You may decide to become a chef because you love to cook and enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. While a chef is a demanding career, being a chef can also be very satisfying if you really like it. Start building the cooking skills you need to become a chef by practicing at home, working in restaurants, and getting input from others. Then, pursue training to become a chef, either at school or under the guidance of a mentor. Finally, find a job in a restaurant and pursue a career to become a professional chef or cook.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Developing Cooking Skills
Step 1. Practice cooking at home to build skills
Choose a recipe that you find interesting, then start cooking. When you get better at cooking, try recipes that require new skills that you've never tried. Don't be afraid to experiment with different recipes to create your own.
Play around with different dishes to suit your style and taste. For example, the first night you cook Italian food, the next night Mexican, then make your own hamburger
Tip:
If you get a job in a restaurant, you need to be able to cook very quickly in order to keep up with consumer demand. With practice, cooking quickly will become easier.
Step 2. Experiment with food to create your own recipe
The fun thing about being a chef is making your own special food. Once you're familiar with common ingredients, start playing around with recipes to create your own. Take risks so you can create something completely new!
- Start by tweaking an existing recipe to make something different. Then, try mixing the ingredients without following the recipe.
- Some of your creations will be successful, and some may not be edible. This is normal. So, don't despair!
Step 3. Cook for other people so that your cooking gets input
While being open to criticism can be daunting, it can help you grow as a chef. Cook for other people as often as possible, then ask them what they like and don't like about your cooking. Combine acceptable input with common sense.
If you can, serve your cooking to people who enjoy the kind of food you like to make. They can give a better opinion. For example, let's say you like to make Indian dishes. You will get good feedback from people who really like Indian cuisine
Step 4. Watch other chefs learn their techniques
You can learn a lot by studying other chefs. Watch cooking shows and tutorials online to see how other chefs work. Also, keep an eye on chefs or intern chefs you know. Learn how they work.
Don't worry about copying someone's way. You need to have your own style! However, it is helpful to see them perform certain skills and how they get creative with the available materials
Step 5. Find a job in a restaurant to improve your skills and employment history (resume)
While starting out as a chef is a great thing, it takes time to build a career as a chef. Working in a regular restaurant will help you learn the skills you need. Submit a job application to any restaurant that advertises locally.
The restaurant you first worked for may not be prestigious, but everyone starts from the bottom. You may work as a line cook (special section chef). This will help you learn the skills you need to build a career and eventually become a real chef
Tip:
It's a good idea to work in a restaurant if you don't want to go to culinary school. Working in the kitchen will help you learn the skills you need to become a chef while building your work history.
Part 2 of 3: Practice Being a Chef
Step 1. Enroll in a culinary program for a comprehensive education
While culinary school is not a prerequisite for becoming a chef, it does help you land a job. Most culinary programs offer a broad education in nutrition, sanitary techniques of food preparation, butchering, baking, and other basic cooking knowledge. Look for culinary programs, then register yourself from the top 3-5 choices.
- Culinary programs are typically offered at vocational schools, colleges, and culinary institutions. You can get a culinary arts certificate after studying for 6-9 months. If you want to get a D2 (associate degree) in culinary field from university, you need to study for 2 years. In addition, you can earn a bachelor's degree in culinary arts from a culinary university or institute.
- Look for educational programs that offer business, management, and human resources classes if you ever want to open your own restaurant.
Step 2. Practice at home if you plan on self-taught to become a chef
While going to culinary school helps you learn the skills you need, you can learn what you need to know yourself. Practice cooking in the kitchen every day. Cook meals for the family or host an event at home and entertain guests to give you more practice. Get out of your comfort zone so you can learn the skills you need.
- Volunteer to cook at a party or event if people buy the ingredients for your recipe.
- Use internet tutorials and cookbooks to learn new skills.
Tip: You may find it difficult to get a job if you are self-taught. However, your cooking will speak for itself. If you are a talented and creative chef, you have a good chance of getting a job.
