Cook

All about the profession of a cook

All about the profession of a cook
Content
  1. History and description of the profession
  2. Advantages and disadvantages
  3. Specializations and directions
  4. Requirements
  5. Job responsibilities
  6. Education
  7. average salary
  8. Where to work?
  9. Career prospects

A cook is an important and necessary profession, which cannot be dispensed with in modern society. In addition, the work of these specialists is very interesting and creative, which is why many young people dream of becoming high-level cooks.

What are the features of the cook profession? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a cook? What specializations exist? What requirements must be met in order to get the desired position? We will talk more about this in our article.

History and description of the profession

Chef craft has quite ancient roots. So, it is believed that it arose earlier than pottery and blacksmithing. The origin of the profession is directly related to the practical activities and daily life of an ancient person. For example, after primitive people learned to use fire, they noticed that food cooked on fire was much tastier than raw food, and could also be stored longer.

However, not everyone was able to master the cooking process: for some representatives of the primitive society this turned out to be better than for others. In this regard, a certain division of labor occurred, and among the whole tribe, those who were the best prepared were distinguished. If we talk about the first written mention of the profession of a cook, then you should pay attention to a document dated 2000 BC. This document described people who, as their professional activity, were preparing food for the Cretan army.

Today, working as a cook is a difficult professional activity. A specialist in this industry solves a number of tasks and performs a large set of functions. Throughout the history of mankind, the profession of a cook has evolved and changed. Today, those who own a large number of cooking techniques, know the rules for combining products and have a number of other professional knowledge, skills and abilities are considered high-class cooks.

At the same time, it is quite difficult to achieve such a level, so only a few dozen skilled chefs are known at the world level.

Advantages and disadvantages

In recent years, a large number of programs and films have appeared on television that popularize the profession of a cook. In this regard, many young people turned their attention to this activity. However, before finally deciding to connect your destiny with a culinary career, it is very important to understand that such activities are characterized not only by positive features, but also have a number of significant drawbacks. Accordingly, it is necessary to evaluate all the pros and cons in advance.

Let's take a closer look at the benefits of working as a cook, which makes her so popular.

  • High level of demand. Regardless of the economic condition of the country, the political situation, as well as the social function of the state, the profession of a cook will always be in demand. The thing is that these specialists provide for the satisfaction of basic human needs, namely: food needs.
  • Career options. A cook is a specialist who can choose any career in the field of his culinary activities. So, some specialists open their own restaurants, others write books and conduct author talk shows. And also, if you wish, you can remain an employee and serve in a regular restaurant or cafe.
  • Creative component. In order to become a successful chef, you must have creative and creative thinking, not be afraid to show your originality and make experiments.
  • Independence from the region of residence. In our society, it is generally accepted that in order to succeed in a creative career, you must live in a big city or capital. In some cases, this statement is justified. At the same time, this principle does not work for cooks. Culinary experts are needed both in big cities, and in the provinces or even in villages. They do not necessarily work in expensive luxury restaurants - cooks can work in school and hospital canteens, in enterprises and so on. After we have appreciated all the main advantages of the profession of a cook, we turn to the analysis of the shortcomings of such work.
  • Physical stamina. Cook's working day can last long hours. Often the mode and schedule does not correspond to the generally accepted 8-hour working day. Accordingly, cooks in the kitchen can work for 12 or even 14 hours. At the same time, the working conditions in the kitchen are quite dangerous (fumes, high temperatures and much more). In this case, the cook often has to answer not only for his own work, but also for the activities of his subordinates (for example, assistant cooks). To perform all these functions at a high professional level, it is necessary to have fairly high physical stamina, as well as good health.
  • High stress level. In their daily activities, cooks are often met with the incompetence of subordinates, customer dissatisfaction, as well as overstated requirements of superiors. In this regard, it is very important to be calm and stress-resistant person, to be able to avoid conflicts and constructively resolve any situation, while maintaining your professional reputation.
  • Low salary. Cooks (especially novice professionals) receive a fairly modest reward for their work.High fees are available only to well-known and highly qualified specialists.

We can conclude that the work of the cook is fraught with a lot of difficulties. In this regard, it is important at the initial stage to soberly and objectively evaluate your capabilities, as well as determine whether you can surrender to culinary activities at 100%.

