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Line Cook Resume: 5 Line Cook Resume Examples & How to Write One

Crafting a great line cook resume is crucial for landing a job in a busy kitchen. Whether you’re starting out or have years behind the stove, a well-structured resume showcases your culinary skills and helps you stand out to restaurant managers.

Demand is strong: there are over 2.6 million line cook jobs in the U.S., with ~480,600 openings each year. That’s opportunity—plus competition.

Below you’ll find 5 line cook resume examples (entry-level to supervisory) and a step-by-step guide on how to write a resume for a line cook position. Follow these examples and tips to dish up a resume that impresses employers.

5 Line Cook Resume Examples (Entry-Level to Supervisory)

Use these line cook resume examples as inspiration. Each block includes contact info, a professional summary, work experience, skills, and education.

Entry-Level Line Cook Resume Example

[Your Name] – [City, State] | [Phone Number] | [Email Address]

Objective: Enthusiastic culinary graduate seeking an entry-level line cook position at a fast-paced restaurant. Skilled in basic food preparation, knife handling, and safe kitchen practices. Eager to apply classroom training in a real-world kitchen and learn from experienced chefs.

Skills:

  • Food prep techniques (chopping, grilling, sautéing)
  • Knowledge of food safety & sanitation (ServSafe Certified)
  • Knife skills and kitchen equipment handling
  • Strong work ethic and ability to learn quickly
  • Team player with excellent communication

Experience:

Prep Cook Intern, City Bistro – Boston, MA (Jan 2025 – Apr 2025)

  • Assisted senior cooks with ingredient prep (chopping vegetables, marinating meats) to expedite line service.
  • Maintained a clean and organized workstation, adhering to strict hygiene standards.
  • Shadowed line cooks during dinner rushes to learn station setup and timing.

Education:
Associate Degree in Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu College, Boston, MA (2023)
ServSafe Food Handler Certification, National Restaurant Association (2024)

(This entry-level resume uses a resume objective to showcase training and passion, and lists relevant skills like food safety and teamwork. Even with limited experience, it highlights transferable skills and a willingness to grow.)

Experienced Line Cook Resume Example

[Your Name] – [City, State] | [Phone Number] | [Email Address]

Summary: Dependable line cook with 8+ years of experience in high-volume restaurant kitchens. Proven ability to prepare diverse cuisines (Italian, American, and Mexican) while maintaining quality and speed. Expertise in line cook job description for resume tasks such as station setup, ingredient prep, and coordinating with chefs. Known for reducing ticket times and training junior kitchen staff.

Skills:

  • High-volume food production and multitasking under pressure
  • Sauce preparation, grilling, sautéing, and baking
  • Kitchen station organization and inventory management
  • Line cook skills for resume like knife mastery, food safety protocols, and timing
  • Leadership and mentoring of junior cooks; team collaboration

Experience:

Line Cook (Lead), The Urban Grill – New York, NY (2019 – Present)

  • Prepare and cook menu items across grill and sauté stations for a 150-seat restaurant during peak hours.
  • Implemented a prep system that decreased order completion time by 10%, improving kitchen efficiency.
  • Train and mentor 5 new line cooks on recipes, safety, and cleanliness standards.
  • Collaborate with the head chef on daily specials and ensure quality and presentation meet fine-dining standards.

Line Cook, Bella Italia Ristorante – New York, NY (2015 – 2019)

  • Worked all stations (grill, pasta, garde-manger) in a 100-seat Italian restaurant, delivering quickly without sacrificing quality.
  • Maintained attention to detail in plating and flavor, contributing to a 15% increase in positive Yelp reviews after menu revamp.
  • Handled inventory and ordering for the line, reducing food waste by implementing stricter rotation (cut waste costs by $500/month).

Education:
High School Diploma, Culinary Arts Vocational Program, Queens, NY (2015)

(This experienced line cook resume uses a professional summary to highlight extensive experience and specific achievements.)

