Is being a Chef a good Job? ($$$$$$)?!
is it worth it to go to a big university just to become a chef!? what kind of lifestyle can i expect to live!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
The money isn't great (for the most part)!. There are some good paying chef jobs out there!. However, they are rare and there is a lot of competition for those jobs!. For example, the executive chef at Disney World earns $200,000 + per year!. The executive chef of all the Hilton Hotels in the US earns about the same!. Restaurant owners can make a lot of money!. I have worked for people who owned restaurants that were multimillionaires!.
It all depends on where you live, your experience, your schooling and the chef's you've trained under!. Certification also plays a role in how much you earn!. If you're looking for a life of luxury, then this industry is not for you!. Being a chef is all about hard work, long hours, sweat and sacrifice!. If you're willing to do this and get a good education, than MAYBE you can land a good job!.
Here is the dirty little truth about this industry and what you can expect!. If you REALLY want to become a chef you should follow this advice:
1) First of all, forget about everything you've learned about being a chef from TV!. TV shows were made for entertainment and do not reflect how things really are in this industry!. Chefs work long hours, mostly nights and weekends!. Expect to work 50 + hours per week!. You'll be expected to multi-task, move quickly and to make quick decisions!. You'll be working these long hours on your feet!. Cuts and burns are common place!. This in not a glamourous job!. If you have a family, don't expect to see them much!. There is a lot of stress and pressure in this job!. You'll be working in a very fast-paced environement!. A lot of people in this industry hate their jobs!. If this is just a pipe dream for you, then get a job in the industry and find out what it is really like!. Not everyone is cut out for this!.
2) Chefs are managers; they run the business!. Payroll, purchasing, scheduling, food cost, labor cost, inventory, hiring/firing, training, etc!. are all part of a chef's job!. Management skills are just as important (if not more so) than cooking skills!. As a matter of fact, I know a lot of chefs who don't cook much!. Most of their time is spent in their office doing paper work!.
3) Getting a chefs job is half the battle!. You have to work your way up!. Entry level positions do not pay much!. Host/hostess, bus person, server, dishwasher, pantry cook and prep cook are positions you can get without experiece!. If you have a good attitude and can prove yourself, then you can get a promotion to "line cook"!. Line cooks do not make much over minimum wage, regardless of your experience!. The minimum requirements to become a chef are at least 5 years of experience as a line cook plus college!. Restaurant managers do not care about culinary school degrees when hiring a line cook!. They look for experience, a positive attidude, willingness to work as a team player, someone who can move quickly, finish tasks efficiently and someone willing to work hard for little pay!.
3) Plan on working part time as a line cook while you are in college!. Going beyond a culinary degree is also very helpful in landing a good job!. With a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management and a master's degreee in businsess management you will be golden in this industry!. Pick a culinary program that offers ACF accreditation!. You will be automatically ACF certified upon graduation!. ACF certifcation looks very good on a resume!. The ACF (American Culinary Federation) offers different levels of certification!. The highest level is "Master Chef"!. Only about 60 people in the US hold this title!.
With a master's degree in business management, you'll also be qualified for other high paying jobs such as: Food Service Director, Food and Beverage Manager, General Manager, Catering and Banquet Manager, etc!.!.
So, this is what you do: Get a job in a restaurant, go to culinary school and work as a line cook while in school!. Continue with your education and apply for jobs as a chef when you graduate!. Working in fine dining and working under well known chefs will also improve your chances of success!. Climb the ACF certification ladder!. With a lot of hard work, you can succeed!.
Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
It all depends on where you live, your experience, your schooling and the chef's you've trained under!. Certification also plays a role in how much you earn!. If you're looking for a life of luxury, then this industry is not for you!. Being a chef is all about hard work, long hours, sweat and sacrifice!. If you're willing to do this and get a good education, than MAYBE you can land a good job!.
Here is the dirty little truth about this industry and what you can expect!. If you REALLY want to become a chef you should follow this advice:
1) First of all, forget about everything you've learned about being a chef from TV!. TV shows were made for entertainment and do not reflect how things really are in this industry!. Chefs work long hours, mostly nights and weekends!. Expect to work 50 + hours per week!. You'll be expected to multi-task, move quickly and to make quick decisions!. You'll be working these long hours on your feet!. Cuts and burns are common place!. This in not a glamourous job!. If you have a family, don't expect to see them much!. There is a lot of stress and pressure in this job!. You'll be working in a very fast-paced environement!. A lot of people in this industry hate their jobs!. If this is just a pipe dream for you, then get a job in the industry and find out what it is really like!. Not everyone is cut out for this!.
2) Chefs are managers; they run the business!. Payroll, purchasing, scheduling, food cost, labor cost, inventory, hiring/firing, training, etc!. are all part of a chef's job!. Management skills are just as important (if not more so) than cooking skills!. As a matter of fact, I know a lot of chefs who don't cook much!. Most of their time is spent in their office doing paper work!.
3) Getting a chefs job is half the battle!. You have to work your way up!. Entry level positions do not pay much!. Host/hostess, bus person, server, dishwasher, pantry cook and prep cook are positions you can get without experiece!. If you have a good attitude and can prove yourself, then you can get a promotion to "line cook"!. Line cooks do not make much over minimum wage, regardless of your experience!. The minimum requirements to become a chef are at least 5 years of experience as a line cook plus college!. Restaurant managers do not care about culinary school degrees when hiring a line cook!. They look for experience, a positive attidude, willingness to work as a team player, someone who can move quickly, finish tasks efficiently and someone willing to work hard for little pay!.
3) Plan on working part time as a line cook while you are in college!. Going beyond a culinary degree is also very helpful in landing a good job!. With a bachelor's degree in restaurant and hotel management and a master's degreee in businsess management you will be golden in this industry!. Pick a culinary program that offers ACF accreditation!. You will be automatically ACF certified upon graduation!. ACF certifcation looks very good on a resume!. The ACF (American Culinary Federation) offers different levels of certification!. The highest level is "Master Chef"!. Only about 60 people in the US hold this title!.
With a master's degree in business management, you'll also be qualified for other high paying jobs such as: Food Service Director, Food and Beverage Manager, General Manager, Catering and Banquet Manager, etc!.!.
So, this is what you do: Get a job in a restaurant, go to culinary school and work as a line cook while in school!. Continue with your education and apply for jobs as a chef when you graduate!. Working in fine dining and working under well known chefs will also improve your chances of success!. Climb the ACF certification ladder!. With a lot of hard work, you can succeed!.
Good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Depending on you location, level of training and skill the pay differs but cheffing has long hours and you usually start out small doing the long, tedious jobs such as peeling carrots or chopping up vegtables!.
It can be rewarding but you have to be prepared to make sacrifices (ie!. sleep) Www@FoodAQ@Com
It can be rewarding but you have to be prepared to make sacrifices (ie!. sleep) Www@FoodAQ@Com
It really depends on your training and how good you are!. No matter what all chefs have to work their way up to the big bucks but it happens!. If I could stand the hours and the pace I would do it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Im not a chef, but I know alot of people who are!. The pay can be small when first starting out and the hours dont allow you to be with friends and family!. Www@FoodAQ@Com
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Www@FoodAQ@Com