Specializations and directions

Today, in the professional community of chefs, several types of work and specialties can be distinguished: for example, a cook can work on the distribution line, specialize in Japanese cuisine or work as a cook-procurer.

Consider the most popular classification of cook professional activities.

  • Chef. This specialist is the main one in the kitchen, accordingly, all other workers must follow his instructions. The chef not only deals with the direct preparation of dishes, but also creates a menu, studies the customer base, controls the work of the rest of the kitchen staff and performs a number of additional functions, without which the full work of the kitchen is impossible.
  • Confectioner. This specialist is engaged in the production of confectionery products and should have a deep knowledge of all the features of such culinary activities.
  • Technologist. This employee organizes and controls the cooking process, compliance with techniques and methods. In addition, he calculates the quantity of products needed for the order.

At the same time, there are other, more highly specialized specialists, for example, cooks who specialize in national cuisine.

Requirements

In order to get a job as a cook, you need to meet the professional requirements of the employer, as well as have good personal qualities.

Personal

A cook must have the following characteristics:

  • stress resistance;
  • ability to work in stressful situations;
  • flexibility of thinking;
  • energy;
  • ability to improvise;
  • tact;
  • leadership qualities and others.

Remember that you are not only a professional in your field, but also a member of the team.

Professional

Among the necessary professional skills are:

  • olfactory sensitivity;
  • knowledge of cooking technology;
  • ability to combine products and much more.

Job responsibilities

The duties of the cook are detailed in the instructions that the employer will provide you with when applying for a position. Depending on the specific place of work, your work tasks may vary, however, almost any job description contains the following items:

  • safety knowledge;
  • ordering and receiving the necessary menu items for cooking;
  • Compliance with the cooking methodology;
  • cooking food;
  • use of necessary kitchen equipment;
  • monitoring of sanitary conditions.

Education

Depending on the specific place of employment, the employer may require different degrees of education from applicants, for example, higher education and a university diploma or secondary vocational education and a document from a technical school or college. One way or another, but in order to take the position of cook in an institution, you need to comply with a mandatory professional standard, which means that you have the appropriate training.

It is also worth noting that A larger number of employers pay attention to the institution you graduated from. That is why upon admission, you must very carefully approach the choice.

It is also important to know in advance what subjects and disciplines you need to take (for example, chemistry, mathematics and more), then start preparing for exams.

average salary

Cook salaries depend on a large number of factors. For instance, work experience, professional skills, region of residence, class of organization (for example, a cook will receive much more in a restaurant than in a dining room), and employer opportunities are taken into account.

Moreover, if we give the average statistics for our country, we can conclude that the minimum cooks get 20,000 rubles. At the same time, the maximum figure is not announced or published, as well-known cooks known throughout the world can receive material compensation in excess of 100,000 rubles.

Where to work?

The career path of a professional chef can develop in a variety of ways, since the culinary specialist can choose any jobs and organizations for his activity:

  • canteen in kindergarten, school, college, institute, university or in any other educational institution;
  • a restaurant - it can be a small family business, a network organization or an exclusive luxury restaurant;
  • office - very often large companies equip in the office for their employees a kind of dining room or buffet;
  • Cafe;
  • bakery or bakery - These places of work for confectioners are especially relevant;
  • fast food - most often burgers, shawarma and other similar dishes are prepared here;
  • media platforms - publication of instructional videos, writing books;
  • special education institutions - Very often, cooks are taught at cooking colleges.

At the same time, it is not necessary to engage in only one of the proposed activities - at his request, the cook can combine any work that is interesting to him.

Career prospects

A young cook without experience and the necessary qualifications, who has just left the walls of the educational institution, can count on the position of assistant cook in a good prestigious restaurant or the position of cook in a small cafe or school cafeteria. Wherein as he gains the necessary experience and practical skills, his position may increase.

So, a cook who has managed to become a professional quickly moves up the career ladder if he is an employee: for example, he can become a restaurant chef. At the same time, quite often talented chefs prefer entrepreneurial activity and open their own restaurants. And also cooks can engage in media activities: for example, make a television broadcast or write cookbooks with original recipes.

It can be concluded that the professional activities of a cook can be quite diverse and interesting. In this case, each specialist must rely on their professional skills and personal desires.

Write a comment
Information provided for reference purposes. Do not self-medicate. For health, always consult with a specialist.

Fashion

beauty

Relaxation