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You might be wondering: How do I create a kitchen assistant CV that stands out from the competition? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We offer a variety of helpful resources, including professional CV examples and easy-to-follow guides to simplify the process.
In the following sections, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about crafting your kitchen assistant CV, including:
- Kitchen assistant CV sample
- Kitchen assistant CV templates
- The best format for your kitchen assistant CV
- How to write a compelling CV for a kitchen assistant role
- Top dos and don’ts for kitchen assistant CV writing
- Frequently asked questions about kitchen assistant CVs
With our expert tips, you’ll be well-equipped to create a professional CV that helps you land your ideal kitchen assistant role.
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Kitchen assistant sample
TOBY WILLIAMS
43 Iffley Road
Bristol, B51 9NR
07912345678
toby.williams@example-example.co.uk
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Kitchen Assistant who thrives under pressure. Food and beverage expert recently qualified in General Cookery and Food Safety. Focused on efficient teamwork and complete customer satisfaction.
WORK HISTORY
Kitchen Assistant
10/2018 to Current
Zanky’s Italian – Bristol, South West
- Maintained smooth and timely operations in preparation and delivery of meals and kitchen sanitation.
- Changed and sanitised all cutting boards, benches, and surfaces when beginning a new task to avoid cross-contamination.
- Practised safe food handling procedures at all times.
Kitchen Assistant
11/2013 to 10/2018
Tare Restaurant – Bristol, South West
- Verified proper portion sizes and consistently attained high food quality standards.
- Promptly reported any maintenance and repair issues to the Executive Chef.
- Verified the freshness of products upon delivery.
Kitchen Porter
09/2010 to 11/2013
Casamia Bristol – Bristol, South West
- Baked consistent quality items by accurately mixing, dividing, shaping, and proofing.
- Ordered and received bakery products and supplies.
- Supported chefs on a range of workstations.
SKILLS
- Menu planning
- Quality control
- Chef support
- Order accuracy
- Safe food handling
- Stock management
- Kitchen equipment operation
- High-volume meal preparation
EDUCATION
NVQ Level 3
Catering & Food Preparation, 2010
City of Bristol College, Bristol
GCSE
2008
Fairfield High School, Bristol
Choosing the right format for your kitchen assistant CV
To make a strong first impression with your CV, it’s essential to have a clean, professional look. But how can you fit all your relevant information onto a single page? The secret is selecting the right CV format. A well-structured CV not only makes your details easy to read but also leaves a positive visual impression.
When it comes to kitchen assistant CVs, you can consider two format options: reverse-chronological and skills-based.
The reverse-chronological CV is often the best option for applicants with relevant experience. This format highlights your most recent job first and works backwards, making it easy for employers to see your career progression. It’s an ideal choice if you have hands-on experience in kitchen roles, as it shows your growth and increasing responsibilities over time.
On the other hand, a skills-based CV focuses on your transferable skills, such as “food safety,” “teamwork,” and “attention to detail.” This format is great if you’re new to the role or have limited direct experience. Highlighting your strengths instead of past job titles demonstrates your potential to thrive in the kitchen environment, even if you’re still building your career.
Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when creating your Kitchen Assistant CV:
- Keep your CV concise—ideally, one page and no more than two
- Use a professional font such as Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman
- Enhance readability with clear headings, sections, and bullet points
- Maintain a polite and professional tone throughout
- Send your CV as a PDF unless specified otherwise
How to write a kitchen assistant CV step by step
Once you’ve selected the ideal CV format, it’s time to focus on the key elements that will make your kitchen assistant CV stand out. The following sections will walk you through each step, from including your contact details to highlighting your relevant work experience and qualifications. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to create a CV that captures the attention of hiring managers.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What contact information should you include in your CV?
- Create a strong personal statement for your kitchen assistant CV
- How to showcase your work experience as a kitchen assistant
- Key skills for your kitchen assistant CV
- Education for your kitchen assistant CV
What contact information should you include in your CV?
It may seem simple, but some candidates forget to include their most current contact details at the top of their CVs, which can result in missed opportunities.
To ensure employers can easily reach you, double-check that all your contact information is accurate before submitting your application. For better visibility, consider using a slightly larger or bolder font in this section. Be sure to include the following details:
- Full name – both your first name and surname
- Location – simply the city or country where you’re based (mention if you’re willing to relocate)
- Phone number – provide the best number to contact you
- Email address – use a professional, work-appropriate email address
Example of a correctly formatted contact section
TOBY WILLIAMS
43 Iffley Road
Bristol, B51 9NR
07912345678
toby.williams@example-example.co.uk
Create a strong personal statement for your kitchen assistant CV
As the opening section on your kitchen assistant CV, your personal statement should pull together all your most relevant and impressive experience, skills, and qualities that you can offer in a kitchen assistant role. That could be a food safety certification, specialist skills like pastry preparation, or just personal qualities like “hard-working” and “team player”.
