Meet Isabel. She's 20 and grew up in Norfolk. Find how she got her job as chef de partie at St Petroc's Bistro, which is owned by Rick Stein and Jill Stein and located in Padstow, Cornwall. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
What is a typical day in your job?
I'm a chef de partie, which means I'm responsible for a particular section of the kitchen, but I also do some office work: it's not just cooking. I'm learning about the cost of each dish we prepare and how the dishes are priced. I'm now also teaching other chefs which I love!
I'm a chef in a restaurant kitchen. When I arrive in the morning, the chef from the night before will have left me a list of what needs to be done before our lunch service. This usually involves preparing vegetables, meat and fish so it's ready for us to cook when guests arrive.
What skills do you use as a chef?
I use my knife skills and cooking skills every day. I also use organisation and leadership skills to make sure everyone in the kitchen is getting along together. It can be quite stressful during busy periods so it's really important that we all work well together.
Was it a smooth journey?
The people I work with have given me lots of support and made it as smooth as possible for me. I have always loved food and cooking, but wasn't sure how to get a job out of it.
My mum saw The Rick Stein Chef Apprenticeship being advertised and I applied when I was doing my AS-levels at college. I did an interview and two weeks later they told me I'd got the job and I moved to Cornwall.
It's been challenging at times and the progression from apprentice to chef de partie has been intense, but I'm doing what I love!
Top tips
- Being a chef is hard work but it's very rewarding
- You need to be passionate about food and cooking to be a successful chef.
What to expect if you want to be a chef
Chef average salary: 拢15,000 to 拢30,000 per year (拢23,000 to 拢50,000 per year for head chef)
Chef typical working hours: 40 to 45 per week
What qualifications do you need to be a chef?
You could get into this role via a university course, a college course 鈥 such as a T-level (England-only) 鈥 an apprenticeship or by working towards the role via other jobs.
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service pages for and for the latest information and all the qualifications needed. (Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service).
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: , , and .
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