Becoming a Chef Guide

Love to cook so much that you want to make it your profession, become a chef!

Becoming a Chef?

If you have dreams of pursuing a career in the food industry, read over this guide by and discover how to become a chef to see if you have what it takes.

It's not all about whipping up delectable meals and eating tasty treats all day long. There are intensive processes that happen behind the scenes in the kitchen that take a whole team working together to create the magic that happens when a perfectly concocted meal is presented to the hungry consumer.

Learn about the different tasks a chef must be able to manage as well as the various members of the team to see where it is that you fit in.

If you love to cook so much that you want to make it your profession, consider becoming a chef. The path isn't easy - it involves long hours, physical labor, and heavy competition - but the reward is the opportunity to design creative dishes, run a kitchen, or even manage a restaurant.

Learn what education and experience you need to start your career as a chef.

There’s no end to the career prospects of those who enter this industry, but it mainly depends on your skill and your perseverance. Head chef and sous chef (that’s second-in-command if you don’t know) positions are readily available in restaurants, hotels, even hospitals! Assuming you’re planning to perpetuate the stereotype that everything’s better than hospital food.

No matter how talented you are, most kitchens have a hierarchy that you cannot avoid. If you don’t come in with the pre-requisite number of years of experience, you’ll have to work your way up the ranks, and in a big kitchen, there are many, many levels to climb. If you’re looking for an easy industry to work in, this is definitely not the place for you. The reputations of chefs (both local and international) are born on the back of years and years of hard work, sweat and the occasional tear.

There are no strict educational or training requirements to become a chef. For most, the knowledge and skills are simply gained during those long hours in the kitchen. However, those who want to reach the pinnacle of the profession could be well served by choosing a culinary degree in addition to an apprenticeship.

This guide is designed for those who want to do more than simply cook – it is meant for those who want to tailor their lives to a culinary dream.

To your culinary success!