** 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 position of a sous chef is the second most important in a professional  kitchen after the executive chef. Though a sous chef's job is to answer and assist the executive chef, they also have authority over the other kitchen staff. Most of the cooking and culinary terms have been taken from the French language. The word ‘sous' is also a French word which means under. Basic job responsibilities of a sous chef include food preparation, food production, food supply control, cost control and supervising the kitchen staff. In addition, the sous chef job also requires them to assist the executive chef in the kitchen in menu planning, supplies, inventory, pricing, safety issues etc. It really needs a lot of patience, years of experience and skills to work your way up to the position of a sous chef. Besides being a profitable job position, the sous chef career also demands a lot. You should always be ready to work with utmost dedication, be eager to learn from senior shefs and deliver your 100% while looking to establish your career as sous chef in the field of culinary arts.

Sous Chef Job Description &Responsibilities
To establish their career successfully, the sous chef should have expertise in all the activities of a kitchen. The chef should be aware of the different styles of cooking and food preparation. Knowing alone is not enough. The sous chef should also be quite active and innovative to perform his job in a jiffy. Whether it is French cooking, Italian cooking or Fusion cooking, a sous chef job needs them to know all these cooking styles. Not only food preparation and cooking, but the sous chef is also responsible for doing a number of other administrative and managerial tasks while doing their job in restaurants, hotels or other establishments having professional kitchen.

An important part of the job of a sous chef is to guide and supervise the kitchen staff. The chef has the authority to provide supervision to the kitchen staff. While doing this, the chefs might need to resolve some personal conflicts that may arise between the kitch staff. So the sous chef, apart from having culinary skills, should also be a good supervisor, a team player and motivator.

Administrative and managerial job responsibilities require the sous chef to assist the executive chef. As an assistant to the executive chef, the sous chef helps them in activities like menu planning, food supply control, cost control, inventory, safety control and sanitation issues in the kitchen among others. Creativity plays an important role landing high paying jobs, sustaining the job as well making a successful career as a sous chef. The sous chef career success depends on how smartly and instantly they can make decisions in the kitchen, as they will be on their toes for long hours.

Education : How to Become a Sous Chef
Kitchen experience is a prerequisite to becoming a sous chef. Dis washing can also be a part of this kitchen experience. Whatever task you perform in the kitchen, no matter what it is, it brings you closer to the job position and career of sous chef. It may even take a couple of years before you actually become a sous chef in a professional kitchen. It is always a good idea to develop and maintain good relationship with a senior chef to gain the experience and learn the skills without any hassle.

Candidates who aspire to become a sous chef and establish a successful culinary career need to be equipped with a degree from a culinary arts school. Education has an important role to play in a cooking career. There are numerous culinary colleges and institutions across the nation offering degree programs and training in culinary arts. Before you apply at these schools, make sure they are accredited and also check out the job placement rate at the particular culinary school. The course duration for the culinary course can be as little as two years.

How Much Does A Sous Chef Earn?
Salary and earning of a sous chef depends on the type of establishment they join and the skills they have. The salary may also vary depending on the state in which you are applying for the job. On an average, a sous chef can earn a salary ranging between $25,000 and $50,000 annually. Earning opportunities will be bigger for those who bring with them years of kitchen working experience. During your growth period in a job, you will also come to know of your strength areas which you can later capitalize on and establish a great profitable culinary career.

The field of culinary arts offers candidates an array of career opportunities. There are three basic types of culinary degrees offered by colleges and universities - Associate's degree in culinary arts, Bachelor's degree in culinary arts and Certifications in culinary arts. Job opportunities depend on the degrees you are equipped with and skills you have. Jobs in the culinary industry are not only profitable, but they also demand a lot dedication, attention and commitment. While you are considering a culinary career and are ready to get enrolled in a culinary program of your interest, it is also essential to be aware of the various job categories available in the field of culinary art. After graduating from a culinary school, candidates may find themselves in a sea of career options and job opportunities, without being able to decide which direction they should head in. It is important to do an extensive research regarding the multiple types of culinary job opportunities and choose a career which is right for you. The culinary job must fit in with your specific requirements and interest. Given below are various job fields you can step into to establish your career in culinary arts. Let's have a look at the job opportunities available.

 
Restaurants Jobs
The food service industry provides candidates with a number of places where they can land jobs. With a culinary degree in hand, restaurants happen to be the most obvious choice for candidates. What inspire people to take up the career of a chef are actually these restaurants and chefs who work there. Restaurants, however, come in all shapes and sizes. There are small restaurants and individually owned restaurants. There are high end restaurants and fine dining establishments owned and operated by a chef. Apart from that, there are large restaurant chains with branches across the nation. These restaurants provide excellent job openings for jobseekers.

