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Chef Career Survey Says
Find out what individual chefs like and dislike about their own chef careers and what they want when they hire for new chef jobs.
Ask the Chef Career Experts
ShawGuides, a leading publisher of career program guides, surveyed leading chefs and restaurateurs to find out what qualities and experience they look for when they hire a new chef to join their staff. They also revealed what they like and dislike about their chef careers.
Preferred Traits for Chef Jobs
According to 93% of the chefs who were surveyed, professional demeanor was the most important trait they were looking for in candidates for the chef jobs available in their restaurants. They rated product knowledge, references, and accredited chef training as traits they found most desirable for a candidate. The chefs also looked at more subjective personality traits like a candidate’s passion, enthusiasm, people skills, high energy level, eagerness to learn, and ability to stay calm under pressure.
Chef Career Pluses and Minuses
In the minus column of the chef career ledger, chefs dislike the extremely long hours they work and being away from their families on holidays. They also dislike hot kitchens, tomatoes in winter, and self-styled food critics. In the plus column, however, the minuses are balanced by customer rave reviews, teaching, making people happy, freedom, and “food as art and cooking as love.”
Chef Career Next Steps
Leading chefs recommend that you:
- Get a job in a restaurant before going to school to make sure it�s what you want to do
- Never stop learning or studying
- Make it your life, not your job
- Work only in top restaurants
- Taste, taste, taste
Now that you know what top chefs are looking for when they interview for their chef jobs, you can make sure that you have the education and qualities they are interested in.
Sources
About the Author
Judi Sandall is regular Chef School Review columnist. She is a graduate of the State University of New York.
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