If you have a keen inclination towards the art of cooking and do not mind standing in front of the hot stove tossing together a dinner of amaretto shrimp almandine, you are ready to kick start a cooking or a culinary career. Education as well as specialized training has a pivotal role to play in the shaping of your cooking career. While working in a small restaurant kitchen, you might learn a few of the cooking skills. But this will only make you acquainted with a specific type of cuisine or cooking skill. However, if you go for a formal training from an accredited cooking school, you can be ready to take up a full fledged career in the cooking industry. Obtaining formal education in cooking career helps you directly join at a high position. Choosing the right cooking school is must for all those candidates that want to have a competitive edge over their counterparts in culinary field.

 

If you take up the cooking career really seriously, you need to have a strong theoretical foundation of cooking as well as hands-on training. A degree program or a certificate course from an accredited cooking school does not only equip you with theoretical knowledge and techniques about a variety of food and cuisines, but it gives you an advantage to successfully establish your cooking career and make it one of the most profitable ones. Hands-on and on-the-job training may land you some low level kitchen workers positions, but it will not help those who are looking forward to becoming a top level cook or chef. Apart from that, an on-the-job training may take you comparatively longer to learn the skills.

 

While they attend a cooking school, candidates will be trained in three major field of cooking including culinary art, Patisserie and baking and hospitality and restaurant management. A degree in culinary art trains you in classic and contemporary techniques while the field of Patisserie prepares you in pastry and baking arts. Hospitality and restaurant management degrees train you in subjects like business operations, communication, finances etc. Obtaining a degree from a recognized cooking school brings a number of other benefits as well. Most of the cooking or culinary schools are provided with their own food services and restaurants. These facilities help students in learning the art of cooking through hands-on classes.

 

Many cooking schools also offer their students some exciting externship opportunities. While they get you trained in local restaurants, you have the opportunity to learn the art of cooking and food preparation from experienced professionals and top level cooks. Externships help students a lot in the advancement of their cooking career. After graduating from a cooking school, candidates have a wide range of careers to choose from. Equipped with a graduate degree in cooking, candidates can choose to join establishments like bakeries, hotel chains, high end restaurants, food service departments, luxury resorts and catering among others.

 

While you decide to go to a cooking school, you might be confronted with hundreds of culinary, hospitality and hotel management programs. Before you enroll yourself in a course of training program, you must ensure that the cooking school you want to attend has all the necessary accreditations. The U.S. Department of Education periodically evaluates multiple organizations that provide accreditation to cooking schools across America. Some of the most important accrediting organizations in America include Council of Higher Education Accreditation, Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology and the American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission among others.

 

Therefore, obtaining formal education from an accredited cooking school is essential for making the most of a cooking career. Besides checking the accreditations of your selected cooking school, you can also have a look at the resumes of chefs that provide training at the school. Try to get in touch with candidates who currently graduated from the cooking school and find out if where they are employed. Remember only right education and appropriate training can help you make a fulfilling career in the cooking industry.

 

According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry (which employs 12.8 million people) has the privilege of being the second largest industry, next only to government. Another 2 million jobs will be created in the cooking industry through the year 2017. The cooking industry has, therefore, no dearth of jobs and career opportunities for skilled and aspiring candidates who are all geared up to establish their cooking career.

** The various titles of "chef" generally apply to more advanced roles in a professional kitchen Sous Chef. Graduates of a culinary arts training program should expect to pursue entry-level opportunities and should not expect to become chefs upon graduation but are encouraged to work toward becoming a chef through the course of their career. Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.

The career of a cruise line chef is one of the most rewarding in the culinary industry. Besides, traveling around the world on a ship, the chef also earns a high monthly income. The chef on a cruise chef has benefits like cruise lines cover room, medical care and board. Most of the cruise line chefs serve passengers round the clock. To become a chef on a cruise ship, candidates require special training and board experience along with a keen interest in the field of culinary art. Candidates can decide to take up a culinary career at sea as an executive chef, a sous chef or a chef de partie. The number of passengers on a ship may vary from as little as 500 to as many as 3,000. Therefore, each cruise is equipped with a fully staffed kitchen to serve food to its passengers 24/7. Employers hire chefs that have a previous working experience of around 3-5 years at a hotel, luxury resort or restaurant.