As with the rest of your CV, try to tailor it to the kitchen assistant description. If the role involves a lot of stock management, for instance, be sure to highlight your organisational skills from the get-go.
Here’s what to keep in mind when writing your personal statement:
- Keep it concise—around 50 words or 3 to 4 sentences.
- It’s recommended to write in the third person (e.g., “A highly organised and reliable Kitchen Assistant”), but the first person is also acceptable. Just be sure to stay consistent with your chosen tense.
- Reference key skills or job requirements mentioned in the description.
- Include at least one relevant achievement (e.g. “Consistently received positive feedback, achieving a 95% customer satisfaction rating for meal quality and service”).
Example of a kitchen assistant personal statement
Dedicated Kitchen Assistant with a passion for delivering high-quality food and exceptional service. Experienced in supporting kitchen operations, maintaining a clean work environment, and ensuring timely food preparation. Known for attention to detail and teamwork, contributing to a 90% customer satisfaction rating in previous roles. Looking to contribute to a fast-paced kitchen team.
How to showcase your work experience as a kitchen assistant
Work experience is a critical factor in the hiring process, especially for kitchen assistant roles, where efficiency, organisation, and the ability to work under pressure are essential. Employers often prefer candidates with relevant experience because they typically require less training and can adapt more quickly to the fast-paced environment of the kitchen.
For your kitchen assistant CV, list your most recent roles in reverse-chronological order, highlighting three to four key responsibilities for each position. If you’re unsure whether a job should be included, ask yourself: Is this experience recent and relevant? For instance, there’s no need to list a job from several years ago if it doesn’t align with your current skills. You want to showcase transferable skills—like food safety, kitchen organisation, or teamwork.
To format this section effectively, include:
- Job title
- Company name
- Company location
- Employment start and end dates
- Key responsibilities
Where possible, use specific examples and metrics to demonstrate the impact of your work. For example, instead of saying “assisted in food prep,” you could write “prepared ingredients for up to 100 meals daily, ensuring consistency and adherence to food safety standards.” Using specific results or numbers makes your CV stand out and shows potential employers the tangible value you could bring to their kitchen team.
Lastly, use action verbs like “organised,” “cleaned,” and “assisted” to emphasise your role in the kitchen’s smooth operation. These details will help you create a more impactful and well-rounded CV.
Example of work experience for a kitchen assistant
Kitchen Assistant
Zanky’s Italian Restaurant, Bristol
March 2022 – Present
- Prepare and organise ingredients for up to 70 meals daily, ensuring food safety and quality standards are consistently met.
- Assist in the daily cleaning and sanitising of kitchen equipment, surfaces, and storage areas to maintain a safe and hygienic work environment.
- Support kitchen staff during peak hours, ensuring quick and efficient food preparation, contributing to a 20% increase in order fulfillment during busy periods.
Kitchen Assistant
Casa Mia, Bristol
June 2020 – February 2022
- Assisted in food preparation, including chopping, marinating, and assembling dishes, ensuring all tasks were completed according to menu specifications and food safety standards.
- Ensured the kitchen remained clean and well-organised, maintaining health and safety regulations compliance.
- Handled deliveries, checked the quality of ingredients, and organised stock in the kitchen to ensure efficient workflow.
- Worked collaboratively with chefs and front-of-house staff to ensure timely service, contributing to a 95% customer satisfaction rate for food quality and service.
Key skills for your kitchen assistant CV
When hiring managers review CVs, they often go straight to the skills section to quickly assess whether you meet the job requirements. We recommend listing 6-8 critical skills to make the most impact.
It’s best to combine hard, technical skills with some soft transferable qualities. This will show that you’re capable of fulfilling kitchen assistant duties, but also fitting into the busy kitchen environment.
Hard skills are job-specific technical abilities gained through training or experience. These could include “food preparation,” “knowledge of food safety standards,” or “operation of kitchen equipment like mixers and ovens.”
Soft skills are personal qualities that help you excel in a kitchen environment. Examples include “teamwork,” “time management,” “adaptability,” and “communication.”
