10 practical steps you can take to get started on a culinary career

Competition in the culinary world is fierce, but don’t let that stop you. Every great chef starts somewhere — and you can begin right now. By building your skills, expanding your knowledge, and showing that you’re motivated and ready to learn, you’ll stand out from the crowd and take the first real steps toward your culinary dream.

Take an online course to learn some basics; the more you already know, the better you will come across in any application or interview. Culinary Solutions Academy has 40 online courses that can give you the basics of ingredients, technique, terminology and how the hospitality industry works, which will demonstrate that you have already self-started your culinary journey.

2.      Terminology – Start your own dictionary-type list of professional culinary terminology. This will help you greatly in any interview or application and will surely impress the decision makers from any employer or culinary school.

3.      Practice cooking at home – Start experimenting with food in your own kitchen. Learn how to handle knives safely, cook simple international dishes, and understand ingredients, flavours, and textures. Good home practice builds confidence before any formal training.

4.      Food Safety – All cooks, chefs and hospitality workers must have a wide knowledge of food safety and food hygiene before they get into any kitchen or culinary school. Having this knowledge at the interview or application stage will give the employer or culinary school confidence in you and your ability to fit safely into a kitchen team.

5.      Knives- Buy at least one or two good-quality chef's knives that you can learn to use at home while you practice your cooking. Learn how to chop, cut, dice and even learn some basic shape vegetable cuts, such as Julienne and Macédoine.

6.      Get some experience – If possible, get some experience doing almost anything at a local hotel, restaurant or café, even at a fast-food venue. Washing-Up is a great place to start and learn how to work in a real kitchen. Many great chefs started washing dishes and dishwashing experience is very well regarded as a great way to get started on a culinary career. 

7.      Eat and learn – Learn about different culinary cuisines and step outside the food that is typically eaten in your culture and your home. Gain some knowledge, try and taste cuisines such as French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and even American cuisine. 

8.      Improve your English – English will be the language used in many hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and larger hospitality venues around the world. Improving your English skills makes you much more employable.

9.      Build an online profile – Start to think about your online profile and what you are presenting to the world and any future employer who may look at your social media pages. Share your cooking and culinary journey, photos, short videos and your excitement and dreams of a culinary career. Post your cooking dishes or when you visit a foreign cuisine restaurant.

10    Present yourself well – The hospitality industry really values people who are well-groomed and present high levels of personal hygiene. Start to look like you belong in the hospitality industry and would fit in well when you start your first job or arrive at your culinary school.