To become a chef on a cruise ship, candidates should possess a graduate degree acquired from an accredited culinary or cooking school. After completion of their culinary training program, candidates first need to obtain a few years of experience working at a hotel or a high-end restaurant. Since you will be staying on the cruise ship for days, employers are always on the lookout for professionals who have sound health. This case is similar with other shipboard personnel as well. This is due to the fact that acute illness conditions can prove to fatal while on a cruise ship. While these acute illnesses can be easily treated or controlled in an emergency room, it is not easy on a cruise ship. Therefore the chef who works on a cruise ship must be in good health. Physical and dental examinations are part of the recruitment procedure to hire cruise line chef.

Aspiring candidates can first prepare a list of all the cruise lines that they are willing to join. Find out which cruise lines are hiring chef for their cruise ships. You can check out both small and large cruise lines. Small cruise ships keep hiring chefs all the year round. Small ships include both oceangoing as well as those that sail on rivers. However, you should try to acquire a position on a large cruise ship with around 3,000 passengers on board. Candidates can then call the office of the HRD of the selected cruise lines. At times, you can also land a high paying job at small cruise lines.

Most of the huge cruise lines and large cruise lines have the employment application forms available online. You can easily send your resume online to apply for the chef position at the cruise line. It may take quite some time before you actually get a call from the cruise line. Do not resend your resume and wait patiently. Around a dozen cruise ships make up a huge cruise line whereas a large cruise line may have around six cruise ships. It is not very often that a replacement or recruitment of kitchen staff is required at large cruise lines. There are many large cruise lines that have set up their own food service company to operate on their ships. Positions may be vacant in case the ship is headed to a port for refitting or due to the chef’s illness. It may also happen that you get a call from the cruise line HRD or its food service company after weeks or months of applying as and when requirement arises.

Small ship cruise lines also offer plenty of opportunities to become a cruise line chef or a chef on a cruise ship. Candidates can easily send their updated resume to the cruise line. Some of the smaller cruise ship lines also function as tour operators. Opportunities may arise where you can land a cruise line chef job at a higher monthly income than you would earn at a large cruise line. So, candidates should be ready to grab such opportunities.

Depending on their skill set, experience and the strength of their application, you may be called for an interview. Make use of your culinary and cooking capabilities and training to make an impression on the interviewer. As mentioned above, a medical examination is mandatory to obtain most of the cruise line jobs. Besides the financial rewards that the career of a chef on a cruise ship brings you, you also have the opportunity of experiencing the very unforgettable while on a cruise ship. The monthly earning of a cruise line chef may range between $2,000 and $5,000 depending on their skill and experience.

** The various titles of "chef" generally apply to more advanced roles in a professional kitchen Sous Chef. Graduates of a culinary arts training program should expect to pursue entry-level opportunities and should not expect to become chefs upon graduation but are encouraged to work toward becoming a chef through the course of their career. Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.

For entry level positions in the field of culinary arts, a high school diploma is not essential. However, if the candidates aspire to establish their career in this field, they should go for it. High school courses and vocational courses help those who are looking to become chefs or cooks. A course taken in subjects like business arithmetic and business administration are essential for a career as chef or cook. Many of the cooks and chefs that you see today may have started their career as fast food workers, food preparation workers or short order cooks. Various low level or entry level cooking jobs are available for beginning a career in culinary art . Equipped with the knowledge and skills of food handling, food preparation and cooking, candidates can really look forward to establishing their career as assistant cooks or other high level cook and chef position.

Professionals in the culinary field may also start their career as kitchen workers. There are a number of accredited culinary schools that organize summer workshops, aside from providing on-the-job training. These workshops and training opportunities should be availed to advance a career in culinary art. Summer jobs and paid internships are also a wonderful opportunity to gain some valuable experience in cooking and food preparation. With the necessary training and qualifications, one can easily join as an assistant cook or an executive chef and later attain the position of a head chef or a top level cook. To become an executive chef or a cook, candidates require many years of expertise and training in culinary art. Courses and training in this field range from high school diploma programs and post high school vocational training programs to 2 to 4-year-long college degree programs in culinary art . Apprenticeship programs offered by numerous culinary institutions also help a lot in the advancement of careers.

