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You may desire greater autonomy, creative freedom, and the chance to explore new challenges beyond the confines of a restaurant kitchen.
Your Skills as a Chef
After a few years, it's easy to take your skill set for granted and fail to see all you've learned in your career. From executive to sous to specialized chefs, "each type of chef can cover a variety of different tasks, from organization and training to menu development and recipe creation." (2)
As a chef, you've gained the following abilities:
- Hard skills: Technical skills you learned to do your job
- Soft skills: Innate or developed talents and abilities
Next, we'll look at your hard skills and see which jobs may best suit you when making a career change into another food industry job.
Later, we'll see what jobs (unrelated to the food industry) may suit your unique talents.
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Your Hard Skills are In High-Demand
As a chef, you generally possess extensive technical knowledge of ingredients, flavor profiles, cooking methods, and food safety practices. You can create well-balanced menus, develop innovative recipes, and adapt to different cuisines. You continually enhance your culinary skills through ongoing learning and experimentation.
With all that talent, when it comes to the food industry, the world is your oyster! (Rockefeller or raw ;)
In recent years, there has been a growing trend of chefs exploring alternative career paths related to the food industry. Let's see some of the possibilities starting with communications!
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1- Food Writer, Photographer, or Vlogger:
Think Healthy Eating, Recipes, Fancy Food Photos, Life as a Head Chef, etc.
Average Salary in US: $63,594/yr
Food writing or communication focuses on recipes, culinary trends, restaurant reviews, food culture, and personal experiences related to food. Food communications experts often share their knowledge and insights through articles, blogs or video posts, podcasts, cookbooks, recipes, and social media content.
If you're a chef looking to break into the field of food writing, you'll need to hone your communication skills.Take the time to practice writing, taking photos, or talking for the camera and improve your ability to communicate effectively through words.
Consider taking writing courses or workshops to sharpen your skills such as an Unmudl online or in-person course:
Launching your own food blog can be an excellent way to showcase your culinary expertise. Share your unique recipes, cooking tips, and insights on food-related topics. Consistently publish high-quality content to establish your presence in the food writing community.
Consider this online on-demand course to learn how to market your blog, vlog, photos, etc!
Use social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to share your culinary creations, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and insights on food-related topics. Engage with your audience and establish yourself as an authority in the field.
2- Culinary Education: Culinary Arts Teacher
Culinary Arts Teacher Average Salary in US: $66,646
A culinary instructor or educator teaches aspiring chefs and culinary students various culinary skills and techniques. They typically work in culinary schools, vocational institutions, or community colleges, and their role involves imparting culinary knowledge, supervising practical cooking sessions, conducting demonstrations, and assessing students' progress.
Chef teachers often bring real-world insights and practical knowledge into the classroom, offering valuable perspectives on working in professional kitchens and the culinary industry. Here are some steps to help you break into this field:
Consider taking courses or workshops on teaching methods, instructional design, and classroom management. Practice delivering presentations, demonstrations, and guiding practical cooking sessions to build your teaching skills. Consider these online classes to get started.
Your industry experience working in a professional kitchen as a chef will provide valuable insights and practical knowledge that you can share with your future students.
3- Catering
Average salary in the US: $95,435/ yr
As a chef, starting a catering business is very different from what restaurant owners do. Catering allows you to express your culinary creativity and showcase your unique cooking style. You can design custom menus, create innovative dishes, and deliver exceptional dining experiences to clients.
From weddings and corporate functions to private parties and special occasions, the catering industry presents diverse opportunities. This variety allows you to explore different culinary styles, cuisines, and themes, keeping your work dynamic and stimulating.
You also have the chance to develop long-term relationships with clients and event planners. Satisfied customers may become repeat clients for future events, leading to a steady stream of business and word-of-mouth referrals. Building a solid reputation in the catering industry can contribute to the growth and success of your business.
Starting a catering business as a chef allows you to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit. You have control over your business operations, branding, and growth strategies. This independence allows you to shape the direction of your business, make strategic decisions, and pursue your culinary passion while building a successful enterprise.
Consider a course to learn more about starting and running your own business before starting this exciting new career path.
The catering industry is dynamic and ever-evolving, providing ample opportunities for continuous learning and growth.
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