how do I become a resturaunt cook?

Question

I am thinking of my future and I was thinking of maybe becoming a cook for a resturaunt. I also want to know how long do I neeed to be in college to get into a cooking job. What do I do?

Answer 1

Executive chefs, sometimes referred to as head cooks, coordinate all dining operations of a restaurant, hotel, or other eating establishment. Their responsibilities may include managing the kitchen staff, overseeing meal preparation, planning menus, and ordering supplies.
Job Skills

Certain personal attributes are important for executive chefs to possess. These include the ability to work quickly and efficiently, a well-developed sense of taste and smell, good personal hygiene, and a willingness to work with a team. Familiarity with a foreign language may also prove useful in communicating with other workers.
Income

In 2002, executive chefs and head cooks earned a median hourly wage of $13.43. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10 percent, who earned less than $7.66 per hour, and the highest 10 percent, who earned more than $25.86 per hour. The highest median hourly earnings were found in the amusement and recreation industries, and the lowest were found in limited-service eating places.
Training and Education

Becoming an executive chef or head cook requires numerous years of training, as well as a strong passion for cooking. However, the type of training varies tremendously. High school or post-high school vocational programs offer the earliest chance for education. Independent cooking schools, culinary institutes, and 2- to 4-year college programs provide more in-depth training. Some restaurants and hotels even offer their own training and job-placement programs. Whichever path of training you choose, it will probably include some sort of apprenticeship or internship component in which you will receive real-world experience.

Many different colleges and universities provide the training required to become a chef. A good list of such institutions can be found on this page of college and universities offering information on Culinary Schools and related training.
Employment

Out of the nearly 3 million culinary jobs in 2002, about 132,000 people were employed as executive chefs and head cooks.
Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, the number of executive chefs and head cooks is expected to increase, though only at an average rate. A great deal of that increase will come in the form of jobs at casual restaurants, as opposed to full-service, high-end dining places.

Answer 2

Do you want to be a "cook" or a "chef?"
Depending on where you are in school, look to see if you can get into a vocational program with culinary arts in your area (I know both Duval County in FL, and Highline School District in the Seattle WA area offer it)

Colleges run from 2-6 years depending on the lvl you want to achieve. Also look to your local higher end restaurants and talk to the chef. Some of them will take on an apprentice with little or no training. (Again I know there is a program in place in the Seattle Area for this.)

Answer 3

You can attend a culinary school. The one I went to on a part time basis only went for 9 months, and then I got my certification. You can certainly go to a college like Johnson and Wales, the Cooking Institute of America, or the French Culinary Institute, but if you look for a local culinary program, I'm sure there are some around.

Answer 4

Some of the best cooks come out of the local city and technical colleges. These are programs lasting anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 years depending upon the college. The Wisconsin Technical College system has GREAT cook school programs. Maybe yours does too. Ask your high school counselor to check it out for you. You can also look on the net for the various program offered by your local community college.

Answer 5

Technically you don't have to go to school, depending on what level of a chef you want to be?

If you have designs on being the next Bobby Flay, then get yourself enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America.

If you just want to be a cook, get a job at a restaurant and work your way up.

I started as a dishwasher in high school and worked my way up to being the Friday/Saturday night head cook at the restaurant I worked at. No formal education in culinary. Granted it wasn't super high end, but it was a very popular restaurant in my home town. I know kids doing the same at restaurants in my current home town.

Answer 6

i have been a Chef for 28 years guy and that is like operating the desolate tract sation and not in any respect attempting the Ice Cream . that is a time commemorated custom for cooks and Chef to bang the wait paintings force, it continuously starts with after paintings drink or the hi i'd like a journey living house flow for it.