Do you love to cook? Are you feeling inspired by the movie Ratatouille or all the food-based reality TV shows on air today? If so, working as a chef may just be for you. However, before you rush out and sign up for culinary school, be aware that working as a chef isn't all glitz and glamour. There's a long ladder to climb before you reach the rank of executive chef at a top restaurant.
Should you attend culinary school?
The first question that many prospective chefs have is whether or not they need to attend to culinary school in order to become successful. The short answer is no – it is possible to develop your cooking skills on your own, or to work your way up the ladder from a position as a prep cook or line cook. However, if you are able to invest in a culinary school education, it's definitely a good idea. Culinary school will not only introduce you to other elements of a chef's career – like sanitation and kitchen management – but will also help you develop connections that can help get your career off the ground.
Your first job as a chef will likely be at the bottom of the ladder. If you attended culinary school, you may find that you're able to start out as a prep cook in a nice restaurant, while chefs without this degree may find employment as short order or line cooks in smaller restaurants and diners. Expect to work hard in these positions – you'll put in long hours on your feet, schlepping heavy pots and pans around a steaming kitchen. And don't expect to be paid much – chefs in these positions typically earn about $26,000-$32,000/year. However, it is in these positions that you'll have the chance to learn from more experienced chefs and to prove yourself ready for higher-level positions.
Moving up the ladder
Competition for chef positions can be fierce, but if you've proven yourself to be talented and creative, you may be invited to fill a sous chef or assistant chef position. You may also be able to leverage your experience to move from a smaller, unrenowned restaurant to a rated restaurant in the culinary capitols of the world. But don't expect that the work load will let up. If anything, these positions are more demanding that the entry-level positions, since you'll be responsible for more of the kitchen operations and for ensuring customer satisfaction. In addition, one common complaint of chefs working these positions is the hours – working popular meal shifts may leave little time for socializing outside of the restaurant.
Owning or managing your own restaurant
With time and experience, you may eventually be able to earn the title of executive chef at a prestigious restaurant or finally fulfill your dream of owning your own eatery. It should go without saying that these opportunities are even more competitive and demanding than work at any other level of the chef hierarchy. You'll be expected to provide the creative vision for the restaurant, coming up with new and innovative dishes to please your patrons. In addition, you'll also be responsible for the overall management of your entire staff and all the kitchen operations. Because of all the stress involved in this career path, it isn't uncommon to see talented chefs leave the restaurant industry behind for calmer options, like catering or restaurant buffet management. However, most people in the industry will tell you that despite the utter chaos of their profession, there's nothing else they'd rather be doing.
Culinary programs are offered at more than 30 locations making The Art Institutes the largest culinary school system in North America. Request your free information packet right now and get on the road to an exciting career in culinary arts. Learn more about the Art Institutes | Request free info
