At cvapp.nz, our main goal is to connect professionals in New Zealand with amazing career opportunities. We understand how important it is for cooks like yourself to find the right career opportunities. Whether you're just starting out or you’ve been professionally cooking in the kitchen for years, our platform is designed to transform your job search experience and offer you all the career support you need. Let’s get stuck in!
Cover letter header
Catchy and captivating cover letter writing for cooks starts with an engaging and appropriate cover letter header. The header should contain essential information such as your email address, phone numbers, current professional job role, and any relevant professional networking links. If you have any digital portfolios you can share with employers that can showcase your culinary skills, you can also choose to include links to these portfolios in your header. Remember: It's important that any links you include in your header only direct potential employers to sites and platforms that show you in a positive and professional manner.
At cvapp.nz, all of our cover letters come with matching CV templates, so you can keep your branding professional and consistent. Since restaurants and establishments often have a lot of applications to sort through, having matching professional documents can make a huge difference on improving your chances of getting noticed by employers!
Cover letter greeting
When writing your cover letter, greetings should be kept clear, concise and professional. Choosing an inappropriate greeting can harm your chances of employers reaching out to you, so to start your cover letter on the right note, try to use greetings like "Dear Mr./Mrs. Edwards." Moreover, personalising your cover letter is always best, so if you know the name of your potential employers or hiring managers, be sure to include it in your greeting! Sometimes, you won't always know the names of who is reviewing your application personally -- in that case, you can simply address it to the team of the restaurant or establishment you're applying for. Easy as pie!
Cover letter introduction
When crafting the introduction for your cover letter as a cook, your goal is to make a lasting impression on potential employers and showcase your skills and enthusiasm for the culinary world. To achieve this, tailoring your cover letter introduction to the specific employer, industry, and job position you're targeting is essential. By personalising your introduction to align with the desired job role, you significantly enhance your chances of attracting the attention and receiving a response from prospective employers. A well-crafted introduction can set you apart from the competition and maximise your chances of landing your dream job in the hospitality industry.
To ensure that your cover letter introduction is engaging and impactful, consider incorporating an interesting or motivating fact that relates to your culinary career. This approach not only grabs the employer's attention, but it also demonstrates your knowledge, skills and consistency in the kitchen. Additionally, it’s important to address the reasons why you are applying for the specific role. By sharing your motivations, you offer valuable insights into your enthusiasm and alignment with the company's values and objectives. This helps employers gauge your genuine interest in the position and assess your potential compatibility with their organisation.
Kia ora Mrs. Crossman,
When I first had dinner at The Hot Chili, I immediately knew your restaurant was something special. In the days that followed, I had breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week, enthused by the unique Latin American recipes and the vibrant environment, invigorated by the sights, tastes and smells. In a matter of moments, I knew I wanted to work at The Hot Chili.
Cover letter body paragraphs
Your body paragraphs provide you with the opportunity to delve deeper into your achievements, skills, and relevant experiences, enabling potential employers to understand why you’re an ideal candidate for the role. Try to elaborate on situations where you effectively demonstrated your culinary skills and expertise. What are your most impressive culinary achievements? Have you won any relevant awards or been featured in any impressive publications? Do you have any examples where you worked well under pressure? Where possible, try to include facts and figures that measure the impact and value you brought to the table. These examples can offer valuable guidance on effectively communicating your achievements, ensuring that your cover letter creates a powerful impact on potential employers. We also recommend reading over the job description a few times: analysing the job description allows you to understand what the employer is looking for in a candidate and can help guide you on what to include in your cover letter.
In the body paragraphs of your cover letter, it's important to expand upon your accomplishments, skills, and relevant experiences. By doing so, you demonstrate how your background aligns with the job role and showcase your expertise in the field. Be sure to highlight how your skills and experiences can contribute to the company's goals and objectives. You can also discuss any certifications, courses or specialised training you have obtained and how they enable you to excel as a cook.
I attended the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) in Invercargill and graduated with a New Zealand Certificate in Cookery Level 3 and Level 4. My internationally recognised degrees taught me truly invaluable skills, including food safety and preparation, nutrition, menu planning and how to cater to specific dietary needs. During my time at SIT, I also had the unique privilege of creating and preparing a degustation meal for Sir Conrad Mulligan and Dame Mereana Muriwai. I have served a number of high-profile clients from around the world, and even lived, worked and cooked in international restaurants around the world, including in cities such as Auckland, Melbourne and San Francisco.
With plenty of work and educational experience in the culinary industry, I believe that I would be able to add value to The Hot Chili in a number of ways, including:
- Creating healthy, creative recipes that can be altered upon request according to dietary concerns
- Serving fresh, delicious food in a fast-pace environment
- Keeping stock of kitchen ingredients and creating cost-effective budgets to maximize kitchen efficiency
Cover letter conclusion
When wrapping up your cover letter, the most important thing to include is a call-to-action. Call-to-action statements encourage and motivate potential employers to reach out to you at a later date. For example, "I’d really like to share my experiences in the culinary industry with you at your earliest convenience. Are you available to talk early next week?” Call-to-action statements are effective because they demonstrate your confidence and professionalism while urging employers to take the next step and reach our. By proactively suggesting a future meeting, you also showcase your enthusiasm and initiative.
As you conclude your letter, be sure to choose an appropriate closing statement such as "ngā mihi or" "yours sincerely." This helps create a positive impression of you as a potential candidate and enhances the likelihood of employers reaching out to you. Finally, remember to choose a closing statement that aligns with the tone and culture of the company you're applying to. Good luck with your application, and happy cooking!
I am a hands-on, efficient, proactive cook with a passion for producing culinary excellence. I would love to add an immense amount of value to The Hot Chili kitchen. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon.
Best wishes,
Bella Puriri
