Without a doubt, you have to know how to cook, but being a chef is more than putting food on a plate. You also need to develop and master some key skills. We've worked with chefs to develop a list of the 10 best skills that will help you prepare for a successful career as a chef. Take the time to tidy up as you go so you don't feel overwhelmed in your section, clean up the surfaces and put everything back in place.
Get organized to maintain control. As you advance in your career, having excellent organizational skills will ensure that you manage staff effectively and help you control all aspects of the kitchen, from workflow to preparation of dishes. Whether you're chopping a carrot or fresh herbs, the first thing you should master in the kitchen should be a basic understanding of cooking skills with the knife. Efficient and precise skills, such as dicing or julienne cutting, will make the difference between turning your time in the kitchen into a chore or a cheerful breeze.
Learning the right knife skills will help your dishes cook evenly, your flavors develop steadily, and make your time in the kitchen much more relaxed. Learning the right knife skills should be the number one skill that every growing chef should learn. Being able to think about everything at once and understand and know what each section of the kitchen is working on is a very difficult skill to master. Endurance This skill may surprise you, but chefs must have an excellent level of physical and mental fitness.
Since the hotel industry continues to grow year after year, there is still a high demand for qualified chefs and the requirements to get started may not be as demanding as expected. Victor highlights the importance of time management; he says that this skill has also been beneficial to him outside of the kitchen. Being able to work and get along well with your team is an essential skill for a good career as a chef. This is an overview of the skills you need to become a chef, the most in-demand skills employers are looking for, sample resumes and cover letters for cooks, and how to make your skills stand out when you're looking for a job.
Leadership Skills In addition to working as a team, experienced chefs must know how to lead the team and bring out the best in them. It takes a variety of hard and soft skills to be a great chef who can effectively run a kitchen.
