While operating a private chef recruitment agency, Barry D'Arcy sees chef CVs practically every day, and he shares what sets a chef CV apart, plus some dos and don'ts.
There is a huge difference between a well-put-together CV that has been thoughtfully considered and outlines the candidate in the best possible light and a CV where the person who wrote it doesn’t know how to express themselves on paper or put their best foot forward. It’s disappointing to see chefs whose talent is buried in a poorly written CV.
When applying for a position, chefs should consider that their application may join a pile of another 200-plus CVs. So it’s important all the details are up to date, employment dates correspond and it’s clear and laid out in a way that recruitment consultant can read it without having to jump back and forth to follow the order. A well-laid-out CV is a pleasure and interesting to read — showing the chef’s culinary journey and how their career has developed into the professional they are now.
CV Dos:
- List the months you were employed, not just the year. If you write a position as being worked from 2023 to 2024, what does that mean? There is a big difference between January 2023 to December 2024, and December 2023 to January 2024.
- Add a profile image; it gives the CV a personal touch and adds a face to the brief.
- Have a well-presented food portfolio. It’s a must these days for serious professional chefs. It shows you take your craft seriously.
- List your references. The more references you can list, the better impression you make on the consultant. And make sure the references are legit. We do check. I called a captain for a chef reference, and he could barely remember him as they had worked together for a few days. The captain didn’t know he was a reference.
CV Don’ts:
- Don’t make your CV any longer than three pages at the maximum; this should be reserved for chefs with a long history.
- When applying for positions, ensure your CV is relevant to the role — if you apply for a position on a 37-meter motor yacht and your CV says you are looking for a head chef position on a 50-plus-meter motor yacht, or you apply for a yachting role but your CV says you are looking for a villa role. It doesn’t really add up.
- Stay away from the overuse of bullet points, and don’t repeat them. Every job is different in some way, so you should mention this.
Keep it simple and don’t try to pack everything in. Sometimes less is more. If you have a high-quality career, it will show through to a professional consultant. And if you're new to the industry, write your CV in a way that shows how you could be of benefit to an employer. The industry is always looking for new, dynamic individuals with the right attitude.