Sous Chef Career

A Sous Chef is the second in command in restaurants, bakeries, or culinary services.  They work with and report to the Executive Chef, and share many of the same responsibilities.  Executive Chefs generally have administrative duties as well, so the Sous Chef must be capable of taking over in their absence, which may include duties such as overseeing the preparation of food and all kitchen staff, maintaining inventory, and scheduling and/or training employees.  They work side by side with the Exec Chef when planning menus, figuring costs, and ordering supplies.  In large organizations, multiple Sous Chefs are employed in order to supervise each department individually. 

The foodservice industry can be stressful, so it is important that Sous Chefs work well under pressure to dissolve any issues with little or no disruption to their customers.  Irate customers and insubordinate employees occasionally arise, and should be dealt with respectfully and quickly under sometimes hectic conditions.  Not only is there a great deal of stress, but hours are generally long and can be unpredictable.  It is not uncommon for a Sous Chef to work 50 plus hours per week, often seven days a week.  They must be flexible with their schedule and able to fill in if employees are unexpectedly absent. 

Experienced chefs are commonly promoted into these positions after proving their leadership abilities and thorough knowledge of common occurrences, usually two to five years.  Formal education may range from a vocational two year curriculum up to a formal Bachelor’s degree.  Candidates graduating from accredited programs generally complete internships and apprenticeships, in which they gain experience for entering this occupation. 

While culinary careers are projected to remain plentiful through 2012, it is predicted that competition for careers in top kitchens and high end restaurants will be intense.  Full service restaurants are expecting a growth comparable to other industries in coming years.  Candidates possessing advanced education and vast experience will have the best opportunities.  For more information on a career as a Sous Chef, please visit the following sites:

• Flavour Cooking School
• Chefs Depot
• Cooking Careers
• Sous Vide Cooking Method
• Chefs Career Paths

For a list of available Sous Chef positions as well as a database of Sous Chefs searching for a career, please visit iHireChefs.