All your burning questions about chef jobs—Answered!
All your burning questions about chef jobs—Answered!
Curious about what it’s like to work as a chef? We’ve got all the answers you need.
Chef jobs truly are creative, rewarding, and never the same two days in a row—but it’s common for folks to have lots of questions when moving into this line of work for the first time.
Join us as we walk you through some of the most frequently asked questions about becoming a chef, and give you a bit of insight into what chef jobs are like at M&B.
Ready? Let’s tuck in.
Chef jobs FAQs
How long does it take to become a chef?
The simple answer here is: that it depends.
There isn’t just one route to becoming a chef; it depends on how you go about it. Some culinary programmes last one year—and others last four.
Hands-on experience is key in this industry, and many chefs start their careers as kitchen porters or line cooks, gradually working their way up. At M&B, you don’t need a formal qualification to become a chef—what really matters is gaining valuable experience in the kitchen and developing your skills as you go.
What are the differences between a cook and a chef?
This is a questions that lots and lots of people have when first becoming interested in a career in cooking.
We can explain the difference in a fairly simple way:
- A cook follows recipes and handles food prep in a kitchen environment.
- A chef takes on more of a leadership-based role; managing staff, and even being responsible for budgeting kitchen expenses.
Can I still become a chef if I do not have a degree from a culinary school?
Definitely! Not all chefs have culinary degrees. Lots of chefs begin their careers as entry-level kitchen staff and end up gaining enough experience to work their way up.
Suppose you’re the sort of person who’d prefer to find your way to a cheffing job through hands-on experience, rather than formal education. In that case, you’ll want to pay particular attention to the place where you’re seeking work experience.
For example, at M&B, we’re really keen on career progression and do everything we can to see our team achieve their professional ambitions.
So, if you’re after a chef job but don’t have a degree from a culinary school, don’t worry. Our Chefs Academy apprenticeship is an award-winning training programme that’ll see you go from sous chef to head chef—once you have the ambition and passion to go with.
How do chefs invent new dishes?
How does a painter create a new painting? It comes from whatever source of inspiration is unique to that person.
For chefs, it’s often a case of experimenting with different flavours, textures, tastes, and seasonal ingredients—then using their knowledge of cooking techniques to put it all together and make something sensational.
Escoffier chef, Pietro Vitella, says that he creates new dishes by tapping into—what he calls—his personal “flavour bank” and drawing inspiration from there.
At M&B, once a year, our chefs get the chance to show off their skills in the ultimate Design A Dish competition, where they can create and compete with an exciting, standout dish.
What are some things that good chefs know yet others don't?
Remember how we said that chef jobs go beyond just cooking? It’s also about management of team, money, managing waste, and oodles of knowledge about ingredients and cooking methods.
To answer this question properly, let’s turn to the Michelin Guide—the highest award a chef or restaurant can be given. What does Michelin have to say about winning one of their famous stars? They take five-points into account:
- Quality of ingredients
- Harmony of flavours
- Mastery of techniques
- The personality of the chef as expressed through their food
- Consistency—both across the menu and over time
While it won’t be everyone’s goal to go after a Michelin star, chefs—and chefs-to-be—can learn a lot from their idea of excellence.
What is the hardest part of being a chef?
Phew, anyone who’s seen Hell’s Kitchen can tell you that working in a culinary job isn’t always easy. But it isn’t all Gordon Ramsay-esque explosions—we promise!
The hardest part of chef jobs for a lot of people is the physical and mental demands of the job—which often calls for long hours on your feet in a high-pressure environment.
Balancing the practical side of managing teams and budgets with the day-to-day operations in the kitchen can be a challenge for any chef.
But for people with the ambition and excitement to go into this line of work, it’s a hugely rewarding job like no other.
Tuck into chef jobs at M&B
Is your creativity and love for good food calling you down the road of cheffing? Then we’d love to hear from you! At M&B, we have tonnes of chef jobs that cater to people with different experience levels.
Whether you’re ready to enter the world of cheffing with a sous chef job or are a head chef looking for a new kitchen to crack into, we’re excited to learn more about you and what your goals are.
Reach out to us today and let us help you land your ideal chef job.
