Once you've qualified from cooking school, your new career could
involve anything from opening a café to creating a worldwide empire like
Gordon Ramsey's. As someone about to embark on a major career change,
the choice is yours - the only certainty is that some cookery schools
are better than others and that your choice can hugely influence your
future success. Like preparing a classic Zabaglione à la table, you only
have one opportunity to get it right. Here's how to ensure you don't
waste the opportunity.Take your time choosing the cooking school which is right for you
When you plan a dinner party, you don't rush the choice of wines. Equally, when planning a career change, you shouldn't grab the first training opportunity you come across. Here's how to approach the task of short listing cookery schools:
1. Research thoroughly (online and using other media).
2. Look for testimonials and positive reviews.
3. Ask around the industry (including specialist catering recruitment firms).
4. Create a short list of possible cooking schools.
5. Contact the school for a chat on the phone.
6. Arrange to visit them, especially if they invite you to come when they have a course running.
7. Talk to present and past students.
By taking this approach, you'll soon find the school that matches your ambitions.
Why top cookery schools really can give you an edge?
Top schools give you an edge through a combination of great facilities, excellent teaching and a commitment to support their students into new careers. Look for the following:
- Clean, modern, professional kitchens
- Basic-to-advanced in a few weeks (look for two practical sessions each day)
- Experienced trainers who understand training and the catering business
- More than just kitchen skills - a good school of cooking builds life skills too
- Lots of satisfied students and great reviews
- Solid industry contacts (caterering and specialist recruiters)
- Courses slanted towards your career plans
Always look beyond (vital) culinary skills. The best schools offer a tailored approach to training, take a genuine interest in your ambitions and offer many career-boosting extras as standard!
What sort of skills can you expect to cover at cooking school?
A truly great cookery school will progress you from basic level to restaurant professional in a few weeks - and they'll demonstrate having done this for former students.
Look for training on many different culinary styles, and developing the depth and breadth of skill that creates a rounded, capable chef and underpins a successful career. A good cook school gives you this foundation, builds your confidence, gives you practical business expertise and develops the people skills that distinguish great chefs from good ones.
Are there any intensive cooking schools where you could get a confident grasp of cooking in a short time? Do they offer accommodation?
When you're changing career, you need to quickly get the skills you need. A shorter, intensive course (say four-weeks, with two practical cooking sessions each day) will give you a solid foundation on which to launch your new career and start earning.
Courses such as the one run by The Gables Cookery School in the UK offer this intensive training. To get the most out of your course, always look for a school that offers total immersion in the culinary world during your training - complete with on-site accommodation. It really is the only way to train if you're taking your career change seriously.
Are the lecturers qualified in teaching as well as cookery?
One of the marks of a great cookery school is that the training team is made up of trained trainers who are also professionally qualified cooks. This is essential, so make sure you ask about the training qualifications at your shortlisted schools. There are lots of good chefs out there - but relatively few with specialist training qualifications too!
How will a school of cooking help me when I've finished training? What post-course support and advice should I expect?
The best culinary school will support you after your course. They'll have excellent industry links, strong relationships with catering recruitment consultants and lots of connections with people and organisations that can help you in your career. Above all, they won't forget you after you graduate; instead, you can expect your newly-forged relationship to continue and develop throughout your new career.
The right choice of culinary school can have a massive influence on your new career. Research your choice carefully, visit the cooking school and talk to them about what you hope to achieve by attending. Once you are satisfied that this is the route for you, enrol with confidence and put everything into your training. Your new career will be underway.
The best culinary school will support you after your course. They'll have excellent industry links, strong relationships with catering recruitment consultants and lots of connections with people and organisations that can help you in your career. Above all, they won't forget you after you graduate; instead, you can expect your newly-forged relationship to continue and develop throughout your new career.
The right choice of culinary school can have a massive influence on your new career. Research your choice carefully, visit the cooking school and talk to them about what you hope to achieve by attending. Once you are satisfied that this is the route for you, enrol with confidence and put everything into your training. Your new career will be underway.
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