What qualifications do you need to become a chef?
There is no specific need for formal education when becoming a chef. In this role, it is possible to start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up until you are where you want to be. However, having further education in a culinary-based program can provide you a leg up to being closer to your goal of being a full-fledged chef. The educational background may also make you stand out over people without relevant education when you come to apply for jobs.
Is becoming a chef a good career choice?
Becoming a chef is a good career choice for anybody who is passionate about the world of food and wants to work in a fast-paced and hands-on environment. Chefs are well known to work long and somewhat unsociable hours and days, including weekends and holidays, but if you are highly devoted to the profession, this may not be an issue for you.
How do I start my career as a chef?
If you want to jump straight into the kitchen with the vision of working your way to becoming a chef, you should start applying for jobs as soon as you can. Apply for roles where experience is not necessary, for example, a kitchen porter. During your time working in this role, you will get an idea of the atmosphere and gain new skills.
After working in this job for a few years and gaining all the insight you can, start looking at the next step: apply for a junior chef or station chef role that will provide you with hands-on experience working with food. After this, you can continue to work your way up through the kitchen roles. The next position you should look to apply for is the deputy (sous) chef, then head chef.
Taking the educational route may provide you with a quicker road to your desired job role. Although, you may still have to begin your career in a slightly lower position to get relevant experience before moving into a head chef role. There are numerous different education courses, offered by many schools and colleges, that set you up for success. However, attending culinary school may be the route that proves most desirable when applying for jobs in the field.