“No one is born a great cook. You do it by learning” – Julia Child
If you have a genuine interest in cooking and would like to pursue it as a career, then training to be a professional chef is definitely a recommended choice. There is a growing demand for chefs, both in India and abroad. Job opportunities in this sector are plenty. Being a chef, however, is not an easy job. It takes lot of hard work and persistence. So if you love to experiment with food and are willing to put in the efforts, this is definitely a career for you.
To become a chef, there are several courses that you can take up after your 12th grade. The most popular ones being these:
- Bachelor’s degree in Catering Technology/Culinary Arts (3 years)
- Diploma in Culinary Arts (2 years)
Students from any stream (Science, Commerce, Arts) can apply for these program. Several colleges conduct entrance exams for admission to these programs.
After completing your bachelors in Culinary Arts, you can take up a job or pursue your advanced studies such as a masters programs (MA in Culinary Arts). Some students also go on to pursue a specialized advanced diploma course in say Bakery and Confectionery, Italian Cuisine, Food Production, Pastry Arts, and so on. There are several options for advanced studies in culinary arts and related fields in India and abroad.
A degree (or the diploma) in Culinary Arts not only teaches you about food and catering, but also helps you improve your communication and planning skills and trains you on aspects of hotel management. In short it prepares you to take up a job as an assistant chef/sous-chef at a hotel, restaurant, resort, cruise ships, bar etc. For the first few years on the job, you would have to work under the supervision of an experienced chef. The experience you gain from your job is what would eventually make you a professional chef. In the catering industry, it is more of experience and skills that matter than your qualifications. Hence even as a student, it is recommended that you take up as many internships as possible.
They say, “cooking is an art”, and it indeed is. If you are an artist who loves to experiment with food, then being a chef can be a very satisfying and a rewarding career choice.
Jothsna is the co-founder of Academy One, a career guidance and study abroad counseling venture. Prior to founding Academy One in 2005, Jothsna worked as an IT and business consultant with companies like Motorola and Trajen Inc. in the USA. She holds an engineering degree in computer science from Andhra University and a MS from the University of Texas. She also received her MBA from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, USA.