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Prep cook/dishwasher resume examples from 2026

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Updated March 26, 2025
6 min read
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How to write a prep cook/dishwasher resume

Craft a resume summary statement

Your resume summary sums up your experience and skills, making it easy for hiring managers to understand your qualifications at a glance. Here are some tips to writing the most important 2-4 sentences of your resume:

Step 1: Mention your current job title or the role you're pursuing.

Step 2: Include your years of experience in prep cook/dishwasher-related roles. Consider adding relevant company and industry experience as relevant to the job listing.

Step 3: Highlight your greatest accomplishments. Here is your chance to make sure your biggest wins aren't buried in your resume.

Step 4: Again, keep it short. Your goal is to summarize your experience and highlight your accomplishments, not write a paragraph.

These four steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some prep cook/dishwasher interviews.

Please upload your resume so Zippia’s job hunt AI can draft a summary statement for you.

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List the right project manager skills

Your Skills section is a place to list all relevant skills and abilities. Here is how to make the most of your skills section and make sure you have the right keywords:

  1. Start with the job listing. Frequently, the keywords looked for by recruiters will be listed. Be careful to include all skills in the job listing you have experience with.
  2. Consider all the software and tools you use on a daily basis. When in doubt, list them!
  3. Make sure you use accurate and up to date terms for all the skills listed.
These five steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some prep cook/dishwasher interviews.

Here are example skills to include in your “Area of Expertise” on a prep cook/dishwasher resume:

  • Wash Dishes
  • Food Preparation Equipment
  • Dishwashers
  • Kitchen Equipment
  • Cooking Equipment
  • Line Cooks
  • Mop Floors
  • Bus Tables
  • Fine Dining
  • Safety Standards
  • Clean Kitchen
  • Food Storage
  • Sanitation Standards
  • Commercial Cleaning
  • Prep List
  • Food Orders
  • Kitchen Maintenance
  • Kitchen Utensils
  • Food Products
  • Prep Cooking
  • Walk-In Coolers
  • Fryers
  • Scrub Floors
  • Pickup Areas
  • Sanitation Policies
  • Unload Trucks
  • Cooking Utensils
  • Cooking Methods
  • Making Salads
  • Food Preparation

Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.

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How to structure your work experience

Next you should include your work experience. Structure your work experience section by listing your most recent experience first, followed by earlier roles in reverse chronological order.

Start with your job title, company name, city, and state on the left. Align dates in month and year format on the right-hand side.

Include only recent, relevant jobs. Avoid including work experience over 20 years to avoid ageism.

Beneath each job, you should have bullet points to emphasize why you're the perfect fit for the prep cook/dishwasher.

How to write prep cook/dishwasher experience bullet points

Remember, your resume is not a list of responsibilities or a job description. This is your chance to show why you're good at your job and what you accomplished.

Use the XYZ formula for your work experience bullet points. Here's how it works:

  • Use strong action verbs like Led, Built, or Optimized.
  • Follow up with numbers when possible to support your results. How much did performance improve? How much revenue did you drive?
  • Wrap it up by explaining the actions you took to achieve the result and how you made an impact.

This creates bullet points that read Achieved X, measured by Y, by doing Z.

Here are effective examples from prep cook/dishwasher resumes:

Work history example #1

Prep Cook/Dishwasher

Sur La Table

  • Operated a POS system and managed cash and credit card sales.
  • Handled products and equipment in accordance with safety and sanitation guidelines.
  • Functioned as a key team member in the Deli of Macey's Grocery Store.
  • Transfered heavy pots, pans, etc, from kitchen to dishwasher Cleaned and sanitized dishware using proper cleaning techniques.
  • Maintained a sanitary kitchen Prepared tables and delivering dishes

Work history example #2

Fry Cook

Applebee's

  • Washed dishes Clean machines Sweep/Mop Chop vegetables Prepare meats Make salads Make rice
  • Washed dishes keep my area clean as I go prep meat n help out where the help was needed.
  • Cleaned dirty dishes prior to sending them through an industrial dishwasher.
  • Promoted directly from dishwasher after outstanding leadership reviews.
  • Established a high functioning kitchen team by promoting communication and efficient time management.

Work history example #3

Prep Cook/Dishwasher

Chipotle Mexican Grill

  • Maintained an effective communication system with managers and crew.
  • Worked grill Prep/ Dishwasher Preparing food on line
  • Helped the dishwasher and helped in the kitchen when I was available.
  • Worked as a waiter, served food to customers (Red Lobster).
  • Opereated dish machine, washed and rinced dishes, rotated clean and dirty dishes.

Work history example #4

Prep Cook/Dishwasher

Red Lobster

  • Washed dished by hand and/or operated automatic dishwasher.
  • Red Lobster I was also trained as a Dishwasher and a Baked so I can help any way I can.
  • Washed dishes, glassware, flatware, pots, and/or pans usingdishwashers or by hand.Was promoted to Baker/Line Cook.
  • Used and practiced safe food handling methods, HACCP
  • Assisted Boss Boys in peak times Trained new employees In charge of baking side dishes

Zippia’s AI can customize your resume for you.

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Add an education section to your resume

Here is the best way to format your education section:

  • Display your highest degree first.
  • If you graduated over 5 years ago, put this section at the bottom of your resume. If you lack relevant work experience, the education section should go to the top.
  • If you have a bachelor's or master's degree, do not list your high school education.
  • If your graduation year is more than 15-20 years ago, it's better not to include dates in this section.

Here are some examples of good education entries for resumes:

Some College Courses in business

Pennsylvania State University, Main, PA

2011 - 2011

High School Diploma

2009 - 2009

Highlight your prep cook/dishwasher certifications on your resume

Certifications can be a crucial part of your resume. Many jobs have required certifications.

Start simple. Include the full name of the certification. It's also good to mention the organization that issued the certification. Next, specify when you obtained the certification.

If you have any of these certifications, be sure to include them on your prep cook/dishwasher resume:

  1. Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS)
  2. Certified Food Manager (CFM)
  3. ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification
  4. Food Safety Manager Certification

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