How to Become a Sous Chef With No Degree
Being a sous chef is a difficult, but highly-desired job. Sous chefs work with the head chef and are generally considered to be second in command. While most sous chefs have a degree from a culinary school, it is not a requirement for the job at every restaurant. Outstanding chefs can work their way up to sous chef by exhibiting a great work ethic, talent with food, organizational skills and ability to delegate.
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Instructions
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Look for a job in the food service industry by using any contacts you have at restaurants and applying to any cooking positions that you hear about. Look on Chef Jobs or Star Chefs for open jobs (see Resources).
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Impress potential bosses by expressing your interest in the food service industry. Describe any life experiences that have prepared you to work in the often-stressful position of a chef and explain why you are interested in working as a chef.
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Show your organizational skills in any way possible. Sous chefs are required to be extremely organized in a hectic environment, so if you can make any processes more organized or efficient, superiors will notice your organizational skills. Good places to introduce innovative ideas are in the areas of food preparation, billing, customer seating and employee scheduling.
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Take any culinary classes available at local colleges, restaurants or community recreation centers. These classes will boost your skills in the kitchen, impress your colleagues and look good on your resume.
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Join any local cooking clubs to make contacts throughout the food services industry and practice your skills. Other members will also give you positive feedback and offer great cooking tips that you wouldn't necessarily learn in your own restaurant.
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Pay close attention to how other chefs prepare meals and master every meal on the menu. If you're struggling with a particular meal, practice making the meal at your own home until you perfect it.
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Develop creative ideas for new ways to serve dishes and express your ideas to superior chefs and management. Suggest livening up any old dishes with spices, new ingredients or complementary side dishes.
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Express interest to your boss about advancing to a higher position after you have worked at your job for about a year, explaining the steps you have taken to become a better chef throughout your work at the restaurant and in your community activities. If you aren't promoted immediately, be patient. Keep working hard and if a higher position happens to open, schedule a meeting with your boss to discuss the possibility of advancing.
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Tips & Warnings
The food service industry has a relatively high turnover rate, so you should be able to advance to sous chef within a couple years of working hard at one restaurant. If your boss passes you up for higher positions several times, consider looking for a higher position at a different restaurant.
Resources
- Photo Credit Asif Akbar