Fine Dining Line Cook Resume Example

[Your Name] – [City, State] | [Phone Number] | [Email Address]

Summary: Accomplished fine dining line cook with 5 years’ experience in upscale, Michelin-star kitchens. Specializes in French and modern American cuisine with elegant plating and flavor balance. Adept at working under renowned chefs to execute complex recipes and multi-course menus.

Skills:

  • Haute cuisine techniques (sous-vide, confit, espuma)
  • Expert plating, garnishing, and sauce-making
  • Knowledge of wine pairings and seasonal sourcing
  • Calm precision during high-pressure dinner services
  • ServSafe Manager Certified

Experience:

Line Cook, La Belle Époque (Fine Dining) – Chicago, IL (2021 – Present)

  • Prepare intricate dishes for 10-course tasting menu; coordinate timing with chef de cuisine for perfect service flow.
  • Implemented a new garnishing technique noted by a local food critic.
  • Inspect each plate for presentation and consistency, supporting Michelin star retention.
  • Collaborate on menu development with seasonal ideas.

Line Cook, The Golden Spoon – Chicago, IL (2018 – 2020)

  • Prepared appetizers and dessert courses for up to 80 guests per evening in an open-kitchen concept.
  • Trained in classical French cooking; mastered mother sauces and butchery of high-end cuts.
  • Praised for exceptional attention to detail—from knife cuts to plate presentation.

Education:
Certificate in Advanced Culinary Techniques, Institute of Culinary Arts, Chicago, IL (2018)
Wine & Sommelier Basics Course, Chicago Wine School (2019)

(This fine dining example emphasizes gourmet techniques, plating artistry, and contributions to critical acclaim.)

Prep Cook to Line Cook Resume Example

[Your Name] – [City, State] | [Phone Number] | [Email Address]

Summary: Reliable prep cook with 3+ years of back-of-house experience, now aiming for a line cook role. Proficient in all aspects of kitchen prep with deep understanding of line operations; known for speed and accuracy.

Skills:

  • Ingredient prep: chopping, butchering proteins, sauces
  • Station setup and breakdown
  • Safety and knife handling
  • Ability to work under pressure during peak service
  • Team-first mentality, quick learner

Experience:

Prep Cook, Green Garden Bistro – Seattle, WA (2020 – Present)

  • Prepare ingredients for a 60-seat farm-to-table restaurant; keep line fully stocked.
  • Assist line cooks during dinner rush by cooking simple dishes and plating sides.
  • Managed a food labeling/rotation system that improved freshness and reduced spoilage.
  • Maintained spotless workstations and 100% health inspection scores.

Kitchen Assistant, Green Garden Bistro – Seattle, WA (2018 – 2020)

  • Supported prep and line teams (dishwashing, basic prep, assembling appetizers during high volume).
  • Observed and assisted grill and sauté stations to build line-cook foundations.

Education & Certification:
High School Diploma, Roosevelt High School, Seattle, WA (2018)
Food Handler’s Permit, State of Washington (Current)

(This example shows a prep cook’s progression and readiness for line duties.)

Line Cook with Supervisory Duties Resume Example

[Your Name] – [City, State] | [Phone Number] | [Email Address]

Summary: Lead Line Cook with 6 years of experience, including 2 years supervising kitchen staff. Skilled in high-volume cooking and coordinating a team to ensure timely, quality service. Strong in training, inventory, and standards.

Skills:

  • Team leadership and staff training
  • Menu planning assistance and recipe scaling
  • Station management and shift coordination; oversight of food output
  • Inventory control, ordering, vendor coordination
  • FOH–BOH communication; bilingual English/Spanish

Experience:

Lead Line Cook, Oceanview Steakhouse – Miami, FL (2021 – Present)

  • Supervise 4 line cooks; schedule stations and guide food prep for 200+ nightly orders.
  • Trained 7 new hires on prep, safety, and recipe execution, reducing onboarding time by 30%.
  • Liaise between head chef and line staff to maintain smooth service during peaks.
  • Monitor inventory and place orders; cut shortages via strict weekly routines.

