In the past years, a lot of people believed that the culinary industry is only associated with cooking or food preparation. However, there has been a major shift in this perspective as people now realize that the industry is uniquely wide-ranging. With the various sectors in this industry, there’s been a high demand for professional chefs in the US.
Furthermore, sectors from this industry include events management, hospitality, food and beverage, catering, research and development, corporate dining, food styling, and lots more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is expected that by 2025 the food industry will generate over 1.6 million new jobs due to the rapid economic growth. Now, this explains why there’s a high demand for chefs in the US.
Based on this high demand, a Bachelor’s degree in culinary arts has become a popular course in the US and lots of colleges are offering it. Working professionally as a chef has quite several benefits, that’s even aside from the high-paying potential. On average, a professional chef in the US can earn an annual salary of $64,000.
Chef positions do not only focus on properly preparing food but also on creating meals that appeal to a wide range of customers. Therefore, if you’re interested in pursuing a chef job in the culinary industry, this article is for you! Read on as we discuss extensively how you can benefit from the high demand for professional chefs in the US.
How To Become A Chef In The US
Due to the high demand for professional chefs in the US, we have outlined the steps on how to become a chef. Well, one of the first requirements to become a chef is to obtain a valid license. Then, you will have to enroll at a culinary school or institution in the US.
However, some additional steps might polish your cooking skills, add to your experience, and also train you on how to deliver under pressure in the kitchen. Below is a step-by-step guide to becoming a chef after attending a culinary school. Let’s check it out!
1. Familiarize With The Kitchen
As a chef, it is very important to understand how the kitchen works as it will be your workstation. Meanwhile, you need to take caution, be alert, and be observant while in the kitchen. For a start, you may receive ordinary assignments like cleaning dishes and making garbage runs. Regardless, you must be open-minded and patient, as this stage is considered the rite of passage for budding chefs.
2. Get Certified
For culinary schools, it requires one to four years of study course, however, the number of years will be determined by your program. Some of the most widely recognized degrees in culinary schools include diplomas, associate certificates, or four-year bachelor’s degrees. Although expert culinary degrees are limited in the United States.
One of the major requirements to become a chef is to at least get a bachelor’s degree. However, individuals who have obtained their culinary certificates will have the opportunity to swiftly climb up the culinary ladder. As a professional chef, you will be accountable for cooking meals that offer pleasure to your customers’ eyes and sort their appetites.
Interested in becoming a professional chef? No worries! Below are some of the ways you can get a culinary education and practice as a chef.
Culinary School
You can decide to join a culinary school for a degree, diploma, or certification, it all depends on the type of chef you aim to become. Even though enrolling in these institutions comes with high tuition, their faculty, training sessions, private environment, and facilities are appreciable. Attending a culinary school is one of the best ways to kick-start your career as a chef.
Community Colleges
Attending any community college will provide you with an associate degree or a certificate, unlike the culinary schools. These schools usually offer a proper four-year bachelor’s degree, they are low-cost, and their courses are short. This implies that it will only cover subjects of your interest and give you a well-rounded degree.
Vocational Programs
Going for a vocational program is the fastest possible way to obtain an education in culinary arts. It allows you to work closely with some remarkable seniors, skilled juniors, and professionals. In addition, vocational programs will directly encourage you to enter the kitchen professionally.
3. Gain Experience
Obtaining a degree, diploma, or vocational training is perfect, however, being a chef requires much more than that. You will need to gain more experience to polish your skills and get accustomed to the pressures of working in the kitchen. Therefore, to begin practicing as a chef, you must gain experience whether through an internship or apprenticeship.
4. Get Your First Job
Whether as a commis or high-end chef, you can land your first cook position with your experience. You can also apply for systems administration openings. With this, you will have the privilege to gradually move up to the top assistant chef and, in the end, to a high-end specialist.
Reasons To Become A Professional Cook In The US
1. The Booming Hospitality And Tourism Sector
The hospitality and tourism sector is rapidly growing at a good rate of 3.8%, and as such, it contributes over 319 million jobs worldwide! As a professional chef, you may be hired to work in restaurants, hotels, event management companies, catering companies, and lots more. Furthermore, this industry is offering new jobs that are much higher than the number of culinary professionals colleges are producing.
This explains why there’s a high demand for professional chefs in the US. As expected, this trend is going to continue for the next few years. Therefore, now is the best time for you to become a professional chef and embrace opportunities.
2. The Industry Wants To Hire Managers
Whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, QSR, or catering service, most companies are seeking educated and industry-ready culinary professionals. Individuals who can run a kitchen successfully and even showcase management skills. Pursuing a course such as BCTCA will prepare you for high-paying managerial jobs.
3. Chefs Are In High Demand
According to the fast-rising food culture in the US and around the world, chefs are highly in demand now more than ever. Every year, new dine-in restaurants, 5-star hotels, and more are joining the food service market and as such, creating more job opportunities for aspiring chefs.
As stated earlier, chef-related jobs are not limited to just restaurants, hotels, or catering services. Some corporate houses also consult the service of professional chefs for their office cafeterias, mainly to bring in cuisine diversity for their employees. Likewise, there are many other sectors where businesses are looking to hire well-trained chefs.
4. The Continuously Evolving Restaurant Industry
These days, customers are becoming more conscious of the kind of gastronomic experience they want to go through. Because of this, top restaurants and fine dining are focusing more on recruiting professional chefs who can bring more variety to the plate.
Conclusion
Due to the ever-evolving culinary industry, there will always be a high demand for professional chefs in the US. If you are interested in becoming a professional chef, now is the best time to make a move. Good luck!
