Sous Chef Job Description
Overview
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A Sous Chef is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of a kitchen staff. They are second-in-command to the Executive Chef, and help manage all aspects of kitchen operations including menu planning, food preparation, ordering supplies and managing personnel. The Sous Chef must be knowledgeable about culinary techniques, have strong organizational skills and be able to work in a fast paced environment.
Steps to take to start your career as a Sous Chef and other jobs like it
- There are a variety of different training programs. The shortest are certificate programs completed less than a year, next are associate degrees in culinary arts and the longest being 4 year bachelor programs. All of these programs require a GED or high school diploma.
- Everyone knows how to eat but building a career in cooking or baking takes practice. Whether you have formal training or not, practicing on your own, working in a restaurant and or working under an experienced chef is important.
- You likely will need to work your way through many different roles in the kitchen to gain the experience needed to advance to ones that allow you to use your creativity.
- There are many different environments for chef’s to work in, hotels, restaurants, catering, cafe’s. There are different skills to be learned from each, some of which extend beyond cooking to the business side of the trade.
Pastry Chef:
Hi, my name is Ryan. I am a professional pastry chef and ice cream maker. I'm also a writer, a massage therapist, but ice cream is where I'm currently focusing on.
Career Skill:
One requirement for this job is to 100% be organized.
Career Advice:
My biggest piece of advice for anyone entering this industry is to be okay with failing, fail a lot, and learn from that.
Career Concerns:
One of the biggest things I'm concerned about in this industry is a work-life balance and making enough money to actually survive. And also, you know, it is physical, so I'm worried about burning out.
Career Motivation:
I was motivated to start this career because I've always cooked, I've always baked, and it just kind of seemed like a natural fit for me to go into that industry.
Important Lesson Learned:
I went to pastry school in Chicago and after that I worked for a really well-known chef, and it was the most awful experience I've ever had in my life in this career. And I learned a lot, but I also learned what kind of chef I wanted to be and what kind of chef I didn't want to be.
Career Goal:
My ultimate goal for myself is to actually have a brick and mortar shop. Right now I'm doing a lot of wholesale comps and farmer's markets, so I would like an actual space for the ice cream shop. So right now I'm just going to keep doing everything that I'm doing and eventually work my way towards that.
- Sous Chef - Full Time TemporaryHyatt Hotels Corp.Maui, HI, United StatesPosted: Sep 7, 2024
- Sous Chef - BanquetsHyatt Hotels Corp.Park City, UT, United StatesPosted: Sep 7, 2024
- Sous ChefdnataInwood, NY, United StatesPosted: Sep 7, 2024
- Sous Chef - Garde ManagerHyatt Hotels Corp.Scottsdale, AZ, United StatesPosted: Sep 7, 2024
- Sous ChefCompass Group USA IncOxford, OH, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous Chef (full Time)Compass Group USA IncOrange, CA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous Chef (full Time)Compass Group USA IncGreensboro, NC, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous Chef, University Residential diningCompass Group USA IncCape Girardeau, MO, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous ChefCompass Group USA IncBoston, MA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous ChefCompass Group USA IncAllentown, PA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous ChefCompass Group USA IncPittsburgh, PA, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous ChefUniversity of Arkansas SystemLittle Rock, AR, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous ChefLa Pecora BiancaNew York, NY, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous ChefLa Pecora BiancaNew York, NY, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
- Sous Chef (full Time)Compass Group USA IncMinneapolis, MN, United StatesPosted: Sep 6, 2024
Education you need to become a Sous Chef
These are the most common degrees or certificates earned by Jobtrees users prior to becoming a Sous Chef
There may be other required degrees or certifications needed for this job. The below info shows you the most commonly desired education level from employers when hiring for this job.
- Associate Degree in Culinary Arts
- Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in Physics Education
- Associate Degree
- Associate Degree in Associate of Arts
Annual Pay Estimate for Sous Chef and Other Important Info
See how many years Sous Chef's are in their job, how much they make, how long it took to get there and how available this job is in terms of open positions.
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Career Paths for Sous Chef
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