Chef CV: how to write one (with a South African example)

If you’re applying for kitchen work, your chef cv needs to prove two things fast: you can handle service, and you understand standards (hygiene, prep, consistency). You don’t need fancy words — you need clear sections, the right keywords, and a few solid “I did this” bullets.

Below is a practical structure you can copy, plus a complete chef cv example south africa (including an entry-level commis version). If you want to build it quickly, you can create a free CV and edit the wording from your phone.

Why chef CVs get rejected (even when you can cook)

Most chef CVs fail because they read like a job title list: “worked at Restaurant X, did duties.” Hiring managers want to know what you did on shift and what standards you worked to.

In South Africa, many kitchen applications also happen fast (WhatsApp, walk-ins, referrals). A good CV must be scannable in 20 seconds — and still ATS-friendly when a group or hotel uses online screening.

If you’re not sure whether your layout will pass automated screening, use this guide: ATS Friendly CV: How to Pass Automated Screening in South Africa.

Best structure for a chef CV (South Africa)

Use this order. It works for restaurants, lodges, catering companies, and hotels — and it’s easy to update per job.

• Header: name, location, cell number, email
• Role headline: e.g., “Commis Chef (Cold Section) | Available weekends”
• Personal statement: 3–4 lines (what you do + where you’ve worked + strongest kitchen strengths)
• Key skills: 8–12 bullets (mix of cooking + hygiene + stock)
• Work experience: most recent first, with proof bullets
• Education & culinary training: hospitality/culinary school, certificates, short courses
• Food safety & compliance: hygiene training, allergen awareness, temp logs (only if true)
• Languages: helpful for brigade communication
• References: “Available on request” or list referees if the ad asks

Need help with layout and spacing? Use: CV format: the correct CV layout for South Africa (with examples).

What to write in your chef personal statement (with copy-ready lines)

Your personal statement is not a motivational speech. It’s a quick summary that tells the chef/manager where you fit in the kitchen and what you’re reliable for.

Use this simple formula

• Who you are: role + level (commis, CDP, sous)
• Where you’ve worked: restaurant/hotel/catering, service style
• Your strengths: section skills + hygiene + pace
• What you want next: the role you’re applying for

Chef CV skills to include (kitchen sections, service, hygiene, stock)

Don’t only list “hardworking” and “team player”. Add skills that match how kitchens actually operate. If the job ad mentions a section (hot, cold, pastry), mirror that wording honestly.

Skill ideas (pick what’s true for you)

• Mise en place and prep planning
• Hot section: grill, sauté, sauces, veg, starch
• Cold section: salads, starters, dressings, platters
• Pastry basics: scones, muffins, tart bases, simple desserts
• Breakfast service (eggs, buffets, banqueting set-up)
• Knife skills and portion control
• Food safety and hygiene (handwashing, sanitising, cross-contamination prevention)
• Allergen awareness and special-diet orders (when trained)
• Stock rotation (FIFO), labelling and date dots
• Stock counts, requisitions, receiving and checking quality
• Waste control (trim use, batch cooking, correct storage)
• Plating consistency and pass communication

If you’re struggling to choose skills, this list helps you balance hard and soft skills: Skills to Put on a CV: Hard and Soft Skills (South Africa).

How to write chef work experience bullets (so it sounds credible)

A chef CV becomes strong when your bullets show volume, standards, and responsibility. Even if you were “just assisting”, you can still show what you handled.

Use this bullet formula

• Action verb + what you did
• Kitchen context (section/service type)
• Proof (covers, functions, prep volume, shift type, responsibility)

Example bullet upgrades

• Instead of: “Helped with prep”
  Write: Prepared mise en place for hot section (veg, starch, sauces) and maintained prep list readiness for dinner service.
• Instead of: “Did hygiene”
  Write: Followed daily clean-down schedule, sanitised station between tasks, and stored food correctly to reduce cross-contamination risk.
• Instead of: “Worked functions”
  Write: Assisted with buffet and plated functions, including batch prep, holding temperatures, and fast plating under head chef direction.

Chef CV example South Africa (copy and edit)

This is a complete chef cv template-style example you can copy, paste, and replace with your details. Keep it to 1–2 pages unless you’re applying for a senior role.

If you have no formal chef job yet: how to build a commis chef CV

If you’re coming from culinary school, a learnership, catering for family events, or selling food on weekends, you can still build a believable commis chef cv. The key is to show relevant kitchen practice, not just “no experience”.

What counts as experience for entry-level chef roles

• Culinary school practicals (list like a role: what you cooked, what you were assessed on)
• Work-integrated learning (WIL) placement
• Short-term kitchen work (seasonal, December, functions)
• Catering at church/community events (be specific about volume)
• Small food business (kotas, amagwinya, plates, bake sales) — include hygiene and ordering

If you’re building from zero, use this guide to structure it without sounding empty: CV With No Experience: How to Fill It (South African Examples).

How to list culinary qualifications, trade tests, and short courses

List training in reverse date order. If you have a trade test, put it clearly (where relevant). If you only have short courses, list them neatly — they still help, especially hygiene training.

For step-by-step formatting (and what details to include), use: Certificates on a CV: How to List Short Courses (South Africa).

Chef CV checklist (quick final checks before you send)

• Your headline matches the job ad (Commis / CDP / Sous + section)
• Your skills include hygiene and stock rotation (if true), not only cooking
• Each role has 3–6 bullets that show what you did during prep and service
• No long paragraphs; it’s easy to scan on a phone
• Your contact details are correct and professional (email included)
• File name is clear: Name_Surname_Chef_CV.pdf

If you’re sending by email, this guide helps with subject lines and attachments: How to Email Your CV (Subject Line, File Name and Template).

The takeaway: show your section, your standards, and your proof

The strongest chef CVs are simple: they show where you fit in the kitchen, what you can do on a real shift, and that you take hygiene and consistency seriously.

Your next step: create a free CV, then choose a CV design that stays clean and readable. If you get stuck, read the CV Hub FAQ or contact CV Hub.

For more practical job-seeker help, see more CV and job search advice.