Head chefs need kitchen porters who are fast, reliable and safe with chemicals and hot equipment, because the whole kitchen stops when the pot wash backs up. This example is for an experienced KP who also helps with prep. It is a good first hospitality job, so the no-experience tips below cover what to put if you have never worked in a kitchen.
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Example kitchen porter CV
A fictional person, employers and figures, to show the format. Replace every detail with your own.
Kitchen porter with two years' experience in a busy hotel kitchen serving up to 300 covers a day. Fast and thorough on the dishwash and pot wash, safe with cleaning chemicals and careful with food hygiene. Helps with veg and basic prep when service allows. Looking for a kitchen porter or trainee commis chef role.
Experience
Kitchen Porter, Old Town Hotel Kitchen, Edinburgh (Aug 2024 - Present)
Keep the dishwash and pot wash clear for a kitchen serving up to 300 covers a day, so chefs never run out of clean equipment.
Clean the kitchen to the deep-clean schedule and sign off cleaning records.
Use cleaning chemicals safely, following COSHH sheets and the kitchen's colour coding.
Help with veg prep and portioning on quieter shifts; now trusted with the morning veg order.
Dishwash and pot wash, Cleaning schedules, COSHH and chemical safety, Food hygiene, Basic food prep, Working at pace, Reliability
Languages
English, Polish (native)
A kitchen porter personal statement to adapt
Kitchen porter with two years' experience in a busy hotel kitchen serving up to 300 covers a day. Fast and thorough on the dishwash and pot wash, safe with cleaning chemicals and careful with food hygiene. Helps with veg and basic prep when service allows. Looking for a kitchen porter or trainee commis chef role.
Key skills for a kitchen porter CV
Speed - Keeping clean equipment coming during a busy service.
Cleaning standards - Following cleaning schedules and deep cleans to the letter.
Chemical safety - Using cleaning products safely and following COSHH sheets.
Food hygiene - Clean handling, colour-coded boards and keeping food areas safe.
Reliability - Turning up on time for every shift, which head chefs value most.
Teamwork - Helping chefs with deliveries, prep and whatever is needed.
Manual handling - Lifting stock and moving equipment safely.
What a UK kitchen porter CV needs
Kitchen type and covers - Hotel, restaurant, pub, school, hospital or events kitchen, and how busy it was.
Food hygiene certificate - A Level 2 food hygiene certificate helps you stand out for a KP role.
Safety training - COSHH, manual handling and fire safety if you have done them.
Any prep experience - If you help with prep, say so. It is the usual route to becoming a commis chef.
Availability - Early, late, weekend and split shifts.
Achievement bullets to adapt
The figures are invented to show the format. Use your own.
Kept the dishwash and pot wash clear for a kitchen serving up to 300 covers a day.
Followed the deep-clean schedule and signed off cleaning records every shift.
Took on the morning veg order after six months.
Helped with veg prep and portioning on quieter shifts.
Never missed a shift in my first year.
Kitchen Porter CV questions
Do I need experience to be a kitchen porter?
No. Kitchen porter is one of the most common first hospitality jobs. Show you are reliable, hard-working and happy on your feet, and mention any cleaning, warehouse or physical work.
Can a kitchen porter become a chef?
Yes, many chefs started as KPs. Say on your CV if you help with prep and want to learn, and consider a Level 2 food hygiene course or a professional cookery apprenticeship.