Question 7

What are the Cons of being a Chef?
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Being A chef might seem fun to an individual but there are also some cons of being a chef. As a chef he or she often work hours that are opposite of his or her friends and family hours. A career as a chef  might seem like it is easy but it's hard work. While being a chef there are no shortcuts. As and individual he or she will have to start at or near the bottom, even if he or she has a formal education. If a chef works in a commercial kitchen it can be stressful. Being stress is a one of the most leading factors that plays as a relatively high turnover rate within the food-service industry. Chefs tend to work long hour, which is at least an 10-hour shift. Some executive chefs regularly work much longer. In the industry of being a professional chef it faces a fair share of issues, which includes a gender gap in pay and in positions. "According to the American Culinary Federation (ACF), only 19 percent of all chefs and head cooks are female. Plus, there is a wage gap between men and women " ("Chef and Culinary Career Information").

There are also two major cons of being a chef, which is competition, and stress and difficulty. The competition for a chef positions in prestigious restaurants and other high-paid situations is strong. As a chef there must competition with his or her peers in culinary skill and in his or her ability to market new foods and attract customers. The care of a chef can be stressful and physically demanding. Chefs hours may tend to be late into the night. The individual must be strong enough to handle the food prep equipment and large quantities of ingredients. He or she must be able to work fast to provide food on time for the customers that are waiting. Chefs must learn quickly on the job to advance through the ranks.The time pressure in a kitchen leaves little room for mistakes (Hartman).

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Works Cited

Hartman, Dennis. "The advantages and disadvantages of being a chef." eHow. eHow. Web. 20 May 2013. http://www.ehow.com/info_7824177_advantages-disadvantages-becoming-chef.html.

"Chef and Culinary Career Information." Trade Schools Colleges, and University. beelineweb.com, 4 2 2012. Web. 20 May 2013. http://www.trade-schools.net/career-counselor.