Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (2024)

Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (1)

A chef or cookplans, prepares and cooks food by using a variety of cooking techniques. A chef usually works in a hotel or a restaurant. They may also work for a contract catering company, providing food for events. Cooks are more likely to work in hospitals, schools, works canteens, cafes or fast food outlets.

The Work

You could be:

  • planning out a range of meals (a menu), a whole meal or part of a meal
  • listing the ingredients, planning the quantities, fitting the costs to the budget, and arranging to buy them
  • organising other members of the kitchen staff, making sure that each part of the meal will be ready at the right time
  • using a variety of methods for food preparation, cooking and food storage
  • preparing and cooking the whole meal or else being part of a team cooking, for example, the vegetables or the puddings
  • experimenting with developing new recipes
  • specialising in one type of cooking such as Italian or Tandoori
  • as a senior chef, recruiting and training staff, planning staff rotas and managing budgets
  • keeping up to date with trends in cuisine.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

  • where you work
  • the size of the organisation you work for
  • the demand for the job.

The salary for a commis chef (entry level after qualifying) or a chef de partie (the head of a kitchen area) varies greatly depending on the size of restaurant but is generally between £20,000 and £25,000. With experience, moving up to sous chef level, salaries can be between £25,000 and £35,000.

Head chefs can earn up to £45,000 a year, sometimes more, depending on the type of establishment.

Conditions

  • In many jobs you work split shifts (working the morning and the evening with time off in the afternoon), and also weekends.
  • Part time work is common.
  • If you are in a school or a works canteen you work regular daytime hours Monday to Friday.
  • You work in a kitchen which might be hot, busy and noisy.
  • You have to follow health, hygiene and safety rules at all times.
  • It is an active job where you are constantly on the go.
  • You may have to carry heavy items, including pots with hot food and liquids.
  • You will wear a uniform and hat.
  • You may have to buy your own set of knives.

Workforce Employment Status

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Useful Subjects

  • Health and Food Technology
  • Hospitality (SCQF Levels 4 and 5) (FA) (FA)
  • Hospitality: Practical Cake Craft
  • Hospitality: Practical Cookery
  • SfW Hospitality

Getting In

  • You do not need formal qualifications but a good general education is useful.
  • Some employers want you to have a basic Food Hygiene Certificate before you start.
  • You might get in through a Modern Apprenticeship in Hospitality (Professional Cookery) at SCQF Level 5 or Professional Cookeryat SCQF Level 6.
  • You could study the Foundation Apprenticeship in Hospitality (SCQF Level 4 or 5) in S3-S6, which can help to get into a relevant Modern Apprenticeship.
  • You need to be over 18 tohandle certain kitchen equipment, such as meat slicers.
  • You might get in after a full time college course leading to a qualification such asan NC or SVQ Professional Cookery at SCQF Level5 or6.
  • You might get in as an apprentice commis chef and go to college part time while working.
  • You must be fit for heavy lifting.

There is a big demand for chefs and cooks all over the country. Look in Jobcentre Plus offices or on the Find a Job service on GOV.UK for current vacancies, as well as trade magazines such as The Caterer.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

Scotland

United Kingdom

Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (7) 2024

Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (8)

330069

4.6 %

Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (9)

RISE

Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (10) 2029

Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (11)

345320

LMI data powered by Lightcast

What Does it Take?

You need to have:

  • a keen interest in food
  • excellent hygiene awareness
  • excellent organisational and planning skills
  • patience to do routine tasks
  • a good eye for detail and presentation
  • stamina
  • maths skills to work out budgets and calculate quantities
  • a good understanding of health and safety
  • good organising skills to supervise team members.

You need to be:

  • creative - to develop new dishes
  • accurate - when judging quantities
  • flexible and able to multitask
  • able to follow written and verbal instructions
  • able to give clear instructions if you are supervising staff
  • resilient and able to keep calm under pressure.

Training

  • Training is generally on the job with day release to college.
  • Anyone with a job involving the handling of food must complete a relevant food safety and hygiene course.
  • There are many relevant SVQs or City and Guilds. These include Food Preparation and Cooking, Professional Cookery and Hospitality Services.

Getting On

  • You can work your way up tochef de partie (leader of a section such as fish or vegetables), sous chef and thenhead chef, either within the same company or by moving jobs.
  • You might move into self-employment and become a 'chef patron', owning your own restaurant.
  • You might move into training and education at a college.
  • There may be opportunities to work abroad.

