Working in a professional kitchen is a demanding yet rewarding career, and one with great prospects for those willing to work hard, learn fast and stay open to on-the-job criticism. Like many jobs in the hospitality and food service industries, professional kitchen work offers rapid career advancement, with individuals able to progress to the next rung of the ladder within months of securing their first position.
And again, like so many jobs in hospitality, working in a kitchen environment offers a variety of career prospects, no matter what your interests, skills or experience may be. From kitchen porter to head chef, there are innumerable different roles to choose from in a professional kitchen, giving you the freedom to put your skills and expertise to the test across any number of roles throughout your career.
If you’re interested in a career working in a professional kitchen environment, now is the perfect time to start hunting for that next career move. According to the latest ‘state of the industry’ report by the British Hospitality Association (BHA), the UK hospitality and food service management industries are experiencing significant growth, and 10,000 new jobs are expected to be generated over the next 12 months. For those seeking a career move, 2016 could well be the ideal time to strike while the iron is hot — or so they say.
So how exactly do you land a career in a professional kitchen, and how can you guarantee success once you get there? Here, we offer practical tips and advice on how to succeed in a professional kitchen.
Bolster Your Expertise
Working in a kitchen isn’t just about demonstrating a passion for food and customer service; it’s about adhering to the innumerable pieces of legislation put in place to keep you, your colleagues and your consumers safe, healthy and happy.
To rise quickly on the professional kitchen career ladder, you’ll need to demonstrate you’ve attained the skills and expertise to understand these food hygiene, and health and safety laws. And what better way to do so than with accredited training from My Training Academy?
At MTA, we offer a vast roster of vocational training programmes in food safety, fire safety and health and safety, many of which would be extremely beneficial for those seeking success in a professional kitchen. To browse the full range of training courses, click here.
Gain On-the-job Skills
Given the speed at which hardworking members of staff can progress in a professional kitchen, much of your learning and expertise will come from on-the-job experience of working in a junior role in a high-pressure kitchen environment — so be prepared for on-the-spot learning, and try to absorb all that you see happening around you.
One of the simplest, least demanding (but still equally important) roles in a professional kitchen is the kitchen assistant, or kitchen porter. It’s possible to land a job as a kitchen porter with minimal previous experience, giving you a good platform on which to progress with your career without the need for formal training or specific qualifications.
By learning on-the-job, you’ll remove the need for specific tuition, and be well-placed to progress with your career should an opportunity for promotion arise. Remember, however, that the highest paying roles will require you to attain qualifications in food safety, health and safety, and fire safety — something which your employer may be willing to fund should you prove yourself as positive, reliable, hard-working and eager-to-learn worker.
At MTA, we specialise in helping individuals progress with their career. No matter what level you’re currently operating at, our expert team can advise you of the training programmes that are right for your skills and requirements — helping you secure that new job or promotion.
To find out more about what we can offer you, visit the MTA homepage or call our helpful team on 020 3733 1432.
