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Cover letter examples · Hospitality

Kitchen Hand cover letter example

A head chef hiring a commis wants someone reliable who already knows how a kitchen runs. This example is from the same kitchen hand as our CV example, applying for his first commis chef role, and it only uses facts from his CV.

Goes with Tevita Fifita's Kitchen Hand CV · Checked

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The letter

What each paragraph is doing.

Tevita Fifita is made up, and so is The Mānuka Table, Ngongotahā. Every fact in the letter comes from Tevita's CV, the way a real one should: nothing new, just the parts of the CV this job cares about most.

Tevita Fifita

Rotorua · 022 555 0217 · tevita.fifita@email.com

Liam Te Kani, Head Chef

The Mānuka Table, Ngongotahā

Re: Commis Chef

Kia ora Liam,

I'd like to apply for the Commis Chef role at The Mānuka Table. I'm a kitchen hand with three years in a busy hotel restaurant and a café, and at Te Ahi Kitchen and Bar in Rotorua I run the dish station on nights of up to 200 covers, keeping plates, pots and utensils coming back to the line without holding up service.

Most mornings I'm already doing prep. I get the vegetables, sauces and garnishes ready for the morning shift so the commis chef can stay on the hot section, and I complete the daily cleaning schedule and fridge temperature checks for our Food Control Plan. I also check in and put away deliveries, rotating stock so the oldest is used first, and I'm trusted to close the kitchen alone three nights a week.

Before Te Ahi I washed up at Pōhue Café through weekend brunch and helped make the cabinet sandwiches and salads each morning. Prep is the part of the job I enjoy most, and I'm ready to learn a section properly under a chef who'll teach me.

I'm available nights, weekends and public holidays. I'd be happy to come in for a trial shift so you can see how I work.

Ngā mihi,

Tevita Fifita

  1. 1Opens with the job and the proofIt names the role, then shows he can keep up: running the dish station on nights of up to 200 covers without holding up service.
  2. 2Shows cooking work he already doesMorning prep, Food Control Plan checks and stock rotation are the basics a commis needs, and closing alone three nights a week shows trust.
  3. 3Gives an honest reason for the moveSaying prep is what he enjoys and he wants to learn a section is a plain, believable reason for a first step up.
  4. 4Closes with availability and a trialNights, weekends and public holidays are what kitchens struggle to cover, and a trial shift is how most commis chefs get hired.

Opening lines

Other ways to open.

The first line decides whether the rest gets read. Each of these names the job and leads with proof. Swap in your own facts.

  • “I'd like to apply for your Kitchen Hand role, bringing three years in a busy hotel restaurant and a café and a dish station that keeps up with 200 covers.”
  • “I'm applying for the Commis Chef position, having prepped vegetables, sauces and garnishes for the morning shift in a busy restaurant kitchen.”
  • “As a kitchen hand trusted to close the kitchen alone three nights a week, I'm applying for your Kitchen Hand and Prep Cook role.”
  • “I'm applying for the Café Kitchen Hand role, with experience washing up through weekend brunch and making cabinet food each morning.”

Common mistakes

What gets kitchen hand letters skipped.

  • Writing only about dishes when you're applying to cook.

    Lead with the prep you already do, like vegetables, sauces and cabinet food. It shows you're ready for the step up.

  • Leaving out cleaning and food safety checks.

    Mention the cleaning schedule and temperature checks you complete for the Food Control Plan. Chefs rely on them every day.

  • Not saying when you can work.

    State your availability for nights, weekends and public holidays, and offer a trial shift.

Write yours

A letter like this, for every job ad.

Paste a kitchen hand job ad into SmartCVs and it writes your cover letter alongside your tailored CV. The free plan gives you 3 job scans a week, each with both.

How cover letters work in SmartCVs
  • Written in the same step as your tailored CV, from your profile and the job ad
  • Three or four paragraphs, in plain, professional language
  • Every fact from your profile: a number your profile doesn't have is dropped before you see it
  • Edit any line, copy it into an application, or download PDF or Word

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

Do kitchen hands need a cover letter?

Not always, but a short letter helps when you want to move into a commis chef role or when you're applying at a place you really want to work.

Can I become a commis chef without a cookery qualification?

Yes. Many New Zealand kitchens take on kitchen hands as commis chefs and train them on the job, so show the prep and food safety work you already do.

Should I offer a trial shift?

Yes. Trial shifts are common in New Zealand kitchens, and offering one shows you're keen and confident.

More cover letter examples

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