Career Information for a Chef's Degree or Certification

If you can express your creativity through food, and if you have an exceptionally discerning palate, you might succeed in a Chef's Degree or Certification program. People who have completed this program may be qualified to enter the following career fields: cook, pastry chef, and caterer.

For some, cooking is a chore; for others, cooking is a chance to make art in the form of food. Standing on your feet for long hours in a hot kitchen is not for everyone. But, if you have the passion, you will find working as a chef a rewarding profession. In this program, you can expect to spend anywhere from fifteen to forty hours a week in the kitchen on top of other course work; in addition, you need to be prepared to work as a team that often reports to a kitchen at 6am. In this major, you will find you have to be thick-skinned to take criticism from teachers and other students. But as long as you have a passion for food and a desire to please others, you will Certification may be qualified to enter the following career fields: cook, pastry chef, and caterer.

Cook

Cooks season and prepare a wider variety of foods ranging from salads, soups, entrees, appetizers, and desserts. Working for restaurants, catering firms, schools, and offices, they specialize in providing large quantities of food to groups of people. According to a 2002 study by the U.S. Department of Labor, there were over 3 million jobs for cooks and other food workers-mostly in restaurants and other food establishments. According to that same study, jobs will be plentiful for the next 8 years, but interested applicants should be aware that competition is quite high at the more lucrative establishments. Earning a degree in culinary arts or culinary science is an effective way to increase one's job prospects. Exact earnings vary dramatically, depending on the area you work in.

Pastry chefs

Under the food preparation category, pastry chefs are professional bakers who provide desserts and breads for restaurants, supermarkets, food establishments and general pastry shops. They tend to work normal hours (except during holiday seasons), and enjoy flexibility and creativity. According to the Career Education Advisor, overall employment will increase, because of the growing number of bakeries, specialty stores, and consumer interest. According to this same study, pastry chefs' incomes are quite varied depending on region, specialty, clientele and experience. In 2000, the median salary was about $20,000. Most chefs earned between $15,000 and $25,000, with the richest earning over $30,000. Earning a degree in culinary arts or culinary science will probably place applicants in the upper income bracket.

Caterer

Catering is a fun job for those with skills in hospitality and customer service. The job allows you to often work on your own hours, and out of your own home. There are catering services you can work for, but many prefer to freelance. The sky is the limit in this job, and you may find yourself preparing for huge banquets, wedding services, and even personal dinners for two. You must be willing to deal with time crunches, picky customers, and be able to come up with back up plans in case things go wrong at the last minute.

For more Career Information for a Chef's Degree or Certification, or for related programs, visit the US Bureau of Labor, www.bls.gov, or College Board, www.collegeboard.com.