5 Cook Resume Examples to Get You Hired in 2023

Stephen Greet
Stephen Greet February 7, 2023
5 Cook Resume Examples to Get You Hired in 2023

Everyone likes food, and it takes a distinctive person to prepare it. But not everyone can handle the prep work, cleaning, and inventory management that’s part of a cook’s role. 

Food creation is your passion, but those skills don’t necessarily translate to building a resume. That’s where we come in—we want to help you design a thoughtful, structured resume so employers know your skills.

We’ve reviewed hundreds of job descriptions and resumes to see what employers look for in 2023. Our five cook resume samples and writing tips will help you navigate the ins and outs of what to include in your own resume. We’ll help you create a resume that’s a surefire recipe for success! 


Why this resume works

  • As a cook, you rotate through a variety of tasks, such as gathering ingredients and supplies, preparing meals, and cleaning your workstation. But while these responsibilities are admirable, they’re even more useful when you combine them with metrics.
    • Metrics are any sort of numbers you can associate with your tasks. For example, did you memorize a certain number of recipes, improve efficiency by working with your team during slow hours, or did you improve the customer experience using your verbal communication skills? 
  • Structuring your experience on your cook resume isn’t particularly easy, but using a resume template can make it easier, provided you keep your resume to one page.
    • Choose a template that gives you plenty of room to include optional sections, like certifications, depending on your experience.

Experienced Line Cook Resume

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Experienced line cook resume example with 16 years of experience

Why this resume works

  • Your experienced line cook resume won’t be the only one that employers read, so you need to make sure your resume catches their eye.
    • Proper resume formatting can make your resume easy to read and pretty to boot. Start by listing your work experience in reverse-chronological order to show your most recent experience first. 
  • Because of your years of experience as a line cook, be sure to demonstrate career progression throughout your work experience.
    • If you’ve trained or hired associates, collaborated with your team to save money, or implemented new inventory technology, list it in your work experience. 

Entry-Level Cook Resume

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Entry-level cook resume example with 3 years of experience

Why this resume works

  • In your entry-level cook resume, it’s wise to include a resume objective. This short paragraph can make all the difference when trying to get your foot in the door.
    • An objective can quickly show an employer how your job history has prepared you to become a cook and why your personality is the right fit for their institution.
  • Don’t worry if past job experience seems irrelevant. There are certain things at every job that translate to any career.
    • If you worked retail, demonstrate your customer service abilities, memorization skills, and attention to detail. 

Why this resume works

  • Your job description bullet points should tie in seamlessly with your skills section on your school cook resume.
    • For example, if you list collaboration as a skill, be sure to demonstrate that in your job description bullet points, too. 
  • Metrics are applicable to every resume, but they’re especially important in your school cook resume since schools can vary vastly in size.
    • If you’re applying to work at a school with 800 students, an employer will have more confidence in you if they know you’ve cooked meals for large volumes of people before. 

Breakfast Cook Resume

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Breakfast cook resume example with 6 years of experience

Why this resume works

  • Adding a resume summary can help your breakfast cook resume catch the eye of hiring managers.
    • A summary can subtly speak to your specialty as a breakfast cook while communicating what you can bring to the table (pun intended). Include things like your years of experience, special skills, and the job title you’re seeking.
  • As a breakfast cook, food presentation matters. Resume presentation matters, too, so you should always run your resume through a resume checker or spellcheck system to ensure your document is polished, precise, and perfect.