Looking to land your next role in food, hospitality, or manufacturing? Your resume is your first impression—and a powerful tool for telling your story. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to take the next step, a well-crafted resume can help open doors and show employers exactly why you're a great fit.
Union Kitchen's Career Development Program (CDP) has helped hundreds of individuals build meaningful careers in the food industry. Based on what we’ve learned, here’s how to create a resume that’s clear, confident, and gets noticed.
Think of your resume like a headline—it should quickly capture attention. If it’s too long or unfocused, you risk losing the reader before they see what makes you great.
Tip: Keep your resume to one or two pages. That forces you to highlight your most relevant experiences and avoid unnecessary clutter. Start with an outline of your key experiences, then fill in the most important details.
Every resume should include a few essential sections. These give employers the context they need to understand who you are and what you bring to the table.
Core sections to include:
Name and contact information
Summary or objective (optional but helpful)
Education
Professional experience
Skills and certifications
Additional accomplishments (optional)
References (optional)
Keep it clear and focused. You can always expand in a cover letter or interview.
Once you know what to include, think about how to present it.
Chronological format is the most common—listing your most recent experience first and working backward. It’s great if you have a consistent work history.
Functional format focuses on your skills rather than job titles. This format can be helpful if you’re changing industries or have employment gaps.
Pick the structure that helps your strengths shine.
Now that your format and structure are in place, let’s talk about what makes your resume resonate with hiring managers.
Study the job description. Identify words and phrases that match your experience—like “food safety,” “inventory management,” or “customer service”—and use them throughout your resume where relevant.
Use the same font, format, and writing style throughout. Keep verb tenses consistent—use past tense for past roles and present tense for your current one.
Instead of saying “responsible for food prep,” use action-oriented language:
“Prepared meals for 200+ guests daily, maintaining ServSafe safety standards.”
That shows not just what you did—but how well you did it.
Your resume should include a mix of technical abilities and personal strengths that match the job.
Hard Skills (Technical):
ServSafe Certification, Microsoft Office, Food Preparation, Inventory, Budgeting, Logistics, Project Management
Soft Skills (Personal):
Teamwork, Communication, Reliability, Leadership, Adaptability, Time Management
Action Verbs to Use:
Implemented, Led, Coordinated, Trained, Evaluated, Organized, Managed, Created, Supported
Using strong verbs helps show what you’ve accomplished—not just what you were assigned.
Before you send your resume, make sure it’s polished and professional.
Watch for spelling and grammar errors
Double-check punctuation and capitalization
Make sure verb tenses are consistent
Ask someone else to give it a final review
Use clear fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
Stick to dark text on a white background
Use bold or capital letters for section headings
Keep your font size between 11–12 pt for easy reading
Your resume isn’t just a document—it’s a chance to show what makes you great and why you’re ready to take the next step in your career. With a thoughtful structure, clear language, and strong examples, you’ll stand out from the crowd.
And remember: you don’t have to do it alone.
Union Kitchen’s Career Development Program offers resume support, one-on-one mentorship, a live jobs directory, and training opportunities in real-world retail and food settings. We’re here to help you build more than just a resume—we’re here to help you build a career.