Culinary Schools

How to find a job as a chef or culinary artist

Food and the restaurant business is one of the most popular and lucrative leisure and entertainment industries today. This means that really good chefs and culinary artists have become national figures, and with great exposure on TV and other media, this is likely to continue.

However, the road to greatness in this industry is usually one of hard work and dedicated study, both formal and informal. Although good chefs (and particularly culinary artists) need talent and flair, they also need knowledge and training as the platform to launch their talent. Therefore for most chefs, entry into the profession is through formal training in a college, vocational school or university.

Courses include subjects such as kitchen training, kitchen management, food science, food and beverage management, accounting and administration as well as the expected subjects relating to culinary skills. Many chefs take certificates, associate degrees or bachelor degrees, and learn all the skills that they will need as executive chefs, running their own restaurants and kitchens.

Chefs and culinary artists will start their first jobs as sous chefs, or pastry chefs, learning the routines of working and commercial kitchens. Progression will depend not only on their culinary skills but on how well they manage their own jobs and their management skills within their working environment. Many chefs work for themselves, owning and running their own restaurants or hotels, or other similar catering businesses. Salaries are reasonably good, and very good at the top of the profession, with prospects for work in catering continuing to be good for at least the next ten years.

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