RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Kitchen Resume Mistakes From Burning Your Career
Identify and fix the most common errors that keep cooks from getting hired.
How This Page Helps
Help cooks create a polished, ATS‑friendly resume that showcases culinary skills and experience.
Spot hidden formatting errors
Learn why vague job descriptions lose you interviews
Apply proven ATS‑compatible keyword strategies
Get ready-to‑use before‑and‑after resume snippets
Follow a step‑by‑step checklist for a flawless final draft
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using a generic objective instead of a chef‑focused summaryMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Employers skim resumes and discard vague objectives
- ATS filters miss key culinary keywords
- Fails to convey your specialty or experience level
How to fix
- Replace the objective with a 2‑sentence summary
- Highlight cuisine style, years of experience, and key strengths
- Insert relevant keywords such as 'line cook', 'culinary techniques', 'food safety'
❌ Before
Objective: Seeking a position in a fast‑paced environment.
✓ After
Summary: Passionate line cook with 5+ years in high‑volume restaurants, specializing in French‑technique sauces and efficient station management.
ATS Tip
Include keywords like 'line cook', 'culinary techniques', 'food safety' in the summary.
Detection Rules
objective contains vague terms
lacks specific culinary keywords
Resumly Tip
Swap objective for a concise summary that highlights your cuisine style and years of experience.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring managers want results, not task lists
- ATS scores higher when numbers and action verbs are present
- Makes you blend in with generic candidates
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Quantify output, speed, cost savings, or customer satisfaction
- Show impact on the kitchen’s efficiency or profitability
❌ Before
- Prepared meals according to recipes.
✓ After
- Prepared 150+ meals per shift with 99% order accuracy, reducing waste by 12% and cutting prep time by 8 minutes per service.
ATS Tip
Quantify results and use action verbs like 'prepared', 'managed', 'reduced'.
Detection Rules
bullets start with verbs without metrics
no numbers or percentages
Resumly Tip
Add numbers, percentages, and impact statements to every experience bullet.
Omitting food safety certificationsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Many kitchens require ServSafe or equivalent before hiring
- ATS often filters for certification keywords
- Missing credentials can signal lack of professionalism
How to fix
- Create a dedicated 'Certifications' section
- List each credential with issuing body and year
- Include related licenses such as 'Food Handler Card'
❌ Before
Experience section contains only job titles and duties.
✓ After
Certifications: - ServSafe Certified, National Restaurant Association, 2023 - State Food Handler Card, California Department of Public Health, 2022
ATS Tip
Add certifications in a dedicated section and include keywords like 'ServSafe', 'Food Handler'.
Detection Rules
no certification section
keywords 'ServSafe', 'Food Handler' missing
Resumly Tip
Create a 'Certifications' section and list all relevant food safety credentials.
Using inconsistent date formatsLOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may fail to parse employment dates
- Hiring managers perceive lack of attention to detail
- Inconsistent dates disrupt visual flow
How to fix
- Standardize all dates to three‑letter month abbreviations
- Use the same spacing and dash style throughout
❌ Before
Jan 2020 – March 2022
✓ After
Jan 2020 – Mar 2022
ATS Tip
Use 'MMM YYYY' format (e.g., 'Jan 2020') and a consistent en‑dash with spaces.
Detection Rules
different month formats
full month names mixed with abbreviations
Resumly Tip
Standardize all dates to 'MMM YYYY' format for ATS compatibility.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Experience, Education, Certifications, Awards
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Cook_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages, 400‑800 words
Date Format: MMM YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address
- Include a concise 2‑sentence summary
- List achievements with numbers
- Add relevant culinary certifications
- Use consistent date and location formatting
- Save as PDF with searchable text
- Tailor keywords to the job posting
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Jobvite
Keyword Strategy: line cook, sous chef, food preparation, kitchen safety, menu development, inventory control
Heading Format: Use standard headings like 'Experience', 'Education', 'Certifications' to ensure ATS parses sections correctly.
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current cook resume text below
- Convert objective to summary
- Add quantifiable achievements
- Standardize dates
- Insert certifications section
- Optimize keywords for kitchen roles
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