What sort of tasks would I be doing?
Your daily tasks will vary depending on what level of chef you are, but if you were just starting out you would probably spend your time preparing ingredients and learning how to make dishes. A more experienced chef might design the menu and cook the food.
What qualifications would I need?
There are no specific entry requirements for trainee chefs but GCSEs in maths, English and other languages are useful. If you can, also try to get a Basic Food Hygiene certificate.
These qualifications would also be really helpful:
• GCSE in catering
• Diploma in hospitality
• City and Guilds Diploma in professional cookery (Levels 2 and 3)
• NVQ in professional cookery (Levels 2 and 3)
• HNC/HND in professional cookery
• BTEC Diploma in international cuisine (Level 3).
If you're over 16, you could apply for a Modern Apprenticeship in hospitality. This would give you practical experience in a kitchen and a Level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) after around three years.
If you’d rather study full time, you could go to college or to chef training school.
Getting work experience in a restaurant also looks fantastic on your CV and you’ll get to see chefs at work and get a feel for what it’s like to work in a kitchen. Working as a kitchen assistant for example would help even if it's just occasional evenings and weekends.
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