Hotels & Resorts Jobs
Candidates with a culinary degree can also kick start and establish their career in hotels and resorts. Many of the large hotels have more than one restaurant within the hotel premises. These hotels and luxury resorts offer candidates good growth and promotion opportunities. Candidates can look forward to advancing their culinary careers at these hotels without changing employers. Working in hotels also provides candidates with the opportunity to experience and learn a host of managerial and administrative tasks. Candidates who land jobs in popular hotel chains can also enjoy traveling from one place to another or one country to another without changing jobs.

Catering & Institutional Jobs
Various catering companies and institutions also provide good job openings and benefits. Though most catering companies hire full time culinary professionals, part time jobs are also available in this field. In terms of institutions, candidates can choose to join at schools, hospitals and corporate lunch rooms among others. Though institutional culinary jobs are not on the cutting edge of culinary, they bring professionals good working hours and excellent employee benefits.

Personal Chef Jobs
The personal chef industry has been growing quite well for the last few years. Earlier, a personal chef used to work for only a person or a family. Today, the scenario has completely changed. Chefs can cater to multiple clients on a regular basis. Meals are prepared in a centralized kitchen from where they are packed and delivered to clients. Personal chefs have the flexibility to decide their own schedule.

Other Culinary Careers
Job and career opportunities are available in plenty in the field of culinary arts. Culinary professionals can also land jobs at food research and development centers. Corporate facilities also provide excellent job opportunities. A culinary career does not necessarily mean you need to cook. With relevant experience and expertise, you can also acquire positions like restaurant manager, food and beverage director, sommelier. Depending upon your personal interests, you can also establish you career in the field of food writing and photography. Newspapers, magazines and cookbooks offer excellent work opportunities for food critic and food writers.

** 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 job of an executive chefs or head cooks includes coordinating the kitchen work and managing a team of 10 or more kitchen staff. Very often, the executive chef is required to handle the management work of more than one kitchen. Core responsibilities of these chefs include directing meal preparation, deciding and planning the menu, controlling food supplies, keeping accounts and supervising other kitchen operations to ensure superior quality of work and meal preparation. While they oversee the operations in the kitchen of a restaurant or a hotel, they are also responsible for assigning tasks to the kitchen workers. All the kitchen work needs to be done within the budget limit that the executive chef has been provided with.

Job Description & Responsibilities
The day of an executive chef or a head chef starts with menu planning, which requires a lot of culinary and innovative skills. The chef plans the menu keeping in mind the budgetary considerations of the hotel or restaurant they work for. An executive chef's career happens to be highly demanding, as they do not only incorporate creative culinary skills but also take care of the administrative and managerial tasks. Since they are responsible for handling the food supply, they also need to develop good relationship with food vendors. The executive chef's job also needs them to keep abreast of the latest trends in food, so as to regularly provide appealing menu to customers and increase the client base.

First of all, the executive chef's job is to decide the dishes and the menu. Next, they order food supplies and equipments required. Now, the executive chef's job is to assign relevant tasks to the kitchen staff. Food preparation workers in the kitchen perform tasks including slicing poultry, washing and chopping vegetables among others. It is the executive chef that decides whether some food needs to be stored in advance, depending upon the specific requirements of the kitchen and the customers. A customer's menu order is referred to as a ‘ticket'. The executive chef's job, therefore, is to make sure that superior quality control is maintained while the kitchen staff prepares the tickets.

Responsibilities of executive chefs may vary a little depending on where they work. Work places can include business establishments, institutions, hospitals, cafeterias, restaurants etc. Though all the kitchen operations are performed under the supervision of the executive chef, it is the chef de cuisines who is accountable to report of these tasks to the executive chef or the head chef. If the executive chef is absent, the sous chef has the responsibilities of making sure that kitchen operations run smoothly and that there are no interruptions or hassles.

Education Requirements
A strong passion for cooking is a prerequisite to becoming an executive chef. Many years of training and culinary expertise can pave the way for candidates to become an executive chef or a head chef. An executive chef should carry many years of working experience in different areas of the kitchen. In terms of education, the candidates need to be equipped with a 4-year degree program. Apprenticeship and internships are essential to gain some real world experience and establish once career as an executive chef. Candidates interested in becoming executive chefs can also go for culinary training and job placement programs, offered by various restaurants and hotels.

Job Outlook & Salary
Excellent job opportunities await those who aspire to become executive chefs. The food industry has shown a tremendous growth from $379 billion (2007) to $558.3 billion (2008). The employment growth rate for executive chefs is expected to grow at 8% annually through to the year 2016. The national median annual salary of executive chefs is $58,104. Executive chefs can look forward to getting even higher salary as they grow in their skill and experience.