Receive articles like this
See what we're all about
We're shaping a workplace where everyone thrives. Explore the heart and soul of Mitchells & Butlers by checking out our guiding principles.
Some articles you might like
Teaser
Bar and WaitingContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/06/2024
Summary
What is a part-time job?A part-time job is pretty much what it sounds like—a role where you work fewer hours than a full-time position. For anyone looking to earn some extra income, balance work
by
Sophie Dawson
Teaser
ManagementContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/06/2024
Summary
At Mitchells & Butlers, we pride ourselves on the growth and development opportunities we provide to our employees. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Christian, General Manager of th
by
Rebecca Houseago
Teaser
ApprenticeshipContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/04/2024
Summary
Are you toying with the idea of doing an apprenticeship rather than going to university? Or maybe you’re already working but you think a qualification will boost your CV? Whatever stage you’re
by
Sue Bayley
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/01/2024
Summary
Christmas is coming, and we can hear Santa's bells fast approaching. That's right, it's almost time to dust off the Christmas jumper and get the decorations out of the box. If you're not excited j
by
Rachel Weaver
Teaser
Head OfficeContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/01/2024
Summary
With Business Change and Technology being a big focus for growth at Mitchells & Butlers, we’re excited to welcome Wendy Annison as our new Solutions Architect. Wendy is here to drive business ch
by
Lucy Chapman
Teaser
Company updateContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/31/2024
Summary
At Mitchells & Butlers, we believe that success isn't just measured by the number of guests we serve, but also by the positive impact we have on our community. That's why we are thrilled to annou
by
Rebecca Skeet
Teaser
GeneralContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/14/2024
Summary
A live-in job, you say? Right, well, before we go any further, let’s break down the basics: What is a live-in job? Simply put, it’s a job that includes live-in accommodation as part of the benefi
by
Rebecca Houseago
Teaser
Bar and WaitingContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/14/2024
Summary
Are you a natural leader, problem-solver, and passionate about working with people? Then a Shift Supervisor job could be a brilliant choice for you. A Shift Supervisor—sometimes called a Shift Ma
by
Rebecca Skeet
Teaser
GraduateContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/10/2024
Summary
Are you passionate about marketing and looking for an opportunity to kickstart your career in a dynamic and supportive environment? Mitchells & Butlers' Undergraduate and Graduate Marketing Sche
by
Rebecca Skeet
Teaser
Bar and WaitingContent Type
BlogPublish date
10/07/2024
Summary
So, the job search is on. Many people dread the process and see it as a race to the finish line where they’ll receive the prize of a job. While that should be your ultimate goal, there’s no sens
by
Sue Bayley
Jobs you might like...
Salary
Competitive Salary
Location
Hare & Hounds, Mirfield, WF14 8EE
Departments
Kitchen Assistant
Hours
Full Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Vintage
Location
Mirfield
Description
No CV to hand? No problem! We've made our application process mobile friendly and removed the need for a CV. Our form takes 2 minutes to complete and tells us all we need about you! With your suppor
Reference
2334834
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Competitive Salary
Location
Hare & Hounds, Mirfield, WF14 8EE
Departments
Chef
Hours
Full Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Vintage
Location
Mirfield
Description
No CV to hand? No problem! We've made our application process mobile friendly and removed the need for a CV. Our form takes 2 minutes to complete and tells us all we need about you! Unwrap your perfe
Reference
2334833
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
Competitive Salary
Location
Hare & Hounds, Mirfield, WF14 8EE
Departments
Kitchen Assistant
Hours
Full Time
Vacancy Type
Other role
Brand
Vintage
Location
Mirfield
Description
No CV to hand? No problem! We've made our application process mobile friendly and removed the need for a CV. Our form takes 2 minutes to complete and tells us all we need about you! Unwrap your per
Reference
2334832
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Fancy an
award winning apprenticeship
Ever thought about an apprenticeship? Fire up your career with one of our multi-award winning apprenticeship programmes which are designed to give you the skills to become a hospitality pro.
Perks of the job...
Love dining out? You'll love it even more with a massive 33% discount across all our brands when you join us. Whether it's date night at Miller & Carter or family roast at Toby Carvery, we’ve got you covered. See what other tasty benefits we offer…