Chef Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips

A chef needs experience in the culinary arts and extensive knowledge of food prep to craft signature dishes. How can you leverage that talent to get a job as a chef?

BROWSE EXAMPLES Build my cover letter

OUR USERS HAVE BEEN HIRED BY

Chef cover letter example

Chef cover letter sample

A cover letter is an incredible way to communicate your skills for a job position. If you’re looking for a new job in the culinary arts, it’s a good idea to write a cover letter to explain who you are and why you’re the best person for the chef position. Here’s how you can write a chef cover letter that really explains how your skills make you the best person for the job.

Build my cover letter

Best chef cover letter example

To get started, you need to know what an executive chef cover letter looks like. This chef cover letter sample can give you an idea.

Dear Mr. Smith,

I knew I wanted to be a chef to some extent when I got a job as a line cook in a small diner in my hometown. I didn’t know that I would end up going to culinary school, working as a sous chef underneath chefs with immensely high standards, and eventually creating my own signature dishes at a restaurant in London. I am excited to bring you these skills through the head chef position at [Company Name].

With my extensive work experience, I understand kitchen operations inside and out, from scrubbing floors to creating appetisers, and I strive to treat every member of my kitchen staff like they’re truly a part of the team. Additionally, I have strong chef skills in entrees and appetisers, especially in a Persian style, allowing me to create spectacular dishes that result in repeat clientele.

I am excited to bring my skills to Company Name and continue improving your restaurant’s reputation. I will contact you next week to schedule a time to speak with you about what I see myself being able to do as your head chef.

Sincerely,

Na’man Clark

Although this is a fairly short cover letter, it hits all the necessary points to create a great cover letter, which means it’s a helpful starting point for most aspiring chefs.

Tips for writing your chef cover letter

Your chef cover letter needs to start with a salutation. Include your name, contact information, and social media handles. A professional cover letter should also start with the hiring manager’s name, rather than a generic introduction like, “To Whom It May Concern.” From there, you can start writing with a chef cover letter template.

First paragraph: Introduce yourself with a hook and list your best achievements

You need to introduce yourself with a hook that will keep a hiring manager interested in what you have to say. This applicant starts with his very first culinary job, as a line cook in a small diner. From there, he follows his achievements, moving to culinary school, becoming a sous chef, and crafting signature dishes at a London restaurant. These are all extremely impressive achievements, and they show great initiative on the applicant’s part, which is something that a hiring manager wants to see.

Second paragraph: Provide more information about how you’re the best fit for the job

Now that the recruiter is reading, you can give further details about your experience, discussing exactly how you create a superior dining experience for your guests. This applicant discusses his love for the kitchen staff, indicating great teamwork, and mentions that his specialty is in Persian cuisine, which helps the recruiter understand what type of food he’s most likely to want to create as a chef. If you had extra key achievements to note, you can put them under this paragraph in bullet points.

Third paragraph: Call to action

Now that you’ve made it all the way through the cover letter, conclude with a call to action. In this example, the applicant states, “I will contact you next week to schedule a time to speak with you.” This shows confidence to hiring managers and incentivises them to call back and set up an interview.

Build My Cover Letter

FAQ: Chef cover letter example

Q: Do I really need a cover letter to get a chef job?

You should never submit just a chef CV and expect that it will be enough to get the job. A cover letter allows you to tailor your skills to the job application, making your CV shine even more brightly. If you’re not confident about your writing skills and are concerned about writing a great cover letter, use the CVHelp cover letter builder.

Q: How long should my cover letter be to get a chef job?

The perfect cover letter is usually one-half to 3/4 of a page long. Shorter than half a page tends to leave a lot of white space, which might create the impression that you’re not very skilled. Longer than 3/4 of a page can get too long for a recruiter to easily scan.

Q: Does this cover letter example work if I don’t have a lot of experience?

It can. If your job search is taking place without a lot of experience as a chef, you can still use this cover letter structure. Just include whatever experience you do have. This may be an experience working under another chef, experience in culinary school, and volunteer experience.

Move your cover letter to the top of the yes pile!

Build my cover letter