The secret to a smoothly running kitchen isn’t just great chefs – it’s great kitchen porters. Without you, dishes pile up, stock runs low, and the head chef starts looking dangerously close to a meltdown.
With the help of a Kitchen Porter CV examples, this guide will show you how to craft a CV that highlights your work ethic, efficiency, and ability to keep things spotless – helping you land a role where you’re an essential part of the team.
Kitchen Porter CV example
Kitchen Assistant CV example
How to write your Kitchen Porter CV
Learn how to create your own interview-winning Kitchen Porter CV with this simple step-by-step guide.
A well-run kitchen needs order, efficiency, and teamwork – your CV should be no different. If it’s all over the place, hiring managers might assume you leave dish stacks teetering like a game of Jenga.
This guide will help you structure your CV the right way, show off your most important skills, and highlight why you’d be the perfect fit for any kitchen. Because just like a clean workstation, a well-organised CV makes everything run smoother.
Structuring your Kitchen Porter CV
A clear and well-organised CV makes it easy for employers to see that you’ve got what it takes to work in a fast-paced kitchen. Busy recruiters simply don’t have time to navigate through a messy layout, so present the key bits of information clearly.
Here’s the structure to follow:
- Name and contact details – personal details sit at the top so employers can reach you easily. You can add a photo of yourself, but it’s always optional.
- Profile – Open with a strong introduction that highlights your experience, reliability, and ability to thrive in a kitchen environment.
- Core skills – Provide a snapshot of your most relevant abilities, such as cleaning, stock management, and teamwork.
- Work experience – Go over your previous roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on responsibilities and achievements.
- Education – Walk through any relevant qualifications, starting with the most recently-earned.
- Additional info – Optionally, outline relevant hobbies, awards, or additional skills like languages.
CV format for a Kitchen Porter
Writing a CV that’s a complete mess won’t impress kitchen managers – just like a messy kitchen won’t impress customers. Keep it clean, professional, and easy to read, as even the most competent kitchen porters will miss out if formatting mistakes make their application a pain to read.
Follow these tips to keep your format nice and clean:
- Bullet points – Break down your key information into skimmable bullet points for quick comprehension.
- Divide sections – Ensure each part of your CV is clearly defined with headings and consistent formatting.
- Use a clear and readable font – Opt for a clean, clear font to make your CV polished and easy to read.
- No more than 2 pages – Two pages is long enough to provide all the essential information while staying concise.
Kitchen Porter CV profile
Your CV profile is your chance to introduce yourself as the perfect kitchen porter. This short section at the top of your CV should highlight your ability to handle the demands of a busy kitchen, and emphasise what value hiring you would have for their business.
Kitchen Porter CV profile examples
Profile 1
Hardworking Kitchen Porter with two years of experience maintaining cleanliness and efficiency in fast-paced restaurant kitchens. Skilled in washing dishes, handling deliveries, and assisting chefs with food preparation. Committed to maintaining hygiene standards and ensuring smooth kitchen operations. Works well under pressure and as part of a team.
Profile 2
Reliable Kitchen Porter with one year of experience supporting busy kitchen environments in cafés and hotels. Proficient in dishwashing, sanitising workstations, and ensuring kitchen equipment is properly stored and maintained. Quick learner with a strong work ethic and a focus on maintaining high health and safety standards.
Profile 3
Experienced Kitchen Porter with over three years of expertise in high-volume kitchens, supporting chefs with food prep, stock management, and maintaining hygiene standards. Skilled in handling kitchen equipment, waste disposal, and deep cleaning routines. Passionate about teamwork and ensuring an organised and efficient back-of-house operation.
What to include in your Kitchen Porter CV profile
Make sure to include:
- Your kitchen experience – Whether you’ve worked in restaurants, hotels, or catering, mention it.
- Key strengths – Are you quick, efficient, and able to keep things spotless under pressure?
- Ability to work under pressure – Kitchens can get hectic, so show that you can keep up.
- Teamwork and reliability – A great kitchen relies on a team that works together smoothly.
- Attention to detail – Cleaning standards and food hygiene are key parts of the role, so highlight your ability to maintain high standards.
Core skills section
A core CV skills section allows employers to quickly see what you bring to the kitchen. Since kitchen porter roles vary, tailoring this section to match the job description is a smart move.
If the role is in a high-end restaurant, highlight attention to detail and food hygiene knowledge. If it’s a large-scale catering kitchen, focus on teamwork and efficiency.
Top skills for your Kitchen Porter CV
- Dishwashing and Cleaning – Maintaining cleanliness by washing dishes, cutlery, and kitchen equipment efficiently.
- Food Preparation Assistance – Supporting chefs with basic food prep tasks like peeling, chopping, and portioning ingredients.
