietary recommendations to guests.
- Sliced, chopped and prepared all meats, vegetables and fruits according to established methods; ensured that food was fresh and free of contaminants.
- Participated in the development of new menu items, providing input on ingredient selection and preparation methods.
- Substantially increased efficiency in the kitchen by streamlining various processes; decreased meal prep time by 3 minutes on average.
- Presented a professional image at all times while interacting with guests, co-workers and management; resolved customer complaints in a timely and efficient manner.
3. Skills
The skills that are most important for a kitchen steward job will vary depending on the employer. However, some skills that are commonly required include: effective time management, organization, multitasking, and being able to work under pressure.
It is essential to list these skills in the skills section of your resume because many employers use applicant tracking systems these days. These computer programs scan resumes for specific keywords before passing them on to human recruiters. Therefore, if you want your resume to be seen by humans, you need to make sure it includes the right keywords!
Aside from just listing skills in this section of your resume, you can also elaborate on them further in other sections (such as the summary or experience).
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- Cleaning
- Communication
- Dishwashing
- Food Preparation
- Food Safety
- Knife Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Teamwork
- Time Management
4. Education
Mentioning your education on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If this is your first job, include your education below your resume objective. On the other hand, if you have years of experience as a kitchen steward and want to showcase that instead, you can omit the education section altogether.
High School Diploma
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications reinforce your commitment to the field of hospitality and show that you are constantly striving to improve your skills. They also demonstrate to potential employers that you have taken the initiative to keep up-to-date with industry changes and trends.
If you have any certification related to the job you are applying for, such as ServSafe or Food Handler’s Certification, be sure to include them in this section of your resume.
Sanitation Certificate
National Restaurant Association
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 Leilani Nolan, this would be Leilani-Nolan-resume.pdf or Leilani-Nolan-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Including a cover letter as part of your job application is a common practice. Its purpose is to give employers a deeper insight into who you are and what kind of worker you would be.
A cover letter typically contains 2 to 4 paragraphs and includes information that’s not already mentioned in your resume, such as your motivation for applying and relevant skills or experience.
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Magdalen
I am writing in response to your ad for a Kitchen Steward. With three years of experience working in professional kitchens and a strong passion for food safety, I am confident I would be a valuable asset to your team.
In my current role as a kitchen steward at [restaurant name], I am responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the kitchen and all its equipment. This includes scrubbing pots and pans, sweeping and mopping floors, washing dishes, and disposing of trash. I also restock supplies such as dishes, utensils, and cleaning products. My attention to detail ensures that the kitchen is always clean and organized so that the chefs can work efficiently.
My experience has taught me how important it is to maintain high standards of cleanliness in a professional kitchen. In addition to being knowledgeable about proper cleaning techniques, I have also been trained in food safety procedures. My understanding of safe food handling practices would help ensure that your restaurant maintains a good reputation for serving quality food.
I am available anytime for an interview at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration; I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Leilani