People who are passionate about cooking might find themselves dreaming of the kitchen during a 9-5 position in an unrelated field. It is said that if you find a career you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. So if you love to cook, why not make your dreams of becoming a chef your reality? Here are five perks of getting a degree in culinary arts:
- You Don’t Need a Bachelor’s Degree
In order to break into the culinary industry, you can choose to pursue an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree, depending on your career goals. Many successful chefs are hired with an associate degree, which can save you both time and money.
- A Solid Foundation of Techniques
You may think you know how to cook, but there are endless techniques to try and cuisines that take training to master. Everything from holding a knife to knowing how to properly ice a cake are taught in culinary school the way they were meant to be done. Having a leg up on proper techniques can help to give you a leg as a job applicant.
- Get the Whole Picture
Culinary arts programs typically involve more than just cooking–you’ll learn nutrition, bartending, menu planning and other management skills. This can help prepare you for a career as a sous-chef, pastry chef, executive chef and even food service managers.
- Networking
Walking into a restaurant and applying for a job as a chef is a vastly different experience than getting referred to a restaurant manager by a colleague or professor. Attending culinary school exposes you to a network of alumni and other resources that may increase your chances of getting hired.
- The Food!
If food truly brings you joy, you’ll feel fulfilled at work creating food that people will love. Not to mention, you’ll have to sample your hard work once in a while.Learn more about earning a degree in culinary arts.