- Workstation Sanitisation – Cleaning and disinfecting work surfaces, floors, and storage areas to uphold hygiene standards.
- Waste Management – Disposing of food waste, recycling materials, and managing bins according to health regulations.
- Stock Organisation – Storing and rotating ingredients properly to prevent spoilage and ensure kitchen efficiency.
- Health and Safety Compliance – Following food safety laws, allergen regulations, and workplace safety protocols.
- Equipment Maintenance – Ensuring kitchen tools, appliances, and machinery are cleaned and stored correctly after use.
- Fast-Paced Work Efficiency – Handling multiple cleaning and prep tasks quickly while maintaining quality standards.
- Teamwork and Communication – Coordinating with chefs and other kitchen staff to keep operations running smoothly.
- Handling Deliveries – Receiving, unpacking, and storing food supplies while checking for quality and accuracy.
Work experience
Your work experience should show more than just the tasks you’ve done – it should highlight how you’ve helped keep a kitchen running smoothly. A good kitchen porter isn’t just there to wash dishes; they’re part of a team that ensures everything is ready for service.
List your roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on how you contributed to the kitchen’s success. If you’ve worked in different types of kitchens, mention the variety of experience you’ve gained.
How should you list jobs on your Kitchen Porter CV?
- Outline – Introduce the kitchen, the type of restaurant or catering service, and your role.
- Responsibilities – List your main tasks, such as cleaning, assisting chefs, or maintaining hygiene standards. Use action verbs like “maintained”, “assisted”, and “organised”.
- Achievements – Show the impact you had, such as improving efficiency, maintaining a spotless work environment, or receiving recognition for reliability.
Work history examples for a Kitchen Porter
Kitchen Porter | The Riverside
Outline
Supported the kitchen team in a high-volume restaurant by maintaining cleanliness and ensuring efficient food preparation processes.
Responsibilities
- Washed and sanitised dishes, utensils, and cooking equipment to maintain hygiene standards.
- Kept kitchen workstations clean and free of hazards during service hours.
- Assisted chefs by preparing ingredients and organising food storage areas.
- Handled deliveries, unpacking stock, and storing ingredients correctly.
- Disposed of kitchen waste and maintained recycling procedures in line with health regulations.
Achievements
- Improved kitchen efficiency by reducing dishwashing turnaround time by 30 percent.
- Helped reduce food waste by properly storing perishable ingredients.
- Recognised by chefs for maintaining high hygiene standards during peak service hours.
Kitchen Porter | The Grand Hotel
Outline
Ensured cleanliness and smooth operations in a busy hotel kitchen, supporting chefs and catering staff with essential back-of-house duties.
Responsibilities
- Cleaned and organised kitchen equipment, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
- Disposed of food waste and handled rubbish removal in accordance with health guidelines.
- Assisted in basic food preparation tasks such as peeling vegetables and portioning ingredients.
- Kept dishwashing stations fully stocked with cleaning supplies.
- Worked closely with the team to ensure quick turnaround during breakfast, lunch, and dinner services.
Achievements
- Reduced kitchen downtime by implementing a more efficient cleaning schedule.
- Improved stock organisation, making it easier for chefs to access ingredients.
- Praised by supervisors for a strong work ethic and reliability during busy periods.
Kitchen Porter | Brewed Bistro
Outline
Provided essential support in a high-turnover café, ensuring all kitchen areas remained clean and functional throughout service hours.
Responsibilities
- Operated dishwashing equipment and manually cleaned cookware when required.
- Ensured kitchen floors, surfaces, and storage areas were kept clean and tidy.
- Helped chefs with food preparation, including slicing bread and preparing garnishes.
- Received and organised kitchen deliveries, ensuring proper stock rotation.
- Maintained high standards of hygiene and safety in line with food service regulations.
Achievements
- Helped the café maintain a 5-star food hygiene rating through excellent cleaning practices.
- Reduced dishwashing time by 20 percent by improving workflow efficiency.
- Recognised by management for reliability and teamwork during peak service hours.
Education section
Kitchen porter roles benefit more from proven experience, but any relevant training or certifications can still give you an edge. If you have food hygiene training, manual handling qualifications, a degree, or first aid training, include them here.
Keep the education section brief: just mention the qualification, where you got it, and the dates you worked towards it.
Qualifications recruiters look for in a Kitchen Porter
- Level 2 Food Hygiene & Safety Certificate – Essential for maintaining cleanliness and food safety in a kitchen.
- Manual Handling Training – Important for lifting heavy stock and equipment safely.
- First Aid at Work Certification – Useful in fast-paced kitchens where accidents can happen.
- COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Training – Helps ensure safe handling of cleaning chemicals.
- Fire Safety Awareness Training – Beneficial in a kitchen environment where fire hazards are common.
