Chef
Job Description
Chefs prepare, season and professionally cook a variety of foods. They work in many different settings including; fine dining restaurants, commercial kitchen’s, cafés and food trucks. There are many different types of chefs, each with a specific station and responsibilities for example pastry and sous chefs.
Careers Ladder
Qualifications
At a minimum to become a chef you will need to complete a certificate and gain work experience in a kitchen.
Apply for an apprenticeship with a TAFE or private college. Certifications include;
- Chef – Certificate III, IV
- Diploma in Commercial Cookery
Once you have gained your qualification, you may like to specialise. Some courses to consider are;
- Pastry chef – Certificate III, IV or Diploma in Patisserie
- Baker – Certificate III in Retail Baking (Bread)
Attributes
- Artistic
- Capable
- Communicator
- Competent
- Dedicated
- Energetic
- Firm
- Motivated
- Organised
- Passionate
- Team Player
Key Skills
- Commercial Cookery
- Food Handling
- First Aid
- Food Safety
- Cleanliness
- Culinary Expertise
- Fast-Paced Decision Making
Future Prospects
Many experienced Chefs branch out into owning their own restaurants or cafés. Owning and running your own business can be complicated and demanding, so it’s a good idea to supplement your cooking skills with some business training.
Career advancement in this field can lead to other roles such as:
- Head Chef
- Serving Supervisors
- Business Owner
- Events Catering