Is being a Chef a Career Choice for Me?
A chef is much more than just a person who knows how to cook. Commercial kitchens are complex, near living systems in which a ton of moving parts and people operate. During peak hours, kitchens can either devolve into a chaotic nightmare in which nothing gets prepared right and served on time or can be elevated into a thing of beauty as the kitchen team works together to power through the storm in concert.
If you enjoy being a part of a team and assisting others to reach their true potential to create outstanding culinary works, then being a chef might just be the perfect career choice for you. Know first, that this career takes a ton of work, dedication, and knowledge gleaned from culinary experts and teachers. In addition, you'll want to either have or hone the following key skills and talents:
Choosing the Culinary Life: 4 Important Skills and Talents to Have
- Math Matters. To be a culinary leader requires a strong grasp of basic numbers. Chefs are often either business partners or aspire to be a business partner and as such, they must be able to cost out a dish in their head and understand how much each plate costs to quickly and accurately price out a complete menu. Chefs also are commonly expected to oversee back of house operations, this means accurately managing inventory (including cutting back when times or tight and ordering ahead on deals), juggling labor costs, standardizing measurements and recipes, and ensuring all foods are cooked at the correct temperature and time.
- Methodical. If you are naturally disorganized, your living space a clutter, that does not mean you can't be a good chef. However, tapping into a more methodical side is a gradual learning process that will make you a better chef. That's because to really excel in this career requires understanding how best to organize your time and station, as well as the stations and processes you oversee in the back of house. You will need to learn how to draft recipes and processes specific to your restaurant set-up and kitchen team and you should always be reanalyzing processes and considering ways to make things more efficient, productive, and delicious.
- Disciplined Leader. As a chef, you are the leader. You are the one the team looks towards to set the standard and say whether the team is achieving that standard. Everything from plate presentation to cleanliness to company culture will begin with you. At the same time, it is important for chefs to be able to effectively handle criticism regarding any of the above and more. Whether customers begin to complain about a certain dish or employees balk at a certain task, as the leader it's essential to be able to take in the criticisms, analyze them, understand that such complaints are not personal, and react appropriately for the betterment of the restaurant and the team.
- Desire to Excel and Work Hard. As a chef, again, you are the one that sets the standard for work ethic. The signs of a great chef is a person who wants to work harder than anyone else in the kitchen, the person who is consistently hustling and ensuring everything is plated to perfection. You go beyond and you inspire those working for you to go beyond. Note though, that to do so requires chefs to be physically fit. To work those long hours necessitates being on your feet for long hours and moving quickly during rush hours to get dishes promptly prepared, correct any mistakes, and effectively manage your team. Physical strength is often needed to carry heavy bags of food and kitchen tools while dexterity is important for a myriad of cooking tasks, like precision meat cuts and wok operations.
Are You Ready to Get Started on a Career as a Chef?
Being a chef is no easy career, but it is one that can open many doors and bring forth strong job satisfaction. For the right individuals, this is a fun and highly rewarding career that can take you anywhere in the world you want to go. Now the only question you have to ask yourself is whether this sounds like the perfect fit for you?
If you’re ready for the challenge of the kitchen, you might be interested in earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Culinary Arts. ECPI University’s Culinary Institute of Virginia offers this program at an accelerated pace. Helping to get you into a working kitchen that much sooner. For more information on classes, connect with a friendly admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Arts - Associate’s
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