Colleges and local employers also offer a wide range of training programs in collaboration with the American Culinary Federation. Large hotel chains and high end restaurant provide specialized training programs too. Training and qualification opportunities for cooks and chefs abound. Care needs to taken while selecting a specific training program. Not every candidate, who aspires to become a cook or chef, needs to kick start their career from entry level positions like fast food worker, food preparation worker or other low level kitchen worker jobs. A course in commercial food preparation can help candidates start their career directly as cooks or chefs. Choosing the right cooking school will always have a pivotal role to play in the advancement of your career.

High schools do offer vocational training programs. However, employers in the hospitality or culinary industry mostly prefer those candidates who have received training from trade schools, accredited culinary schools, colleges and other professional institutions. Post secondary courses in cooking and food preparation may vary in duration, ranging from a couple of months to 2 years. To establish career as a widely respected and fully qualified chef, candidate needs to have a working experience of around 8-15 years as a cook. With expertise and managerial skills, professionals can also acquire the position of executive chefs with the responsibility of handling more than one kitchen. For qualification, training and experience, US Armed Forces also provide excellent opportunities. The training programs offered by colleges and culinary schools include subjects like menu planning, food cost control, kitchen equipment care, food preparation, food supply maintenance, storage of food etc.

Supervisory and management skills hold utmost importance in terms of chef training and qualifications. Culinary schools offer such training programs across the whole of America. The American Culinary Federation has accredited more than 100 culinary training programs, apart from providing numerous apprenticeship programs. An apprenticeship program includes both classroom and practical work experience. To excel in the profession, cooks, chefs and food preparation workers need to possess a sense of cleanliness, team playing skills and an avid sense of taste and smell. Chefs and cooks should have excellent communication as well as expert managerial skills. An ability to effectively handle a team and supervise less skilled workers is essential for the advancement of career. Food cost control and waste management capabilities can prove to be great career advancement tools for chefs and cooks. Skilled chefs and cooks can not only establish their career in large hotel chains and high end restaurants, but they can also become restaurant owners. In addition, they have the opportunity to become instructors in high schools, colleges, culinary institutions and other educational institutions.

Cultural, social and economic changes happen with the passage in every industry. The field of culinary art too is no exception. The culinary industry is affected by the cultural, social and economic changes that the society faces. Bigger and better career opportunities are always likely to be there. However, a regular shift can be noticed in the requirement of top cooks and chefs. According to the Department of Labor, this shift has taken place from fast food cooks to top chefs and cooks. The Department of Labor suggests more changes that will occur in the culinary industry. As a student of culinary art, you should be well informed of the changes that occur in this industry. Equipped with the latest culinary industry news and happenings, you can make well informed decision while thinking to take up a new career in culinary art.

Due to the cultural, social and economic changes happening to the population, the culinary industry gets influenced in many ways. The demand for culinary careers is to increase more and more. This increase in culinary careers has happened due to the existence of dual income families. Nowadays, more and more families have been noticed to possess two working adults. This leaves little time to the families to prepare meals at home. Consequently, working adults and families are turning towards meals cooked by others. This shift ultimately leads to an increase in culinary careers. Candidates who aspire to establish their culinary career should be prepared to avail the exciting career opportunities.

As per the demographics the disposable income level is also increasing in the average households. Higher income results in greater expectations. With an increase in the level of disposable income, people are turning away from smaller restaurants and fast food joints and moving towards high-end restaurants to satisfy their food and meal requirements. This shift from fast food joints towards high-end restaurants goes in favor of top cooks and chefs. Due to a sluggish economy of late, the shift faced a halt. But, as the economy continues to recover people will turn towards high-end restaurants again, creating an increased demand for highly respected chefs and cooks in the culinary industry.

Another major factor that influences the demand in culinary career is the increasing rate of life expectancy. The age of population increases and therefore the population becomes older. As a result, a greater level of disposable income remains associated with the older generation. As the retired class witnesses a boost in the level of disposable income, the demand for restaurant cooked food is also on the rise. This creates more and more requirement of professionals in the field of culinary art.

