TOP 5 REASONS TO BECOME A CHEF COOK

Chef Career Overview

Chef Cooks and Culinary Chefs usually work in settings such as restaurants, cafes, and corporate cafeterias. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Chef Cooks and Culinary Chefs is projected to grow from 2010 to 2020.

So what makes a career as a chef so much in demand? In one single answer: the love of food! Nevertheless, we bring you the top 5 reasons to consider a career as a chef cook or culinary chef:

Reason 1: Job Growth and Prospects

Chef cooks and culinary chefs held about 100,600 jobs in 2010. Nearly 20 percent of those following chef careers were in the younger age group, falling between the ages of 16 and 19 years old.

The median annual wage of chef cooks and culinary chefs was $40,630 in May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,260, and the top 10 percent earned more than $70,960.

The level of pay for chef cooks and culinary chefs varies greatly by region and employer. The pay is usually highest in upscale restaurants and hotels, where many chef cooks and culinary chefs are employed, as well as in major metropolitan, tourist and resort areas.

Reason 2: Unleash your Creativity

If the smell and sight of food moves your senses, if you enjoy picking up the spoons and the ladles, if you love the clink of the pots; then a career as a chef might just be your calling. This career pays you for using your creative culinary skills and for you to use this creativity to experiment and create recipes that are a treat for the senses- sight, smell and taste.

Reason 3: Enjoy the Prestige of Being a Chef

A well experienced and creative chef can become well recognized all over the world. This may take time, skill and experience. However, once you reach that stage, the prestige, praise and recognition is quite exciting. There are some chefs who opt to cook for movie celebrities and top politicians. Chefs can make life long impressions, and are becoming a major part of the parties of the rich and famous, get-togethers, marriages and many other important events.

In the hotel industry, a top chef is valued very highly; he/she is highly paid and respected. Chefs, unlike so many other professions, get almost instant credit and praise.

Reason 4: Opportunity to Travel all over the World

Many famous culinary chefs travel all over the world to taste, experience and learn the culinary specialties across the world. Many top five star hotels and resorts invite chefs, on a regular basis, across the world. Chefs can participate in various cooking contests and conduct cooking shows in various television channels across the world, the list is endless! There are even culinary and chef cook schools that run exchange programs with similar schools across the globe, to give you that international culinary exposure.

Reason 5: Professional Satisfaction

If you have a passion for using your culinary skills to cook up a dish, you would know that the ultimate satisfaction is to see someone devouring your creation and to get immense pleasure and satisfaction seeing their faces.

However, the work schedule and hours for those in the culinary field can be taxing, extended and grueling. The shift schedules for chef cooks and culinary chefs include early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays. Most chef cooks and culinary chefs work more than 10 hours, as they oversee a lot of food handling and ordering activity apart from the cooking. If you feel that it is all worth it, this career option is definitely for you!

Resource: http://trainingfyi.com/