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what are some tips or advice I should know when going into the culinary field as a beginner?
Hello, My name is Tammy. I am a student in class 2023. My dream career is to be a personal chef or a chef in general. However, while I do have a job to help start me off with a boast, I still want to learn everything I can. My question is, what are some tips or advice I should know when going into the culinary field as a beginner?
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Jennifer’s Answer
Hello Tammy,
I am happy to hear that you want to become a chef! It can be a very rewarding career, and I have many personal connections who are doing very well in this industry as a Sous Chef.
You are definitely doing the right thing by working in the field. The sole source of truth of whether you want to do this as your career is to actually do the job. That is an amazing first step - congrats to you!
Secondly, I would find a mentor who is a senior chef. Someone who has been working in the field for at least 2 - 5 years. This person can be your guiding compass, in terms of learning and growth. Mentoring is a very rewarding experience, and can truly provide the foundation of what you are entering into.
Alternatively, you can network with other industry chefs because I find the people you meet in this field will determine your success. Referrals on your work and what you can produce get filtered and passed through restaurant owners until you become a commodity.
I wish you the best!
Kind regards,
- Jennifer Bari
Career Coach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bari-6b162185
I am happy to hear that you want to become a chef! It can be a very rewarding career, and I have many personal connections who are doing very well in this industry as a Sous Chef.
You are definitely doing the right thing by working in the field. The sole source of truth of whether you want to do this as your career is to actually do the job. That is an amazing first step - congrats to you!
Secondly, I would find a mentor who is a senior chef. Someone who has been working in the field for at least 2 - 5 years. This person can be your guiding compass, in terms of learning and growth. Mentoring is a very rewarding experience, and can truly provide the foundation of what you are entering into.
Alternatively, you can network with other industry chefs because I find the people you meet in this field will determine your success. Referrals on your work and what you can produce get filtered and passed through restaurant owners until you become a commodity.
I wish you the best!
Kind regards,
- Jennifer Bari
Career Coach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bari-6b162185
Updated
Mike’s Answer
Hi Tammy. The first thing you need to do is decide what style of cooking you want to learn. When you decide that,dive in and learn as much as you can. After culinary school I wanted to learn Caribbean and Jamaican style cooking, so I moved to Key West and worked for several Chefs learning that style of cooking. My advice is that you learn as much as you can. Find a chef you like and work for them and learn everything you can.Being a chef is hard work!!!! It is also very rewarding!! Before you commit to school take a job in a restaurant for a year. After a year if you still lobe it, go to school.