Is Being a Chef a Good Career? How do I Know if it's Right for Me?

Maybe you have watched a few celebrity chefs slinging slaw on the small screen, or maybe you've developed a penchant for dazzling friends and family with your latest creations. Whatever the spark that has peaked your interest in the culinary arts, you may find yourself wondering whether it is the right career for you to pursue.

The reality is that demand for chefs is growing and over the next ten years job growth is expected to reach 10%. With median salaries of chefs and head cooks coming in at $45,950 a year, it's a solid career choice for those who enjoy rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.

Pleasing Customers, Teaching Staff, and Self-Improvement

Chefs take pleasure in pleasing their customers. Whether it is a tender Chateaubriand, a steamy soup, or a decadent dessert, chefs set their sights high and aim for perfection with every order. From the start of the day until the lights go down, the best chefs accept nothing less than the best from themselves and the people they work with. This makes it the ideal career for those who want to push themselves to be their very best day in and day out.

Of course, no one is perfect, and chefs are constantly learning how to improve their technique. Chefs are perpetual students who learn from their peers and incorporate what they've learned into the dishes they prepare as they rise through the ranks. Those celebrity chefs you may have seen on television have built their careers by studying from the best and practicing their craft until they know everything from recipe conversions to ingredient substitutions by heart.

In addition to being students, chefs are the top teachers in the restaurant. It is the job of the chef to ensure that everyone on the team knows what to do, when to do it, and how to do it best. Chefs coach everyone from the sous chef and salad chef to the pastry chef and the wait staff. This ensures smooth and reliable service, which improves the overall dining experience for customers.

Running the Businesses, Staying Creative, and Remaining Flexible

Chefs are also business professionals, and running a kitchen means being able to reduce waste and trim the fat from the budget. Chefs have to possess solid math skills that can calculate everything from ingredient cost to utilities so that menu items are properly priced and the restaurant stays in the black. For a head chef, math is the most important skill to master, as it is the skill that determines whether a restaurant stays profitable.

Is it all Hard Work and No Play?

Working as a chef is a lot of work, but there is also room for a lot of play. Chefs are naturally creative people and if you enjoy trying new things, experimenting with recipes, and giving each dish a bit of your own personal flair, then working as a chef is an opportunity to flex your creative muscles in fun and exciting directions. It's called the "culinary arts" for a reason and chefs are artists who can take something bland and make it bold.

What is Life as a Chef Like?

Life as a chef is a balance between routines and emergencies. Daily routines include food preparation, budget management, and staffing. These known variables change little day in and day out.

However, there are many monkey wrenches floating over every kitchen just waiting to drop into the daily special. Freezers go on the fritz, chefs call in sick, specials spoil, and health inspectors can show up right before the dinner rush.

Experienced chefs know how to keep things on an even keel regardless of what storms might be brewing up behind the scenes. This makes it an ideal career for those who enjoy the comfort of routine and have the ability to keep a level head and think problems through when they boil up.

Why is Earning a Degree Important to Being a Chef?

A degree in culinary arts prepares chefs for each of these facets of the career. It's a stepping stone that can help you understand the inner workings of the restaurant industry while teaching you how to use chemistry, math, and biology to create fantastic food that will have the critic's raising a glass in salute.

If you dedicate yourself to your studies, the career possibilities are limitless and could lead to opportunities in the world's finest hotels, resorts, and restaurants. Who knows, with enough practice and study, you just might find yourself on your own show someday inspiring the next generation of chefs as they rise up the ranks.

Are you interested in life as a chef? If you think you have what it takes to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, consider ECPI University's Culinary Institute of Virginia for the education you need. For more information, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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