Chef Cover Letter Sample
Are you able to serve up an impressive meal but not an effective cover letter? Download our free chef cover letter example and edit it to reflect your own skills and achievements.
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Chef Resume & Related Cover Letters
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Pay attention to the formatting used on your cover letter to guarantee it’s both readable and professional.
Copy-paste Chef Cover Letter (Text Format)
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
Address: Street, City, State
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
[June 21, 2023]
[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[47 Company Address]
[Company City, State, ZIP Code]
[(xxx)-xxx-xxxx]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]
Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I’m writing to you regarding the position of Head Chef, which I discovered on [Restaurant Name]’s website. I have over 7 years of related work experience, as well as training from two notable New Orleans–based restaurants and a specialization in Southern cuisine. I’m capable of leading a team of kitchen staff in addition to offering world-class cuisine.
I’m currently the chef at Herbsaint in New Orleans where I’ve worked since 2019. One of my first tasks was to redevelop the entire menu, which increased sales revenue by 150%. I’ve also interviewed, hired, and trained all kitchen staff since 2019, and my hires improved operational flow by 47%. Thus far, I have maintained a 100% employee retention rate at the restaurant. In addition, I’ve developed a process that has reduced waste by 40% and improved supply turnover by 70%.
I’m confident that I have all the leadership and food preparation skills necessary to fulfill the role of Head Chef at [Restaurant Name]. I look forward to learning more about the opportunity and to discussing details with you. You can reach me by phone at (895)-555-555, or via email at youremail@gmail.com. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Average chef salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.
Average chef annual salaries by state
States | Salary / Year |
---|---|
California | $60,930 |
Florida | $48,560 |
New York | $62,750 |
Texas | $48,560 |
Pennsylvania | $60,200 |
Illinois | $61,420 |
Ohio | $47,980 |
Georgia | $52,230 |
North Carolina | $57,940 |
Michigan | $56,630 |
National Average | $56,965 |
Tips for writing a successful chef cover letter
Dining establishments rely on their chefs to make sure everything runs smoothly in the kitchen. Show them that you’re a great fit for the position by highlighting your cooking abilities in your cover letter.
Here are three tips for writing an impressive chef cover letter to ensure your application gets a positive reception:
Highlight your chef skills
Because a chef’s main responsibilities include overseeing kitchen operations, supervising cooking staff, and planning menus, the right mix of hard and soft skills is vital to success in the kitchen.
In addition to a mastery of the culinary arts, strong collaborative and leadership skills are highly useful skills for a chef.
Here are other valuable skills to include in your chef cover letter:
- Time management skills
- Organizational skills
- Prioritization
- Multitasking
- Communication skills
- Decision-making
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- Customer service skills
- People skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Health and safety policy (including storing and handling food and occupational health)
- Budgeting software (for example, Scoro)
- Inventory control
- Menu planning
Open with a strong cover letter introduction
To attract the restaurant manager’s attention and make them interested in learning about you, you’ll need a compelling chef cover letter introduction.
Here’s how to start your cover letter:
- Lead with an impressive cooking accomplishment that highlights your relevant skills.
- Quantify your achievements to give employers a sense of what you can contribute to their dining establishment. For example, “I trained 15+ kitchen staff members on initiatives related to food preparation, and ensuring inventory and cost containment during menu planning.”
- Convey enthusiasm for the job. Highlight your lifelong passion for cooking amazing Taiwanese food, for example, to show employers that you have the skills and the enthusiasm necessary to succeed.
Research the restaurant
By researching the restaurant, you show the head chef or restaurant manager you’re serious about the job. Use that information to target your application to the establishment and demonstrate that you’re genuinely interested in working there.
Take some time to learn about the restaurant’s cuisine, atmosphere, and mission. Visit the website, read reviews, and check out its social media pages to get a better sense of the restaurant’s style.
Because your main responsibility is preparing menu items, it’s also a good idea to get familiar with the menu.
For example, if you’re applying to a restaurant that’s known for its innovative dishes, talk about your experience conceptualizing and developing creative menus.
Another way to create a tailored cover letter is by including keywords from the job ad that describe what the restaurant manager is looking for in a chef. Here’s an example of a job listing for an executive chef with relevant keywords highlighted:
Including keywords like these in your cover letter proves that you understand the specific requirements of the establishment.
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