Step 3. Intern at a restaurant to build a job history
While an internship isn't very prestigious, it can open up opportunities for you to get the job you want. Contact local restaurants and ask if there are internships open. If you can't find one, ask your local chef or restaurant owner if they'd like to take you on a temporary internship. During this time, pay attention to chefs, assistant chefs (sous chefs), and line cooks to learn new skills. Other than that, follow exactly all the instructions they give you.
- Some culinary schools have relationships with local restaurants that offer internship programs for their students.
- Maybe you didn't get paid during your internship. However, do it like a regular job so you can get good references to apply for jobs.
Step 4. Get a certificate if you want to focus on a particular section
Generally, no certification is required to become a chef. However, you can look for certificates if you plan to pursue a particular specialization. If you are trained in a particular field, take a certification test to make your work history more convincing.
- For example, you can earn a certificate as a pastry chef (master pastry chef), a decorator, or a deputy chef (sous chef).
- If you have the required education and certain experience, you can take a certification test through the Indonesian Culinary Profession Certification Institute if you are in Indonesia. If you're in America, you can get certified through the Research Chefs Association, the American Culinary Federation, the Culinary Institute of America, and the United States Personal Chef Association.
Part 3 of 3: Pursuing a Career as a Chef
Step 1. Submit an application for an entry-level position in a local restaurant kitchen
When you start your career in a restaurant, be open to any position. Find a job at a local restaurant, then send a cover letter along with your employment history. Send multiple cover letters at once to increase your chances of getting a job.
- You may initially be a kitchen assistant or garde manger, that is, the person who prepares appetizers, soups, and desserts. The next step is to become a line cook, then a deputy chef, whose position is just below the head chef. Finally, you can become the head chef of the restaurant.
- If you have previously worked in a kitchen, you are more likely to land a job than those who are just starting out.
Step 2. Network with other chefs and restaurant owners to build connections
Connections will help you climb the career ladder faster. Chat with other chefs, meet other restaurant owners, and attend industry events to interact with others in your field. This will help you build relationships with people who can help you in your career.
- When you attend an event where food is available, try asking to speak to the chef.
- Talk to people you meet during training.
Step 3. Move to another restaurant to build skills and get a better position
You shouldn't be in the same restaurant throughout your career. Instead, you can move to another restaurant to advance your career as a chef. Keep looking for new positions, and submit job applications that can help you achieve your goal of becoming a chef.
For example, if you currently work as a line cook, submit an application to become a deputy chef at another restaurant
Variation:
You may decide to open your own restaurant. However, remember, it takes business skills.
Step 4. Take a job as a deputy chef to learn skills as a head chef
The co-chef works directly under the head chef, which will help you build your skills and work history. Find a job as a deputy chef once you become a line cook. Plan to work in this position for at least 1-3 years before you move up to the position of head chef.
Generally, you already have the knowledge and skills needed to assume the position of deputy chef. However, you may not have the kitchen experience and skill level to become a head chef, so you become a deputy chef
Step 5. Move up to the head chef position if that position is available
Once you reach the deputy chef position, look for opportunities to become head chef. Find out which restaurants are opening and the career path of a head chef in your area. Network to meet potential employer contacts who can help you own your own kitchen. If a job opportunity opens up, meet the restaurant owner or manager and showcase your skills.
- It can take several years for you to become a head chef.
- Making friends in the restaurant industry is a great way to get people to know your work. Be nice to everyone you meet because you don't know who will help you achieve your goal of becoming a professional chef or cook.
Tips
- Find out about culinary education at universities in your area. More and more schools are offering evening classes, certified programs, and full culinary degrees.
- Show a good attitude to everyone in the kitchen. The dishwashers, waiters, and guests you meet today may one day open a famous new fusion restaurant.
- Don't be afraid to experiment in the kitchen! You may fail several times, but at the same time learn new skills.
- Have lots of people try your cooking. For you the dish tastes just right, but for others it may be too spicy or too salty.
- Some culinary schools do not require experience in the kitchen. So, don't feel like you can't pursue a career as a chef if you've never worked in a restaurant.
Warning
- Be careful when using the knife because you can get hurt.
- You may be working long hours as a chef. Maybe on holidays or weekends you still have to work. This won't be a big deal if you love the job, but it will be tough if you don't enjoy working as a chef.