The busy younger generation is always looking for convenient food and meal options. For convenience’s sake, the younger generation turns towards restaurant cooked and ready cooked meals rather than home cooked meals which could consume a lot of their valuable time. Educational institutions and hospitals are also turning towards outsourcing in terms of food and meals. Food preparation companies have come into great demand, as they continue to provide cooked meals to schools, institutions and hospitals.

An assessment of the current situation and the changing trends makes it clear that exciting career opportunities await candidates in the culinary industry. The career for culinary professionals like cooks and chefs is really bright. High-end chefs and cooks will reap the maximum benefits. This is also true that the job seekers will have to face a stiff competition to obtain these positions in the culinary art. To have an edge and get ahead of their counterparts, candidates are advised to couple their culinary course with a course in economics, mathematics or business management. This useful combination can provide them the tool to avail exciting career opportunities in restaurant and hotel management. Besides, candidates with such educational combination and business acumen can always decide to establish a business of their own. For the right candidate, equipped with an excellent academic background and culinary expertise, there will never be a dearth of career opportunities in the culinary industry. Dedication, an eagerness to learn and excel and perseverance are the key to a profitable career in culinary art.

Pursuing a career in hospitality has its own rewards. Today, there are numerous other businesses and industries that are on the look out for people who have hospitality expertise. When you decide to make a career in hospitality or tourism management, you do not only find it only profitable but rewarding as well. Besides giving your career the much needed boost over a short span of time, a hospitality career also brings you exciting opportunities of interacting with new people and exploring their culture. While you get to experience cross-country cultures, it brings new ideas to your mind. The field of hospitality also demands a lot of creative and innovative skills. If you are really hardworking and committed towards you work, a career in hospitality will soon take you to new heights. And you will soon be reaping the exciting benefits of this career, both professionally and personally.

A degree in hospitality also opens up multiple avenues to other businesses. Hospitality experts are in constant demand by a variety of business and industries across the world. It is due to the fact the companies have now come to understand the potential value of what they call ‘hospitality element’. There are many business firms that are looking for hospitality graduates with a specific combination of skills. Fortunately, it is only the field of hospitality that gives them the option.

Hardly do many candidates have the idea that hospitality professionals are in great demand by the hospitality real estate. But, how does this requirement arise? Well, investors in hotel properties need professionals that have been trained both in finance as well as are well versed with the ins and outs of the hospitality industry. It is this demand of hotel properties investors that creates more and more opportunities for hospitality professionals. It is, therefore, not surprising when you notice many EHL graduates functioning as leaders in the field of real estate. In addition, they are also employed in the investment banking communities.

Another major requirement for hospitality professionals is in different communication agencies. These agencies are looking for people who ado not only specialize in marketing and advertising but also have an in-depth knowledge of the hospitality business. Not only that, hospitality professionals can also look forward to making a career in the banking industry. There are numerous private banks that require hospitality experts to effectively look after event management programs. If candidates have a good academic background and the required specialization, there is never a dearth of opportunities for them.

The next big career opportunity for hospitality professionals lies with the ever-growing web-based service providers. There are many web-based companies that provide travelers online hospitality related services. Field like e-commerce and social commerce have abundant scope for hospitality graduates. Those with entrepreneurial skills are also being hired by web-based organization to formulate value-added services for clients. By combining the technology and the hospitality expertise, the companies can cater to requirements of both the industry as well as travelers.

A major plus point with the hospitality career is that it gives you a lot of flexibility. Due to the availability of abundant career scope, professionals can change fields in the hospitality industry without any hassle. Professionals can also easily keep pace with the changing trends in the industry. Not only professionals can easily shift direction, but they always have the option of starting a business or company of their own. An original business concept can really make your business have a competitive edge over others.

Hospitality professionals should inculcate the habit of setting up higher goals and aiming high. The hospitality industry brings opportunities internationally. Throughout your hospitality career, you would be visiting different countries of the world, interacting with multiple cultural countries. Endowed with a rapid upward mobility, the hospitality industry allows you to attain higher ranking positions within a short span of time. A career in hospitality, therefore, can never be limited by borders. It is an industry that encompasses all and gives professional the opportunity to fulfill their career ambitions.