Personal Chef Culinary Careers
By Eneida P. Alcalde
eneida.alcalde@chefschoolreview.com
Chef School Review Columnist
In the ever-evolving culinary industry a new type of chef has emerged: the personal chef. If you think you have the charisma and culinary interest needed to be a personal chef, attending a culinary arts school will help you land a job.
Personal Chef Characteristics
To pursue any type of culinary career it’s important to have an intense desire to cook and:
- Be a team player
- Have a keen sense of taste and smell
- Be an efficient worker
It’s also vital to have excellent personal hygiene—who would want to hire a chef that doesn’t wash his or her hands? Knowledge of foreign languages is always a plus. A French-speaking or Spanish-speaking family will enjoy a personal chef who can communicate in their language and will likely hire you for the job again.
Culinary Arts Schools
Most personal chefs graduate from a culinary arts school with an associate’s degree (2 years to complete) or a bachelor’s degree (4 years to complete). Families who hire personal chefs seek qualified candidates—these degrees will give you credibility when you apply for a job.
In addition to coursework in basics such as nutrition and menu planning, students in culinary arts school spend much of their time in the kitchen learning:
- Good knife techniques
- Safe food-handling procedures
- Proper use of kitchen equipment
Families also seek personal chefs with cooking experience. After graduating, consider an internship in a fine-dining restaurant or an apprenticeship with a renowned chef. Also consider cooking abroad to gain an international culinary experience, an added boost to your career.
Once you’ve gained experience from a culinary arts school, families will not hesitate to hire you as their personal chef. You’ll soon find yourself in a successful culinary career as you wow families with yummy and nutritious meals.
Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics
My Personal Chef
About the Author
Eneida P. Alcalde works in Washington, DC and has written several grants, educational manuals, and promotional material for development organizations. Eneida holds a B.A. in international politics and Spanish from the Pennsylvania State University.
Posted on January 19, 2007 at 4:30 PM
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