To get you started, here are some skills you might consider including on your kitchen assistant CV:
Technical kitchen skills
- Food preparation and cooking techniques
- Knowledge of food safety and hygiene standards
- Operation of kitchen equipment (e.g., ovens, mixers, dishwashers)
- Inventory management and stock rotation
Soft skills
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Time management and ability to work under pressure
- Attention to detail and quality control
Education for your kitchen assistant CV
When applying for a kitchen assistant role, formal education is often not as crucial as practical experience or a passion for the kitchen environment. Many kitchen assistants succeed without a formal degree, and recruiters typically focus more on relevant experience, hands-on training, and your ability to work effectively with a team. However, relevant courses and certifications can enhance your CV and demonstrate your commitment to the role.
Instead of listing general academic qualifications that don’t directly relate to kitchen work, it’s more beneficial to highlight courses, certifications, or training that are directly relevant to the culinary field. For instance, food safety certifications, culinary courses, or hospitality management training are highly relevant and show that you understand important areas like food hygiene, kitchen operations, and customer service.
In addition to your technical skills, recruiters also value language proficiency. If the role involves communicating with customers or working in a diverse team, demonstrating fluency in the relevant language(s) is important. A strong command of English (or another language, if applicable) ensures you can follow instructions, communicate effectively, and thrive in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
Here’s what to include in your education section:
- The name of the course, training program, or institution
- Start and end dates of your studies or training
- Relevant subjects or certifications (e.g., Food Safety Level 2, Kitchen Hygiene Certification, Culinary Arts)
- The level of qualification (if applicable, e.g., certificate, diploma, etc.)
Example of an education section
Bristol Culinary Academy | January 2020 – June 2020
Introduction to Culinary Arts
Covered topics: Knife skills, food preparation, kitchen sanitation
Dos and don’ts for a kitchen assistant CV
Do
DO tailor your CV to the specific job description
One common mistake candidates make is sending the same CV to multiple employers without customising it. Take the time to adjust your CV for each job application, using keywords and phrases from the job description. By aligning your skills and experience with the specific requirements of the role, you make your CV more relevant and help yourself stand out from the competition.
DO show enthusiasm for the kitchen
Recruiters look for candidates who are passionate about working in the kitchen and eager to contribute to the team. A brief sentence in your personal statement or objective section expressing your love for cooking or hospitality can make a positive impact. Passion and a good attitude are often just as important as technical skills for kitchen roles.
Don’t
DON’T make your CV too long
While it’s important to highlight your key qualifications, avoid overloading your CV with irrelevant information. Keep it concise—ideally, one page for entry-level positions like a kitchen assistant or two pages maximum for those with more experience. Hiring managers often skim through CVs, so ensure every section adds value.
DON’T neglect the importance of proofreading
Spelling mistakes or grammatical errors can create a negative first impression. Before submitting your CV, thoroughly proofread it to ensure there are no errors. You can use tools like Grammarly or ask someone else to review your CV. A polished CV demonstrates your attention to detail.
Your kitchen assistant CV questions answered
What are useful certificates to mention on my kitchen assistant CV?
When applying for a kitchen assistant role, relevant certificates can greatly enhance your CV. The most important ones to include are:
- Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or higher): A must-have for any kitchen-based role, demonstrating your knowledge of food safety standards
- Allergen Awareness Training
- Health and Safety Training
Should I include my availability to work flexible hours on my CV?
Yes, if you’re available to work evenings, weekends, or holidays, it’s a good idea to mention this on your CV. Kitchen assistant roles often require flexibility, so demonstrating your availability shows you’re ready and willing to take on shifts as needed.
How do I show that I’m a team player on my kitchen assistant CV?
Teamwork is a crucial skill in a kitchen environment. Highlight any experience you have working closely with others to achieve a common goal, whether it’s supporting chefs, working with front-of-house staff, or helping other kitchen assistants. You can include phrases like “worked collaboratively with a team of chefs and kitchen staff” or “contributed to a positive team environment.”
How do I format my kitchen assistant CV if I don’t have much experience?
If you’re new to the kitchen industry, focus on transferable skills and any relevant volunteering experience. For instance, highlight customer service roles, any part-time work in hospitality, or even projects you’ve done in cooking or food safety training. You can also emphasise soft skills and use a skills-based CV format that focuses on your abilities rather than your work history.
Should I mention any culinary skills, even if I'm not applying for a chef role?
Yes, culinary skills are still relevant for a kitchen assistant CV. Even if you’re not applying for a chef role, employers will value your knowledge of food preparation, knife skills, and cooking techniques. Just be sure to focus on skills that are appropriate for the position, such as “assisting with food prep,” “preparing ingredients,” or “following kitchen recipes.”.
Ready to apply? Build your kitchen assistant CV now
Ready to create a CV that grabs attention? We’re here to help you put together a CV that’s both professional and tailored to the role. Explore our CV examples, templates, and expert tips. Once you’re ready, use our simple CV builder to personalise your document.
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