Line Cook, Oceanview Steakhouse – Miami, FL (2017 – 2021)

  • Prepared grilled and sautéed dishes to spec in an upscale casual concept.
  • Maintained high food quality/presentation; supported a 4.8★ average review.
  • Adopted extra duties (updating prep list, training junior prep cook), leading to promotion.

Education & Certifications:
High School Diploma, Miami Central High, Miami, FL (2017)
ServSafe Manager Certification, NRA (2021)

(This example highlights supervisory skills atop core line cook duties.)

How to Write a Line Cook Resume (Step-by-Step Guide)

Writing a strong resume for line cook roles means smart formatting and focused content. Follow these steps:

Format Your Resume for the Kitchen

Use a reverse-chronological layout with clear sections: Contact Info, Summary/Objective, Work Experience, Skills, Education. Keep it one page if possible and ATS-friendly with simple styling and clean headings 

A consistent layout makes a strong first impression. If unsure, a builder or template helps with margins, fonts, and alignment.

Open with a Strong Summary or Objective

Experienced? Use a summary to spotlight achievements (e.g., “reduced ticket times 15%”). Entry-level or changing careers? Use an objective to show enthusiasm and transferable skills. Choose based on your level .

Tailor your opening with cuisine, restaurant name, or keywords from the posting (“fast-paced,” “grill experience”) for immediate relevance.

Describe Your Work Experience with Impact

Your line cook resume description should list jobs in reverse order and use action-led bullets with results: speed, quality, training, guest satisfaction. Quantify: “~120 dinners/night,” “cut order time 15%” .

Align bullets to the posting’s needs. Use energetic verbs—prepared, led, coordinated, implemented—to show impact, not just tasks.

Highlight Line Cook Skills & Use Keywords

Add a dedicated skills section. Include technical and soft skills: food prep, safe handling and knife skills, plating detail, seasoning/garnish techniques, calm under pressure, teamwork/communication.

Mirror the job’s required skills—those are your keywords. Many restaurants use ATS, so relevant keywords matter—use them naturally, not stuffed.

Add Education, Certifications & Extras

Feature culinary school, diplomas, and certifications like ServSafe Food Handler/Manager, OSHA safety, or First Aid/CPR. These show professionalism and safety knowledge.

No culinary degree? Focus on hands-on experience, but include your high school diploma and relevant courses. Extras—competitions, volunteering, language skills—can make you memorable if they reinforce your fit.

Pro Tip: Proofread carefully. Consistent bullets, correctly spelled kitchen terms, and a clean layout signal the professionalism you’ll bring to the line.

Writing from scratch is tough. The OysterLink resume builder is built for hospitality and restaurant roles, so you can showcase experience without wrestling with formatting.

  • Hospitality-focused templates: Designed for kitchens, restaurants, and hotels.
  • Keyword prompts: Ensure your line cook skills for resume and achievements are ATS-ready.
  • Fast: Choose a line cook resume template, enter details, and download as PDF or Word.
  • Professional polish: Highlight knife skills, safety certifications, and leadership clearly.

Whether you’re heading to a neighborhood café or a fine-dining room, OysterLink helps you create a professional resume for line cook jobs—quickly and confidently.

Line Cook Resume FAQs

Not necessarily. Many line cooks learn on the job. Culinary school and ServSafe certifications can provide an edge.

Yes. Seasonal roles show you can handle rush periods and learn quickly—highlight achievements from those stints.

Use numbers: covers per shift, reduced ticket times, fewer order errors, or lower waste from better prep systems.

Knife handling, food safety/sanitation, station management, teamwork, and time management. Supervisors should add training and inventory control.

Mirror keywords from the job post (e.g., grill, sauté, seafood). Adjust your summary and top bullets to match the restaurant’s focus.