Culinary Careers For Dummies by Michele Thomas

Author:Michele Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2011-09-12T04:00:00+00:00

Personality traits

Personal chefs work with numerous people and generally have to market themselves, so they should have good interpersonal skills. They should be outgoing and friendly and not afraid to network or talk to others because many personal chefs get work through recommendations and by word of mouth from their existing clients. You never know who will need a personal chef — or who knows someone else who does.

Another valuable skill personal chefs should possess is organization so that they can juggle more than one job and cook for more than one client. To be a successful personal chef, you must be able to pay attention to details, keep special requests straight, and know which clients have allergies or dietary restrictions. You also should be knowledgeable about nutrition and numerous cuisines. The more you know about these areas, the more attractive you’ll be to potential employers.

Personal chefs should be flexible, easygoing, and open-minded. You should be willing to make new dishes that are outside your comfort zone if that’s what a client wants. If you’re unwilling to try something new, you may risk alienating potential clients. Creativity and the ability to go with the flow are also essential characteristics. If you make a soufflé that does not turn out as expected, you may have to make another one, modify the intended dish, or switch quickly to a backup plan.

Because personal chefs often work in other people’s homes, they must be honest and trustworthy and have respect for personal property. When finding and working with new clients, keep a list of references who can vouch for you.

As a personal chef, you must also have a high standard of cleanliness and know how to follow proper sanitation practices. Remember, you should always leave a client’s kitchen sparkling clean when you’re finished with a job.

Salaries

The salaries of personal chefs can vary greatly. A personal chef with a long list of clients doesn’t necessarily make more money than a personal chef with a smaller clientele. If you’re just starting out as a personal chef, you may have to spend money to make money. You’ll need to market and advertise yourself and your services, and you may even need the assistance of someone who has experience in this area. Also, more education and experience will almost guarantee you more money. The average salary for a personal chef depends on these factors and the types of services and foods you offer. If you offer high-end gourmet dinners and cleaning services, you can charge more than a personal chef who cooks casseroles or simpler dishes and just puts everything in the dishwasher after they are finished.

Self-employed personal chefs and personal chefs working for a chef service usually get paid by the hour or by the job, depending on the contract established between the personal chef and the client and/or the company. One day of cooking can net anywhere from $50 to more than $1,000, depending on factors such as the number of people they have to prepare food for and the types of dishes they’re cooking.

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