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Sous Chef

We are looking for a sous chef to join our establishment and help prepare, garnish and serve high-quality dishes. You will be in charge of the kitchen and have to ensure it is working to its optimum capacity in an efficient time-bound manner during service. You will need to maintain the standard of our establishment as your contribution will drive more customers towards us, therefore positively impacting our image.


Hospitality Industry

This industry comprises of various categories of service related fields such as hotels, restaurants, transportation, and event planning to name a few. It is a profit-oriented multibillion-dollar industry directly dependent on the disposable income and leisure time of people.


What to expect from the role

  • Hands-on experience in the kitchen.
  • Practicing basic cooking skills and techniques.
  • Working under the guidance and leadership of chefs.
  • Exposure to the culinary world and people involved in the field of hospitality.


Responsibilities

  • Help in the preparation of the dishes and drinks on the menu
  • Maintain high quality in the preparation of dishes and live up to our quality standards.
  • Ensure the kitchen works efficiently and maintains time throughout service
  • Help the head chef with necessary tasks
  • Fill in for the head chef if absent
  • Manage, train and orient kitchen staff and regularly assess their performance
  • Establish work schedules and ensure they are met
  • Maintain an inventory of all kitchen supplies and ensure that it is regularly stocked
  • Comply with all food and beverage regulations
  • Maintain a clean and tidy workplace up to the regulation standards
  • Maintain healthy relationships with customers and colleagues
  • Enrich the work environment


Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in culinary sciences
  • Prior work experience as a chef or in the kitchen
  • Familiar with the industries practices and up to date on all new methods of food preparation
  • Ability to solve problems with speed and efficiency
  • Basic knowledge of computers and MS Office.


Average Salary

Average salary per annum ranges between $36,816 and $56,580.

An average of $16.78 per hour

Source - salary.com

Career Path

Sous chef is not an entry-level job and requires a certain level of qualification and kitchen experience. Here is an ideal way you can chart your path towards becoming a sous chef post-high school.

  • Attend a culinary training school and complete an associate’s or master’s degree program.
  • Job experience of 4 years in entry-level roles in the kitchen of an established restaurant.
  • Professional institutions offer apprenticeship programs for 2-3 years for aspiring sous chefs where they can learn in a classroom and gain hands-on experience.


Career Progression

After sufficient experience as a Sous Chef for a few years, the possible career options for growth include:

  • Executive Sous Chef
  • Executive Chef

After sufficient experience as a Sous Chef for a few years, the possible career options for growth include:

  • Hotel Manager
  • Restaurant Manager
  • Restaurant Owner


Sample Questions

Personal

  • Where do you see yourself in 5 years, and how does being a Sous Chef influence this goal?

  • Which Chef’s practice and technique do you idolize and why?

  • What qualities of yours support this job role?

Human Resources

  • How would you react if a member of our establishment violated the food safety regulations?

  • Are you comfortable with working flexible hours?

  • Describe your knowledge of food safety.

Management

  • How would you describe your management style?

  • Is there anything you would like to change about our menu, if yes, what is it?

  • Who do you identify as our competitors and why?

Technique and Skill

  • What are the five mother sauces in cooking? Describe how you would make any two?

  • What are the different ways of cooking a stake?

  • What are the key points to aesthetic plating?