Career Advice for a Chef and Head Cook

As a Chef or Head Cook, you will be responsible for planning menus, preparing and cooking food, managing kitchen staff, and ensuring food safety and quality.

Quick Links

How to Become a Chef and Head Cook

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Chef and Head Cook

Should you wish to work as a Chef and Head Cook you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Chef and Head Cook

  • A Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery or Culinary Arts.
  • A Degree in Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management can be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities for a Chef and Head Cook

  • Planning menus and creating new dishes.
  • Preparing and cooking food to high standards.
  • Managing kitchen staff and delegating tasks.
  • Ensuring food safety and hygiene standards are met.
  • Ordering and managing inventory of food and kitchen supplies.
  • Maintaining kitchen equipment and facilities.
  • Collaborating with other departments such as front of house and management.

What to expect as a Chef and Head Cook

As a Chef or Head Cook, you can work in various settings such as restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and cruise ships.

Recommended Chef and Head Cook Jobs

Loading Jobs...

How to get Chef and Head Cook Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Chef and Head Cook job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Chef and Head Cook application. If you have not held a Chef and Head Cook position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Chef and Head Cook role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Chef and Head Cook CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Chef and Head Cook application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Chef and Head Cook in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Chef and Head Cook 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Chef and Head Cook and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Chef and Head Cook experience.

How to get Chef and Head Cook Experience

What does it take to be a Chef and Head Cook? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Chef and Head Cook jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Chef and Head Cook through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Chef and Head Cook Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Chef and Head Cook part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Chef and Head Cook or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Chef and Head Cook freelance work

If you have impressive Chef and Head Cook qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.