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.
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.
Build Your Line Cook Resume with OysterLink
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.