| First - some of the responsibilities that might | | | | operation. Not only do you need to be highly |
| come with chef manager jobs: | | | | motivated yourself, you need to be able to |
| Menu planning, making sure the chefs are ready | | | | motivate others. In a workplace that requires |
| for service, administration, health and safety, food | | | | hard work and is often stressful, this is not an |
| ordering,staff management, stocktaking, and | | | | easy task. So, having a positive attitude and |
| financial tasks. | | | | understanding human relations and the needs of |
| All these responsibilities for one person might look | | | | your staff will ensure that you will be able to |
| daunting, but have you ever, while working in a | | | | manage the team well. Good interaction with your |
| kitchen, looked at your Chef Manager thinking that | | | | staff is essential for performing your job as team |
| it's a tough job and a great responsibility, but you | | | | leader and will help you be effective when |
| could probably do the job yourself, and do it really | | | | overseeing and training staff. Setting high |
| well? | | | | standards and creating a pleasant work |
| Well, you might be right - to help you find out, | | | | environment will make the job easier for |
| we've compiled a few questions you should ask | | | | everyone in the long run. Other tasks you might |
| yourself: | | | | be expected to do that relate to 'people skills' are |
| · Can you show a well-proven track record in | | | | dealing with incidents or complaints in the kitchen |
| the kitchen on your resume? Of course, excellent | | | | in an appropriate and fair manner, and interacting |
| recommendations from well-reputable hospitality | | | | with customers and clients. |
| institutions should be a first priority for anyone | | | | · How good is your knowledge of business and |
| hiring a chef manager. If you are not an excellent | | | | finance? Running a restaurant or any other |
| cook, your chances of landing the job are slim. | | | | commercial kitchen is a business. Not only sticking |
| You will be setting an example for every single | | | | to your budget is essential, but being able to keep |
| person in the kitchen. So, not only should you be | | | | invoices and records of all the running expenses |
| excellent in your field, you need to gain | | | | of the kitchen and passing it on to the accountant |
| experience and be able to show high standards in | | | | in an orderly fashion is necessary. Doing regular |
| a variety of specialized fields. Get as much | | | | inventories and keeping track of orders and |
| experience as you can in all aspects of kitchen | | | | deliveries will probably be a regular part of your |
| work, and you will be able to give advice and | | | | job, as well as reporting to management. |
| make the right decisions as the manager. | | | | · And last - but certainly not least, ask yourself: |
| · Am I good at organizing? Do you always make | | | | can I handle stress? Everyone working in a |
| sure your work space, ingredients and schedule | | | | kitchen has experienced those stressful moments, |
| are well planned and organized? As a chef | | | | when orders are piling and everyone is waiting for |
| manager, you will be doing less cooking and a lot | | | | their food to be served on time and to the |
| more organizational work. Apart from supervising | | | | highest possible standard. With the added |
| the staff, you will have to do a lot of | | | | responsibility of the job, comes added stress. So |
| administrative work. You might be given a budget | | | | be aware, and check yourself at work - how do |
| to work with and left with all the organizational | | | | you react at times of stress? Learn how to keep |
| work of planning the meals, ordering and even | | | | your wits about you and stay calm in a stressful |
| pricing the items on the menu. And this is only | | | | situation. Your chances of succeeding on the job |
| part of the many administrative tasks associated | | | | will be much greater if you can keep everything in |
| with the running of a large kitchen. So, if you | | | | your control. |
| have excellent organization skills, give yourself a | | | | So how did you do? If you answered 'yes' to |
| ü. | | | | most of the questions above, or think that you |
| · How good are my 'people skills'? If you've | | | | can work towards that goal; if you think you can |
| worked in commercial kitchens, you know that | | | | be the one responsible for setting high standards |
| kitchen work requires team work. And as the | | | | and creating a safe environment for the staff, |
| head chef you will be managing the team and | | | | then the chef manager jobs might be for you. |
| setting the standards and the pace for the whole | | | | |