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A chef needs experience in the culinary arts to craft signature dishes. Show off your experience in a winning chef cover letter, using our chef cover letter examples and expert advice.
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A cover letter is an important tool for communicating your skills, experience and interest in a job. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or searching for an entry-level position, use this chef cover letter example to highlight your qualifications or as a base to edit in our Cover Letter Builder.
Use this free chef cover letter example as a base for writing your cover letter!
Build my cover letterUse the executive chef cover letter sample below for inspiration, even if you’re an entry-level candidate. You can see the type of wording used, how the candidate expresses interest and how qualifications are organized.
Before you start writing your cover letter, take a look at these five tips:
Do your search to learn more about the employer and their restaurant to better express in the cover letter why you want to work there. Match your skills to their needs, that way when they read your letter, they’ll see you’re exactly what they’ve been looking for.
You’ve worked hard to get to where you are, so let the employer know of any certifications, degrees, on-the-job experience and educational training you have obtained up to this point in your career.
Have you received any awards or recognitions for your work as a chef? Include them in your cover letter! You can also cite views that speak to what a great chef you are. Prospective employers will see this and know you aren’t just the average Joe.
While yes, hard skills like knife skills, menu development and knowledge of food safety are important, we can’t forget about soft skills. As a chef, you must know how to communicate effectively, have time management skills and strong interpersonal skills to work well with others.
Show that you pay attention to detail by removing any errors or grammatical mistakes from your cover letter. There’s nothing worse than submitting a job application and realizing too late you wrote “their” instead of “there.”
“Yes, chef,” you can use this free chef cover letter and writing tips to get started on your letter:
Make sure the heading design matches your resume (You can use one of our Cover Letter Templates and Resume Templates) so you submit a cohesive application. Your header should include your full name, email address and phone number. Then, aligned to the left like on a business letter, include the hiring manager’s contact information, from their name to email and phone number.
A professional chef cover letter should also start with the hiring manager’s name rather than a generic introduction like “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Hiring Manager". From there, you can start writing with a chef cover letter template.
You need to introduce yourself with a hook that will keep a hiring manager interested in what you have to say. This applicant starts with his first culinary job as a line cook in a small diner. From there, he follows his achievements; moving to culinary school, becoming a sous chef and crafting signature dishes at a New York restaurant. These are all extremely impressive achievements, and they show great initiative on the applicant’s part, which is something that a hiring manager wants to see. Dear Mr. Smith, I knew I wanted to be a chef to some extent when I got a job as a line cook in a small diner in my hometown. I didn’t know that I would end up going to culinary school, working as a sous chef underneath chefs with immensely high standards, and eventually creating my own signature dishes at a restaurant in New York. I am excited to bring you these skills through the head chef position at [Company Name].
Now that the recruiter is reading, you can give further details about your experience, discussing exactly how you create a superior dining experience for your guests. This applicant discusses his love for the kitchen staff, indicating great teamwork and mentions that his specialty is in Persian cuisine, which helps the recruiter understand what type of food he’s most likely to want to create as a chef. If you have extra key achievements to note, you can put them under this paragraph in bullet points. With my extensive work experience, I understand kitchen operations inside and out, from scrubbing floors to creating appetizers, and I strive to treat every member of my kitchen staff like they’re truly a part of the team. Additionally, I have strong chef skills in entrees and appetizers, especially in Persian style preparation, allowing me to create spectacular dishes that result in repeat clientele.
Now that you’ve made it all the way through the cover letter, conclude with a call to action. In this example, the applicant states, “I will contact you next week to schedule a time to speak with you.” This encourages the hiring manager to call back and set up an interview. I am excited to bring my skills to [Company Name] and continue improving your restaurant's reputation. I will contact you next week to schedule a time to speak with you about what I see myself being able to do as your head chef. Sincerely, Na’man Clark For more tips, read our How to Write a Cover Letter article.
Remember to tailor your cover letter to the job description and to mention the skills they include there. Generally speaking, here are some hard skills and soft skills you can consider for your chef cover letter:
Have questions? We’re here to help.
A chef cover letter should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for and effectively show you culinary skills, relevant experiences, passion for cooking and enthusiasm for the job opening.
When writing about yourself in a chef cover letter, highlight your culinary background, relevant experiences, skills and what makes you a strong candidate for the position.
Detail your experience in the culinary field, always emphasizing achievements, responsibilities and skills gained throughout the years. Explain what drives your passion for cooking and why you’re pursuing a career as a chef, whether it has always been your childhood dream or something instilled in you by a family member.
Writing an application letter for a chef position without experience can be challenging, so it’s important to highlight your passion for cooking, willingness to learn and any relevant skills or qualifications you possess. Emphasize your transferable skills relevant to the role, such as:
Here’s a free chef cover letter template you can follow to impress hiring managers:
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Chef position at [Restaurant Name], as advertised [mention where you found the job posting]. Although I do not have direct professional experience in a commercial kitchen, I am enthusiastic about pursuing a career in culinary arts and eager to contribute my skills and passion for cooking to your esteemed establishment.
Having recently completed a comprehensive culinary training program at [Name of Culinary School], I have developed a solid foundation in fundamental cooking techniques, food safety and kitchen management. My coursework equipped me with knowledge of creating diverse cuisines and honed my skills in menu planning, ingredient selection, and food presentation.
During my studies, I also engaged in various cooking-related endeavors, such as volunteering at local community events and assisting in meal preparation at a shelter. These experiences allowed me to apply my culinary knowledge practically and enhanced my ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
I am deeply passionate about cooking and committed to continuous learning and growth within the culinary field. I possess strong organizational skills, a keen eye for detail and a collaborative spirit that are essential in contributing effectively to your kitchen team.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to discussing how my skills and passion align with the needs of your team. I am available at your earliest convenience for an interview.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
You should never submit just a chef resume and expect it to be enough to get the job. A cover letter allows you to tailor your skills to the job application, making your resume shine even more brightly. If you’re not confident about your writing skills and are concerned about writing a great cover letter, use the ResumeHelp Cover Letter Builder.
The perfect cover letter is usually one-half to 3/4 of a page long. Shorter than half a page tends to leave white space, which might create the impression that you’re not as skilled as you say. Longer than 3/4 of a page can get too long for a recruiter to scan quickly.
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