This is step 5 in your multi-part online course.
OK, so what do I have to do?
Most chefs begin by becoming apprentices for a few
years so that they can get the necessary experience of working in a
kitchen. Being a chef often requires that you stand on your feet for
hours at a time and you are rarely able to relax for long.
Most chefs start out by helping kitchen staff in urban
restaurant environments because they are the most busy and offer a
great deal of experience.
You'll begin by helping the sous chefs, cooks, and
prep cooks with their daily work like cutting vegetables, stocking
shelves, or ordering food as per your instructions from the sous
chef. This position is called an apprentice.
You may not necessarily be paid for your work
depending on whether or not you are taking your position through a
school’s curriculum requirements.
Some apprenticeships do pay you for the chance to
train, but it really depends on your location. Trained
apprenticeships that are required for your certification, and if they
do pay; they pay little.
Of course, it is worth it because in the end, you can
qualify for your certification. And the experience is invaluable to
you when looking for a better and higher paying
opportunity.
You can also choose to work in more than one
restaurant so that you can associate under more than one mentor and
get a better idea of what you want to specialize in.
If you can handle the stressful environment of working
in a restaurant or whatever you decide on, then you can work your way
into high chef relatively quickly.
For some people it can take as long as ten years to
get to that position. In the culinary industry that’s considered
fast. Here is a list of some of the jobs that you can get in the
culinary industry while trying to work into head chef position.
• Line cook
• Line or station cook
• Garde manger cook
• Sous chef
• Chef’s apprentice
• Prep cook
• Front of house Operator
All of these positions are great for the chef in
training, and all can get you the experience that you will need in
order to gain the ability to become the head chef one day.
If you setting your sights a little higher, once you
have garnered the experience in the culinary industry, you will next
look to better positions like:
• Head line cook
• Executive chef
• Kitchen manager
• Restaurant manager/owner
• Food service supervisor
• Caterer
• Restaurants
• Cruise lines
• Resorts or hotels
• Private club or spas
• Contract food services
Truthfully, the possibilities are endless in the
culinary field of work. Once you have garnered all of your training,
you can pretty much chose any job you’d like to have.
This job requires that you work to satisfy the public,
but it also guarantees you much freedom.
To continue to the next section of your chef training,
please click this link: Selecting a specialty
