Why Do You Want to be a Chef?
Becoming a chef is not as easy as it looks. For those who truly want to be chefs and who know what they're getting into, it is definitely a rewarding field. However, before you sign up for a program on a whim, find out what it really takes to be a chef and see if that dovetails with why you want to be one. Heading into a career as a chef with open eyes is your best bet for setting off on a successful career path.
What Got You Interested?
When did you first decide being a chef would be a good idea? Were you watching a TV chef stir something and decided it looked like an easy job? Or have you had prior mass food-preparation experience and found aspects of it that held your attention and kept you interested? Do you have no food service experience but find yourself enthralled by how recipes come together?
Many people think that because they like cooking and because they can whip up a meal in a reasonable amount of time, they could do just fine cooking in a restaurant. However, cooking at home and cooking at a restaurant are light years apart.
If you have prior food services experience though, such as in a restaurant or cafeteria, and you found that you really liked an aspect of the job, that's entirely different. You already know how tiring and intense food services can be, and if there was something about that job that still made you like the field despite those long hours, that is a clue that you are on the right path.
When It's the Right Choice
Becoming a chef may be the right choice for you if you find yourself drawn to the combination of speed and creativity that are required in kitchens. Customers expect their food within a reasonable amount of time, the plates must look relatively neat (even "messy" plating is styled and follows some rules), and you have to be ready to substitute ingredients due to allergies without a lot of warning.
You should also continue on your path to becoming a chef if you're entranced by how recipes and dishes come together after mixing all of these ingredients. If you love coming up with new recipes, becoming a chef could be a good move if you don't mind working hard and can be on your feet for long stretches of time.
When It's Not the Right Choice
Sometimes, though, becoming a chef isn't what you really want. Maybe the cooking shows you watch look really easy (to dispel that myth, look at some behind-the-scenes exposés of cooking shows -- you'll find a lot more goes into that half-hour behind the scenes than you realize, plus it's nothing like actually being in a restaurant kitchen). Maybe you baked a large batch of brownies for a bake sale and got compliments. These are nice, but they're not reasons to jump into the restaurant world without doing some research.
In addition, if you don't want to be in a situation where you're on your feet and on the go all the time, and not able to concentrate on home matters, for example, becoming a chef may not be that good an idea for you. Yes, chefs can have families and social lives, but many times, chefs also have to work holidays, weekends, and late at night. If you already have a very busy life outside of work, you may want to look at other food-related occupations like food science.
Convinced you have what it takes to become a chef? If you want to earn your Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, consider ECPI University’s Culinary Institute of Virginia. For more information, connect with an admissions advisor 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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