How to Become a Head Chef

If you love to cook and feel that presentation of a meal is pertinent to its success, you may want to become a chef. Many chefs start their careers with the ultimate goal of becoming a head chef and running their own kitchen or opening their own restaurant. If you’d like to become a head chef, but aren’t sure how to start, here are a few tips you can follow to get you going in the right direction.

Instructions

1. Become a chef. The first step in becoming a head chef is to become a chef first. To become a chef, you need to attend Culinary School. At Culinary School, you will learn the tricks of the trade. You will spend most of your time learning how to prepare food. You can also become a chef by serving as an apprentice to a chef in a restaurant. Often times, chefs will serve at many different restaurants before deciding on a specialty.

2. Determine what type of chef you want to become. In Culinary School, you will learn about the different types of chef positions available. You can become a pastry chef, a pantry chef, a vegetable cook, a chef de partie (line cook) and more. Figure out what you want to specialize in and focus on that area, so that you can do the best job possible.

3. Get as much experience as possible. Being a chef can be a high stress and high pressure job. Learn as much as you can from your mentors and other head chefs. If you are able to handle the high stress and high pressure of being a chef, you will more than likely make it as head chef in ten years. Experience will guide you into the position as head chef.

4. Understand your job as head chef. Understand what a head chef does before taking the position. A head chef directs the kitchen staff in addition to preparing meals. He or she may even open up his or her own restaurant. A head chef makes sure everything in the kitchen is running smoothly and everyone is doing his job to the best of his abilities. A head chef must not only have leadership skills, but must be able to multi-task and have good customer service skills.

5. Demonstrate leadership skills. You will need to show that you can be a leader, as well as follow rules. Chefs essentially are leaders in the kitchen. A successful head chef will create an atmosphere where everyone works as a team with food preparation and presentation of the food. Having happy customers is the ultimate goal. You can take classes that teach leadership skills in the Culinary School you attend.

6. Look for a job as head chef. If you plan on working at the same restaurant or hotel, it may be a long time before you are able to replace the head chef. So, if you have the experience, desire and qualifications for becoming a head chef, find out who’s looking for a head chef and apply for the job.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn as much as you can from your mentor. Find out what areas need improvement and strive to perfect them.

• You may not be able to replace the current head chef at your place of employment right away. Once you have the qualifications and desire to become head chef, begin your search for open head chef positions at other places of employment.