Its almost 3 years, Since I have joined Indian
Defence as a chef and I am finding it very interesting and it's giving me an
opportunity to fulfill my dreams and Goals. here Im would like to share Pros
and Cons of being a Chef.
What does a chef do
in the Industry ?
A chef is a
professional who cooks, bakes and crafts culinary masterpieces for their place
of employment. Chefs may work at restaurants, resorts, hotels, privately owned
businesses, as personal chefs for clients and at other dining establishments.
Not all chefs need formal education or formal training to pursue this career
path, and they often gain the experience and skills needed to succeed through
on-the-job training. Chefs can specialize in many types of cuisines and
typically have the following responsibilities :
- Preparing food and
ingredients
- Managing kitchen staff or
other employees
- Ordering kitchen food supply
- Controlling kitchen costs
- Cooking food and plating it
- Meeting with guests to
ensure they like their food
- Creating menus or revising
current menus
- Managing food budget
Pros of being a
chef
There are many
advantages to working as a professional chef. These typically include :
1. Dependable daily
tasks
As a chef, you
likely have a set of dependable tasks to complete each day. This is helpful if
you prefer to know what to expect out of each workday so you can prepare for
your shift. As an example, each day, you may expect to prepare ingredients for
meals, send food orders to distributors, cook food as needed, visit patrons to
ask how their meal is and close the kitchen.
2. Creativity
As a chef, you may
have the ability to use your creative skills to make and cook dishes. Chefs can
create new dishes, experiment with ingredients and revise old recipes to fit
their own tastes or the requirements of their customers. This is a freedom that
many other professions don't provide, so this can be especially appealing for
this career path.
3. Discounted food
Many restaurants
offer their staff, including chefs, discounted or even free food. As a chef,
you may receive free or discounted food after your shift ends or on your lunch
break. In this role, you also might get to try new recipes and dishes and
sample these meals as well. This may help you save on food expenses and can be
an added benefit of the job.
4. Increased
cooking skills
In this role, you
can gain excellent cooking skills and knowledge of the food and restaurant
industry. Most chefs have basic cooking skills, but after a couple of months
working in the role, you may earn many new ones that improve your cooking
ability and professional skills. Earning these skills can also help you secure
higher-paying chef jobs at other establishments in the future.
5. Salary and job
outlook
Professionals chefs
make a decent national average income and have a promising job outlook over the
next couple of years. Chefs earn an average yearly income of $45,854 per year. (BLS), job
opportunities for chefs and the related field of head cooks are expected to
rise 25% from the years 2020 to 2030. Aspiring chefs may expect many job
opportunities in the future.
Cons of being a
chef
There are also
several disadvantages to being a professional chef, which may include :
1. Physical toll
As a chef, you're
likely on your feet much of the day, cooking and preparing food. You may
experience some physical stress and get tired or uncomfortable during the
workday. Taking breaks, getting enough sleep, eating healthy food and staying
hydrated can help you ease any physical stress you may endure during your
workday.
2. Displeased
customers
Any type of company
or organization may experience displeased customers, and as a chef, you may
encounter restaurant patrons who don't like your food or are unhappy with their
dining experience. This is common but is fixable most times. Attempting to accommodate
displeased customers and speaking with them directly can help turn their dining
experience into a happier one.
3. Long working
hours
As a chef, you may
face long working hours. Some chefs work six to 10 hours each day, and
sometimes even longer depending on the restaurant. Kitchens often have fewer
chefs than other staff, so if any other chefs' schedules don't allow them to
fulfill their shift, you may have to fill in for them. You can prepare for
shifts by attempting to get enough sleep the night before and eating quality
meals, and during your shift, take breaks often.
4. Busy schedule
Chefs often have
busy schedules that can be challenging to manage. Sometimes chefs don't know
what their specific work schedule is in the future until the week of or the
week before, which may prove challenging for scheduling other commitments. As a
chef, you may work late nights, weekends and holidays. Using a planner and
calendar can help you keep track of your busy work schedule and any commitments
you have in your personal life.
5. No benefits
Most entry-level
chef jobs don't offer benefits, such as medical, life or dental insurance,
outside of hourly wages. Some restaurants or dining establishments may offer
bonuses at the end of the year, but you shouldn't expect this from your role.
Most high-paying, full-time chef jobs do offer benefits and additional
compensation, so this may be an option once you've gained experience in the
field and can advance in your career.