Video

Courtesy of CareersBox

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

Springboard
Tel: 020 7921 0420
E-mail: info@springboarduk.org.uk
Website: http://www.careerscope.uk.net
Website (2): http://springboard.uk.net/
Twitter: @Springboard_UK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpringboardUKCharity/

Springboard UK promotes career opportunities in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries.

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Planit :  Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality (2024)

FAQs

Planit : Job Profiles : Chef or Cook Hospitality? ›

A chef or cook plans, prepares and cooks food by using a variety of cooking techniques. A chef usually works in a hotel or a restaurant. They may also work for a contract catering company, providing food for events. Cooks are more likely to work in hospitals, schools, works canteens, cafes or fast food outlets.

What is the profile of a chef? ›

Chef responsibilities include studying recipes, setting up menus and preparing high-quality dishes. You should be able to delegate tasks to kitchen staff to ensure meals are prepared in a timely manner. Also, you should be familiar with sanitation regulations.

What's the difference between a cook and a chef? ›

To simply answer this question, a chef is an individual who is trained to understand flavors, cooking techniques, create recipes from scratch with fresh ingredients, and have a high level of responsibility within a kitchen. A cook is an individual who follows established recipes to prepare food.

Is a chef in hospitality? ›

A hotel chef is a popular role you can find across the hospitality industry . They're similar to other types of chefs, in that they prepare food for the masses. Sure, they may also be responsible for in room dining orders, but their duties remain quite similar.

What is a chef and cook job description? ›

Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. They direct kitchen staff and handle any food-related concerns.

What is a profile description for a cook? ›

What does a Cook do? A Cook plans, prepares, and cooks food items to ensure the highest quality service and experience for customers. They help keep the kitchen organized and running efficiently. They ensure proper food handling, sanitation and following food storage procedures.

What do you call a female cook? ›

Answer: A cook is a gender-neutral word which describes the person who is an expert in cooking, culinary skills and expertise in culinary arts. The term “cook” is used in tandem with genders not distinguishing masculine from feminine. But both of them- male and female “cook”- are also described using the word “chef”.

Is cook under hospitality? ›

A hospitality degree should prepare you to work in a food service department, but you won't be certified to be a cook, as most hotels offer some form of foodservice. Instead of making the food, you can anticipate being in charge of kitchen supplies or administrative responsibilities.

What is a hospitality job description? ›

A hospitality job is one that involves working in a service-oriented industry, such as tourism, lodging, events, transportation, or food and beverage, and performing tasks that foster a relationship with your company's customers.

Is hospitality just cooking? ›

The hospitality industry covers the broad categories of all the types of service industries that provide hospitality to consumers. This includes those that provide a place to stay, such as hotels; those that cook and serve food, such as restaurants and also those that provide only drinks, such as bars.

How do I describe my cook job on a resume? ›

Cooks are responsible for preparing food for a restaurant's clients. Typical job duties described in a Cook resume sample include maintaining the kitchen clean and organized, coordinating kitchen staff, preparing food using client indications, creating new recipes, and developing menus.

What is a cook job description template? ›

Cook Job Responsibilities:

Attends to the detail and presentation of each order. Places and expedites orders. Prepares ingredients by following recipes; slicing, cutting, chopping, mincing, stirring, whipping, and mixing ingredients; adding seasonings; verifying taste; and plating meals.

What is a cook 3 job description? ›

POSITION SUMMARY:

Cook 3 is primarily responsible for food preparation, kitchen cleanliness and reassuring kitchen supply is maintained. Cook 3 is also responsible for compliance with federal, state, and county health regulations.

What is the psychological profile of a chef? ›

The average Chef likely feels most comfortable as a leader and is likely to be assertive and to push their teammates towards a successful outcome. The average Chef's abilities to be decisive and to work under pressure are likely to suit them well in stressful situations.

What are personality traits of chefs? ›

Culinary chefs tend to be predominantly enterprising individuals, which means that they are usually quite natural leaders who thrive at influencing and persuading others. They also tend to be artistic, meaning that they are creative and original and work well in a setting that allows for self-expression.

What is head chef profile? ›

As Head Chef you will oversee the day-to-day running of the kitchens and be able to manage, lead, motivate and develop the team. Responsibilities will include menu planning, managing the financial KPI's enabling business success, purchasing, health and safety including food hygiene procedures.

How do you describe a chef? ›

A chef is a professional cook and tradesperson who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. The word "chef" is derived from the term chef de cuisine (French pronunciation: [ʃɛf də kɥizin]), the director or head of a kitchen.

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