Paola
How hard is it to be living with a profession of a chef?
I am a junior. I have a passion for food so I would like to know how that profession would actually work and support me in my life. #food-and-beverages #chef #food
5 answers
Kayla Campbell
Kayla’s Answer
Being a chef takes long hours..it’s going to take up a lot of your personal time. You may not have the weekends or holidays off because you’re at work. This is a business that is built off reputation and experience. No ones going to pay you the $12 you’re expecting to get after you get out of school. If you truly have a passion for I would suggest starting now in the business and getting as much experience as you can. It’ll all be worth it in the end because you’re doing what you love.
Frank Thongsouvanh
Frank’s Answer
It depends on where you work. Restaurants demand a lot of time and at different hours than most other occupations. Currently, I'm a corporate Chef, it is like having a normal 9 to 5 job but you work in a test kitchen. You get holidays and weekends off which make it more ideal if you have a family. At least that's what I've experienced. Did that answer your question?
susan zeidel
susan’s Answer
Being a chef/cook is a rewarding career. There are pros and cons. Let me share a couple of each.
PRO: can be creative; lots of opportunity for travel....you take your knives with you; always openings in restaurants, high end grocery stores, catering companies; training and certification available.
CON: physically quite demanding and has the reputation of being "a young persons job"; working most evenings and weekends; training at Culinary Institutes, make sure they are reputable, can be expensive...more on this later; even after "graduating" from a culinary training, often your first kitchen job starts as dish washer....not a bad thing, great way to observe and learn. I have worked for many years in a high end grocery store, and many of the cashiers, deli staff, and prepared food folks all graduated from culinary schools. Perhaps there is an over abundance of graduates?
If at all possible, find out if there are scholarships available to some well known cooking schools, like the CIA....Culinary Institute of America. Why not check out schools on-line and see what they are offering and how much tuition they charge AND WHETHER THEY GUARANTEE EMPLOYMENT after graduation.
Have you considered finding part time work as a cook/prep cook-dishwasher in your location, to get a taste of working in a commercial kitchen.
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Bryant Haren
Bryant’s Answer
Hello, so to be able to truly give insight into your question, I have to pose a few questions. You have to ask yourself, if you truly love food and you have to realize that it is definitely a hard field to get into. It is definitely not for the faint of heart but it is greatly rewarding. I recommend doing the research and working in a few restaurants in your area if you haven't already. The next question is what type of foodservice do you want to be in, you don't have to know now . The final is to take the necessary steps to pursue your passion and to always bet on yourself. Don't believe the nay sayers, you can have an amazing career as a chef and do a great deal more than just support yourself. I was selected for a government sponsored exchange program with Germany for professionals, I have a bachelor's in science related to food from one of the top university in the United states. I have worked for amazing clients and great restaurants all while meeting phenomenal people and having the greatest time of my life. Trust me when I say that I understand your question about pay and supporting oneself, but I can attest that it can be done if, like everything else , you put in the effort. Where the lifestyle gets difficult is in finding balance, between home life and work life. It can be exhausting and trying, if you do have a partner it becomes easier if they are supportive and understanding. I am personally lucky to have such support systems in my life. All in all, I would not change anything and would choose the same industry. It is the best feeling in the world when you express yourself through an edible medium and you're able to transport your guests to another realm in a sense. I would recommend listening to interviews with chefs you respect and their life stories. I hope I have been some sort of help, keep pushing and you will see it is greatly rewarding.
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Albert Suever
Albert’s Answer
However, I am deeply passionate about my work and find immense satisfaction in it. This passion helps me strike a balance in my life. When it comes to remuneration, I reside and work in a small city, but I earn a good salary that is above the median income, thanks to my promotion to the position of a chef. Before this, my earnings were just slightly above the poverty line, leaving me with little disposable income.
To answer your question, I absolutely adore my work and plan to continue for many more years. However, it does require some significant sacrifices. It's crucial to love what you do and be highly proficient at it.
I noticed that several other responses mentioned culinary school. I'd like to share my thoughts on this as well. I wouldn't recommend attending a culinary school for several reasons. Firstly, it can be prohibitively expensive, and the culinary field isn't known for high salaries. Imagine trying to repay student loans while earning 10-12 dollars an hour for the first 5-8 years after graduation. Moreover, most of the knowledge they impart can be found on the internet or in cookbooks at a fraction of the cost. Considering the current shortage of staff in many restaurants, I'd suggest gaining experience by working in high-end restaurants in your area and learning on the job.