What does a Junior Chef do?
A Junior Chef usually assists the different Station Chefs in the kitchen. They help prepare ingredients and carry out any other jobs the Station Chef requires help with. Junior Chefs routinely move around the kitchen to assist different Station Chefs.
Junior Chef skills and qualifications
A successful Junior Chef candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as listening skills
- Attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality work
- Knowledge of food safety and hygiene regulations
- Interpersonal skills and ability to work well in a team as well as independently
- Ability to stand for long hours
- Excellent organisational skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- A food handler’s licence
Junior Chef experience requirements
Junior Chef positions usually require at least six months of experience working in a similar or related position. A Junior Chef typically starts as a Kitchen Assistant, and trains for the position by working for six months in each area of the kitchen. Employers also require prospective Junior Chefs to have experience operating various kitchen equipment including ovens, electric or gas ranges, deep fryers, microwave, grills and griddles.
Junior Chef education and training requirements
Employers usually prefer candidates who have General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs) and Level 1 and 2 Food Safety Awards. A candidate without a formal education must complete an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Some employers may require candidates to complete a two or four-year programme at a technical or culinary arts institute. These programmes cover food prep and cooking, kitchen work, food safety, sanitation, purchasing, inventory, menu planning and management. Other desirable and useful qualifications, but not necessary, include City & Guilds 706/1 Catering, NVQ Level 1, Level 2 Health and Safety in the Workplace Award and Level 3 Food Safety Awards.
Junior Chef salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary of a Junior Chef in the UK is £21, 738 per year. Their actual salary varies depending on their level of experience, the restaurant where they work and its geographical location.
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