Top Culinary Job Boards to Kickstart Your Career:
No-Cost Resources for Front and Back of House Roles
Whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting in the culinary world, finding the right job can feel like hunting for the perfect recipe. You want the right ingredients: a great environment, a supportive team, and a role that matches your skills and passion. Luckily, several job sites are specifically designed to help culinary professionals like you land the perfect gig. Below, you'll find a curated list of the best resources—starting with the top choices for full-time positions, followed by excellent sites for part-time, gig, or event-based work. And, of course, we'll wrap up with some general advice to help you stand out in the crowded culinary job market.
Top Full-Time Culinary Job Sites
Culinary Agents
Culinary Agents is the go-to platform for many in the culinary industry. This site offers a wide array of job postings for both front-of-house and back-of-house roles and serves as a networking hub. With a large community of hospitality professionals, it's an ideal place to connect, grow your network, and find opportunities that match your career aspirations. Visit Culinary Agents
Poached Jobs
Poached Jobs is your answer for those seeking a dedicated job board focused entirely on the hospitality industry. It’s perfect for finding roles in restaurants, bars, and hotels. You can search by location and category, ensuring you find the most relevant positions for your expertise. Visit Poached Jobs
Seasoned
Seasoned is a platform designed for restaurant workers. It offers job listings, networking opportunities, and career resources and focuses on connecting job seekers with positions in the restaurant industry. Visit Seasoned
Good Food Jobs
Good Food Jobs is where you should be looking if you're passionate about sustainability and ethical food practices. This site connects culinary professionals with roles in the sustainable food industry, from farm-to-table operations to food advocacy. Visit Good Food Jobs
Restaurant Careers
Restaurant Careers: Restaurant Careers is focused on the restaurant and hospitality industry, offering job postings for a wide range of positions, including kitchen staff, management, and front-of-house roles. Visit Restaurant Careers
Chef’s Roll
Chef’s Roll is a unique platform that combines job listings with professional networking and development opportunities. It’s perfect for chefs who want to showcase their work, connect with peers, and find exciting job opportunities. Visit Chef’s Roll
American Culinary Federation (ACF) Career Center
The ACF Career Center offers specialized job postings for culinary professionals. Backed by the respected American Culinary Federation, this site provides high-quality listings and resources tailored to culinary professionals. Visit ACF Chefs Job Seekers
HCareers
HCareers is one of the leading job boards for the hospitality industry, offering a wide range of listings for culinary and management positions. Its extensive reach and reputation make it a top resource for those seeking long-term roles. Visit HCareers
iHireChefs
iHireChefs is dedicated to chef jobs and hiring in the culinary industry. This encompasses positions for bakers, cake finishers, specialty chefs (pastry, sushi, banquet), culinary operations managers, personal chefs, executive chefs (pastry, sous), assistant chefs, line cooks, and prep chefs. Visit iHIreChefs
Top Part-Time, Gig, and Event-Based Culinary Job Sites
Snagajob
Snagajob is a popular platform for finding hourly work, including server and other restaurant staff positions. It features a large user base and offers tools for screening and managing applicants, making it easy to find flexible work. Visit Snagajob
Qwick
Qwick specializes in connecting food and beverage professionals with businesses that need temporary or shift-based workers. It's perfect for those who want to quickly pick up extra shifts or find short-term gigs. Visit Qwick
Jitjatjo
Jitjatjo is designed for hospitality professionals looking for on-demand and flexible work. It connects experienced workers with restaurants and other venues needing temporary staff, making it a great resource for filling in gaps in your schedule. Visit Jitjatjo
Sirvo
Sirvo caters broadly to the service industry but strongly focuses on temporary and hourly positions in the restaurant sector. Job listings on Sirvo are also pushed to the Indeed network, ensuring wide reach and visibility. Visit Sirvo
Culinary Jobs on Cruise Ships and Merchant Ships
All Cruise Jobs
All Cruise Jobs is one of the leading job boards for positions on cruise ships, including a wide range of culinary roles. It features job listings from major cruise lines, allowing culinary professionals to find opportunities as chefs, bakers, cooks, and other food service staff. Visit All Cruise Jobs
Cruise Ship Job
Cruise Ship Job focuses on job opportunities on cruise ships, including culinary positions. The site offers resources for job seekers, including application tips and information about life on board. Visit Cruise Ship Job
SeaCareer
SeaCareer offers job listings for various maritime positions, including those on merchant ships and offshore vessels. Culinary roles are regularly posted, especially for ship cooks and catering staff positions. Visit SeaCareer
CruiseJobFinder
CruiseJobFinder provides a comprehensive job board for cruise ship jobs, including culinary positions. It also offers resources like guides and tips for landing a job on a cruise ship, making it a valuable resource for first-time applicants. Visit CruiseJobFinder
Personal Chef Job Sites
HireAChef
HireAChef is a platform specifically for personal chefs, connecting them with clients looking for private or special event catering. It allows chefs to create profiles, showcase their work, and apply for personal chef positions. Visit HireAChef
GreatAuPair
While primarily focused on au pairs and caregiving, GreatAupair lists personal chef jobs. It’s a valuable resource for chefs working in private households, either full-time or part-time. Visit GreatAupair
TakeAChef
TakeAChef is a site that matches personal chefs to people seeking to hire them. Register and make a profile so people can find you to hire you. You can also seek out and contact those you feel are a good match. Visit TakeAChef.
Indeed
Indeed, a general job site, often lists opportunities for personal chefs. Using specific search terms, you can find job postings from individuals or families looking to hire personal chefs.
Honorable Mentions: General Job Sites and Networking
LinkedIn might not be culinary-specific, but it’s invaluable for networking. Create a detailed profile, connect with your area's chefs, servers, managers, and owners, and mark yourself “Open to Work.” Watch your feed for job postings, and don't hesitate to contact potential employers directly. Visit LinkedIn
Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter
These general job sites are worth checking out, especially for broader opportunities. They have extensive job listings across various industries, including culinary and hospitality roles.
Crafting Your Perfect Job Search Recipe
Finding the right job in the culinary industry requires a mix of online research, networking, and good old-fashioned persistence. While these job sites provide excellent resources, don't forget to "pound the pavement" as well. Walking into restaurants with your resume and cover letter can still make a powerful impression. Remember, job searching is as much about who you know as what you know—so take advantage of every opportunity to connect with others in the industry.
Good luck in your job search! Whether you're looking for full-time work or just picking up extra shifts, the right opportunity is out there. Keep pushing forward, and soon enough, you'll find yourself in a kitchen where your skills can truly shine.
Steve Weiss
Transformational Leadership Academy
Contact Info
steve@leadwithtla.com
216-288-4548