2 answers
Gracie
Student
Delhi, California
3
Questions
Asked
548 views
how difficult would you say it is for recent graduates to obtain a job as a chef?
how difficult would you say it is for recent graduates to obtain a job as a chef?
Login to comment
2 answers
Michael Druker
Director of Food and Beverage/ Executive Chef
2
Answers
Vineland, New Jersey
Updated
Michael’s Answer
difficult question to answer.
Culinary schools across the county are pumping out cooks but there is a difference between a Chef and a cook.
Cooks work in any food operation, (nothing against) McDonald's has cooks, where a chef is something different. A chef is a trained professional cook who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation, then we can break it down into cuisine or disciplines. Everybody starts somewhere like a McDonald's, and you build a skill set, that you take from one position to the next.
The problem with the culinary scene is that people go to school and come out with significant amounts of debt, (in most cases) and start a position that pays (hopefully) a few dollars over minimum wage. It takes a strong work ethic and sacrifice to truly become a "CHEF" (with the meager pay discusses), in the true sense of the profession. The continued training, learning how to manage personalities, food cost, menu development, health codes, etc. Most people are not willing to sacrifice the nights with their buddies drinking, or a friends birthday party on a busy Saturday night.
The position carries a level of respect that is not easy to obtain but once you have it, it's yours as long as you continue to work for it.
Hope this helps
Culinary schools across the county are pumping out cooks but there is a difference between a Chef and a cook.
Cooks work in any food operation, (nothing against) McDonald's has cooks, where a chef is something different. A chef is a trained professional cook who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation, then we can break it down into cuisine or disciplines. Everybody starts somewhere like a McDonald's, and you build a skill set, that you take from one position to the next.
The problem with the culinary scene is that people go to school and come out with significant amounts of debt, (in most cases) and start a position that pays (hopefully) a few dollars over minimum wage. It takes a strong work ethic and sacrifice to truly become a "CHEF" (with the meager pay discusses), in the true sense of the profession. The continued training, learning how to manage personalities, food cost, menu development, health codes, etc. Most people are not willing to sacrifice the nights with their buddies drinking, or a friends birthday party on a busy Saturday night.
The position carries a level of respect that is not easy to obtain but once you have it, it's yours as long as you continue to work for it.
Hope this helps
David Davidoski
Executive Chef
12
Answers
San Leandro, California
Updated
David’s Answer
Hi Gracie, finding a job as a chef fresh out of school is tough, it happens, but rarely. However, finding a job as a cook is great. There are a lot of options out there. Covid did two things it made a lot of seasoned professionals reevaluate their lives, but it also showed the industry just how fragile it was. That being said as a the road to recovery progresses there are a lot of opportunities out there and there will continue to be more as the world heals. You have a lot of choices to make and I look forward to answering more questions.