How to Become a Chef

A chef is a highly skilled and inventive cook who can turn a delicious meal into an artistic presentation. It takes years to become accomplished and known in this field.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Cookbooks
• Culinary School Catalogs
• Culinary Magazines And Journals
• Career Counseling
• Computers
• Online Career Search

1. Work in a restaurant during high school for the experience, even if it is in a noncooking position. You will learn what it is like to be on your feet for long hours.

2. Ask your guidance counselor if there is a training program in your community for chefs.

3. Understand that to be a successful chef in an urban area you must have years of hands-on experience and formal training. Schooling can take four years. See the American Culinary Federation Web site (acfchefs.org) for information about accredited culinary schools, apprenticeships, certification, jobs and related organizations.

4. Decide what type of cooking you would like to do and in what type of kitchen you would like to work.

5. Realize that an apprenticeship may require you to first work the least-skilled jobs in the kitchen. As you develop skills and further your education, you can advance up the culinary ladder in a larger restaurant by becoming a line chef, sous-chef, head chef, executive chef and, finally, master chef. Pastry chefs follow their own distinct ladder.

6. Make certain you will possess the education, experience and skills necessary for your certification as a chef by the American Culinary Federation.

7. Take appropriate business courses if you would like to open your own restaurant eventually or advance to a managerial or executive position.

Tips & Warnings

• Be certain that this is the career to which you want to devote your time. Initially, consider taking a short course at a culinary school while working in a restaurant kitchen.

• Stay up-to-date on food trends and advances in kitchen equipment. Read as many culinary magazines and journals as possible.

• Choose a specialization if you want to work in upscale restaurants.

• If the head chef leaves, his or her entire staff may be asked to do the same.