Become a chef

It is always debatable weather one should attend a culinary academy or to get some good old fashioned in house training if you want to become a professional chef. Some of the best chefs have been to the best culinary schools and some have learned on the job.

When choosing a school to study at make sure it is one where you will be trained by chefs who have been working in the industry and you will be doing practical work as well. If you are the sensitive type then working a little extra time at a restaurant or hotel will really toughen you up.

However, your qualification is not the most important thing here. It is your personality, character and of course how tough your skin is, but this will come with time. Being able to work under pressure at all times is important so think about this carefully before enrolling in any chefs school.

he chef's salary is a big talking point amongst chefs. The one thing you have to take into consideration before you become a chef is the amount of hours you will have to spend on the job and your feet. You will have to love to cook and have a real passion for it. Most chefs dedicate their lives to it. When it comes to a chefs salary in the beginning you won't be paid a lot, but as you move up the ranks with time the dollars and cents will start to increase.

You will have to think hard before you decide to become a chef. It is not be like any other 9-5 job. You could open your own business, but even then the being in the catering service is not an easy task. Think about why you would like to become a chef. After saying that it is definitely a rewarding experience and there are lots of options available.

Become a Private Cook

This can be at someone’s home on a permanent basis or on contract over the holidays. Private cooks are paid very well. Food is made as the family requests it to be made. They could be dining in style every evening and ask you to make gourmet style meals where you will have to be at your best and may even have to pour the wine. You also get families who are very casual and just want to take a break. They will want you to cook holiday style food. They might like to barbeque a lot and all you have to do are salads and accompaniments.

Work on a cruise liner

This may sound like the ultimate job, but it is a lot of hours and very few hours off. Most liners require that you have had experience and some experience on the ocean. The pay is good and the thing to look forward to is that you will have the opportunity to travel the world and when you do get a break it will be ample.

Work on a private yacht

This is a lot easier than a liner. There are different sizes of yachts. Some are commercial and some are for families who just need an extra hand. You won’t be as stressed and you will be able to have more of a holiday.

Become a pastry chef

To become a pastry chef you will have to be a hard worker, have lots of patience and most of all enjoy working with all sorts of pastry. This is a different kind of chef completely and there are so many options available. Because it is a specialized field there are not as many pastry chefs around so your choices will be unlimited.

Work for a catering service

Working for a catering company can vary from a big company that is constantly on the move, going to functions at night and preparing meals during the day or a home-based business in a small kitchen. It can be tiring working in a big company, which is almost like working a double shift.

Be a Kitchen Manager

Going to a prestigious culinary school and becoming a kitchen manager might not be everybody’s cup of tea unless it’s a calling or it could be at your old chef school doing all the orders for the college.

Work at a Hotel or Restaurant

Most people as some stage end up working in a restaurant or a hotel. Working at a 5 star hotel can be stressful, but you will definitely be learning all the time

Chef Resort or Ski Lodge

Another opportunity to have a holiday at the same time, except in the busy season you might not be able to put in as much skiing as you hoped for.

How to become a personal chef

Personal chefs have become popular in the United States where families who work don’t have the time to cook. You will do all the cooking in their homes every week and from there the meals are frozen. Once you are established you can make a good living. Special training courses with a network have been designed for the personal cook. You can find out more from a certified college that you study from online.

Cook at a Countryside Pub or Tavern

If you can’t take the stress of a busy hotel or restaurant or hotel in the city with constant shouting from the head chef then a small pub or tavern somewhere in the country might be a better option where people sometimes are a lot more relaxed about life in general.

Assist at a Chef School

There are a few opportunities available at chef schools and private colleges where people want to learn how to cook. If you have just graduated from culinary school then you will just be assisting people. There is also the possibility of starting a class yourself to people who know nothing about cooking. There are always people who want to learn. The most popular classes are for children and men. You could learn to become a pastry chef and specialize teaching in this field for something different.