If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a private chef, it can be a bit of a challenge to get your foot in the door. Private chefs typically work for a single family or individual, often on a live-in basis, and cook and serve all (or most) of the family’s meals, cooking out of a private kitchen. In some cases a private chef may be hired to plan and create special events/meals for the family. These can be well-paying positions, so the competition for such roles may be high. Here are some tips if you want to get started on a career path to become a private chef.
Make sure you’re a people-person
A private chef (especially a live-in one) must enjoy interacting, pleasing, and engaging with their clients and building solid relationships. You may be exposed to challenging clients with unique family dynamics, and will have to retain a friendly and professional demeanor at all times. That said, you may end up with clients that you love and start to feel like family.
Learn a variety of cooking skills and styles
You may be a great cook, but make sure that you understand a wide range of cooking styles to please various people. For example, you may be hired by a family that is mostly vegetarian or gluten-free. Or the family may love homemade pasta want to serve mini Eclairs for dessert. At Park City Culinary Institute, you can learn all the skills and techniques you need to feel confident making any kind of dish or specific cuisine.
Market yourself
Once you’ve decided you want to become a private chef and you’ve received proper training, tell everyone you know that you are looking for a private chef position. Promote yourself on social media and create an Instagram page or online portfolio that showcases your culinary creations. Also, create a resume that highlights your experience and expertise, and share it with some private chef agencies to get their feedback.
Set Expectations
When you do land your first client as a private chef, be sure to write up a formal proposal of your services to set their expectations as to what you will and will not do for them. But then, exceed their expectations by over-delivering and adding in some nice touches that will help ensure your future success.
If you think the life of a private chef sounds ideal for you, Park City Culinary Institute can help. Whether you’d like to get your Professional Certificate in the Culinary Arts, Cuisine Certificate, or Pastry & Baking Certificate our culinary programs are convenient to all of the Salt Lake City area and available online. To learn more, visit our website, and give us a call at 801-413-2800 today!