** 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 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.

You may be one of those candidates that dream to take up a culinary career yet are not ready to stand the heat of the kitchen. They would love a culinary career which involves no cooking. Well, options remain such candidates as well. The field of culinary arts provides space to even those who like to avoid cooking and the kitchen heat. So if you thought, chef or cook was the only career option in the field of food service industry, you need to think again. Cooking alone can not limit the career opportunities that the field of culinary art provides to candidates.The restaurant and the hospitality industry have a continuous demand for professionals like sommeliers, marketers, restaurant managers, even managers or event planners etc. So, candidates who are not ready to handle the kitchen heat can easily make a choice from among these culinary careers without cooking and earn a profitable income too.In fact, you can establish you career in the food service industry even when you have no idea how to fry and egg. Isn’t that exciting? Aspiring candidates and students can attend one of the many professional culinary schools across America. However, candidates should make sure that the academic institutions or culinary schools they select are well reputed and have the necessary accreditations.

If you are looking for culinary careers with no cooking involved, you can choose to become :

Sommelier Pronounced saw-muh-lyey, the position of a sommelier is considered to be one of the most significant in dining establishments. In fact, the sommelier may immensely contribute towards the success of the food or dining establishments they work for. The core duty of a sommelier includes selection of wines and spirits that should feature in the establishment’s list of wines. These professionals possess extensive knowledge about a variety of wines and their preparation. They have the capability of counseling patrons on which wine would pair well with a specific meal. The success of a sommelier’s career depends on his expertise about wines, their counseling skills, love for a variety of wines and of course a sharp palate.

Restaurant Manager The second wonderful option to make a culinary career with no cooking involved is joining as a restaurant manager. The culinary profession of a restaurant manager, however, can be quite demanding. These professionals have the responsibility of setting a culinary tone for the food service establishment they work for. Everyday task of a restaurant manager includes staff supervision and training, new recipe development and customer service as well as marketing and promotion work. Expert managerial skills and a keen love for food are the prerequisites to establishing your culinary career as a restaurant manager. The basic managerial skills that you acquire in other industries remain the same in the food service industry as well.

Pastry Chef Though the work of a pastry chef requires him to be around ovens, they have a really sweet job to perform. Besides the preparation of a variety of desserts, a pastry chef also helps in the menu planning of the hotel or restaurant they work for. In addition, pastry chefs are called to wedding ceremonies and other celebratory occasion for preparing desserts. It will not be wrong to call pastry chefs the real artists, as they need to focus on the visual appeal of the dessert as much as they do on its taste.

Gourmet Store Shopper/ Manager Besides considering a career in restaurants or hotels, you can also decide to join a gourmet shop. Candidates can find a number of popular gourmet and organic chains across the country. There is a growing demand in the food industry for professionals who can figure out the actual food requirements of people. A degree from a culinary school can train you well in this culinary field. Equipped with relevant skills and academic background, candidates can take up jobs as gourmet store shopper or buyer or gourmet store manager at gourmet shops. Becoming a buyer for one of the leading gourmet shops or organic chains in the country can prove to be an exciting career option for candidates.

So, exciting career opportunities await even those candidates who aspire for culinary careers which does not involve cooking. All you need to do is be advised and well informed about the culinary school you should attend and the training program you should select.

** 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.