Line Cook Resume Sample

1. Highlight your range of experiences

No kitchen is complete without a line cook. With responsibilities in food production, inventory, and kitchen hygiene, line cooks handle much of the behind-the-scenes work in creating culinary masterpieces.

With that in mind, it’s important to emphasize the diversity of your experiences in this role. Check out how our sample line cook resume covers a wide range of tasks:

Preparing and cooking food:

• Operate a flattop grill and fryers to produce 150-200 entrees per day in a timely manner

Managing kitchen processes:

• Oversaw daily inventory and restocking needs, adjusting order schedule to reduce weekly food waste by 20%

Leading and directing staff:

• Supervise and train 6-person kitchen staff on proper food preparation and handling procedures, with special attention to company recipes and plate presentation

Showcasing your various duties as a line cook demonstrates your versatility in the kitchen. Moreover, including a diverse array of skills suggests your familiarity with “back of the house” operations in the restaurant business.

2. Knowledge is power

There’s a difference between cooking recreationally for your friends and cooking professionally for a hotel, restaurant, or bar. Distinguish yourself from the amateurs by highlighting your culinary know-how in the following ways:

Training and certifications – While not all restaurants require formal culinary training from their line cooks, it’s certainly helpful. In the same vein, it’s wise to include any other relevant certifications, such as a food safety certificate.

These add more meat to your resume, and demonstrate your seriousness about the restaurant industry.

Company and restaurant standards – In order to uphold their branding, restaurants require their staff to follow cooking instructions to the letter. With that in mind, it’s worth noting that you’ve prepared meals consistent with company recipes and guidelines.

• Produced high-quality entrees with proper plate presentation and portions according to restaurant menu and company standards

Kitchen procedures and policies – The FDA Food Code sets the bar for standard food storage and handling practices in the restaurant world. Given the importance of the food service industry’s regulations, specifying your familiarity with them enhances your impression of culinary professionalism.

• Upheld sanitation standards in 300-square-foot kitchen in accordance with FDA regulations

3. Show off your social skills

No man is an island in the culinary industry. In other words, line cooks work alongside the executive chef with the support of other staff, including prep cooks and other line cooks. That being said, make a point of highlighting your interpersonal skills, which may indicate to hiring managers that you work well on a team.

• Promoted to Lead Line Cook in April 2017 for outstanding service in meal preparation and consistent 90% customer satisfaction rating

If applicable, consider including awards and experiences in service positions to further show off your people skills. For example:

• Named “Employee of the Month” twice for excellence in food preparation and customer service

Though technical skills in food preparation are crucial for line cooks, soft skills drive the food service industry both inside and outside of the kitchen. In terms of your resume, think of them as the plate garnish that makes you more appealing!

The tips above are just a few guidelines for cooking up a hearty resume. To learn more, check out our expert guide on how to write a resume.

Alternatively, you could let our comprehensive resume builder create an effective resume for you in minutes.