When hiring a chef, there are certain things that employers will look for in their candidates. Great chefs all share a similar set of characteristics so knowing what these are will help you to communicate these to potential employers.
Great Cooking Skills
This is an obvious thing that employers will look for when employing a chef. They need to know that you are capable of performing to their restaurant’s standards and will be able to produce great food. This is usually determined through a practical test where you will have to cook a dish for the employer to taste test.
Creativity and Vision
Can you create new and interesting dishes, or make suggestions on how the restaurant can be improved? This is an extra skill that can be extremely valuable to many employers; certain establishments may depend on you creating exciting and interesting dishes to add to their menu. Having the creativity to do this will put you in great stead and showing that you can see and follow a certain vision of their restaurant will do the same.
Organisational Skills
Chefs are often stereotyped as unorganised and cluttered when they’re working, so an organised chef can seem like the best thing since sliced bread to an employer. These organisational skills will actually allow you to be a better cook, so showing that you’re organised with both your time and your station will definitely be a desired quality.
Hard Working
This is the same in most jobs; every employer wants staff who will work hard to produce the best results and work as a chef is no different. Nothing will say that you want that job or that promotion more than working as hard as you can. If you want it, you have to prove that you will put in the work.
Experience
This is not a characteristic, but it is definitely something that most kitchens look for when employing a new chef for their team. Experience in this industry is not only valuable, but it is crucial for securing those job roles and growing as a chef. Get as much experience as you can, and that will already impress your interviewer.
If you can show your employers that you hold these qualities and that you do want the job, you will have the best chance possible at achieving the role.
