{"id":13329,"date":"2022-03-11T09:30:01","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T15:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/uncategorized\/5-transferable-skills-you-can-learn-in-culinary-schools\/"},"modified":"2024-06-26T16:28:53","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T21:28:53","slug":"5-transferable-skills-you-can-learn-in-culinary-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/5-transferable-skills-you-can-learn-in-culinary-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Culinary School Skills You Can Take With You Anywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you choose to enroll in culinary school<\/a>, you may set your sights on becoming a chef<\/a> or dream of working as a wedding cake designer<\/a>. Even if you don\u2019t know exactly what you want to do after you graduate, one thing is probably certain: you want your job to involve food, flavor, and hospitality.<\/p>\n

However, change inevitably happens. You might graduate from culinary school and spend the rest of your life in the field. But maybe you\u2019ll instead develop a new passion, or perhaps unexpected circumstances could lead you to pursue an alternative career. If you do end up straying away from the food service industry, you might begin to wonder, \u201cIs all that time I spent in culinary school wasted?\u201d<\/p>\n

We\u2019re here to save you from any fear of falling into a deep hole of regret. No matter where you ultimately end up in your professional life, you can still utilize many transferable skills gained in culinary school.<\/p>\n

1. Time Management and Organization<\/h2>\n

Life always seems to throw something new at us. Just as we finish planning our schedules so we can get everything done on time, another task is piled onto our plates. Fortunately, a hectic kitchen can be one of the best places to learn how to deal with this seemingly endless list of demands.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re working in a kitchen, there may appear to be a hundred things happening at once. Pots boil, flames ignite, and chefs call out orders. While this pressure can push some people to their breaking points, others learn how to thrive in this chaotic environment. One of the keys to success? Time management.<\/a><\/p>\n\"Two\n

As a culinary school student, you can learn how to prioritize tasks so you can accomplish the most critical ones on time. You can begin to differentiate between what is important and what is urgent. And by learning fundamentals like mise en place<\/a>, you may be able to develop an organizational routine that works for you.<\/p>\n

Not only will you explore how to manage your own work, but you\u2019ll also find ways to work with others in order to keep the whole operation running smoothly. This may involve jumping in to help team members who are immersed in the weeds, or delegating your own tasks if you find you\u2019re overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

2. Practical Business Skills<\/h2>\n

While culinary school can teach you how to combine flavors and create delectable dishes, there\u2019s more to a successful culinary career than delicious food. That\u2019s why students also hone important business skills.<\/p>\n

Escoffier students can learn about managing food costs<\/a> during Food Service Math and Accounting. These skills are often essential if someone wants to be involved in a profitable restaurant, catering business, or food truck. Students may also have the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship skills such as strategic planning, understanding government regulation, and proper business ethics.<\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t end up working in the culinary industry, these skills can come in handy if you decide to start your own business. And no matter where you end up, knowing a bit more about taxes, accounting, and business ethics can help you to more expertly navigate your career and finances.<\/p>\n\"Businessman\n

3. Ability to Lead Teams<\/h2>\n

When you want to connect people around a common goal or achieve something that\u2019s bigger than yourself, you\u2019ll often need to call on your leadership skills. And no, this doesn’t necessarily mean stepping up on a podium or barking out orders.<\/p>\n

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\"Jeffrey“Culinary school taught me to be in touch with the classic dishes from around the world. Most of all, it was a concentration on technique. Also, it provided the opportunity to work in a team environment with a bunch of other chefs to put together a meal.”
\nJeffrey Lammer, Kitchen Manager, Root Down Restaurant; Boulder Culinary Arts graduate*<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Culinary school can teach you that being a leader often means stepping in and doing what needs to be done, regardless of how menial the job seems. That may entail showing a co-worker how to complete a task more efficiently or it could involve taking out the trash when your team is on a roll and disrupting their process would hinder the ultimate outcome.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re a student at Escoffier, you can have the opportunity to learn from talented and experienced leaders, your Chef Instructors<\/a>. These professionals demonstrate the knowledge, compassion, and humility that great leaders possess.<\/p>\n

4. Problem Solving Under Stress<\/h2>\n

While it would be nice if life in the kitchen always went as planned, this isn\u2019t the case. Ingredient shortages, customer allergies, and broken equipment can force culinary professionals to adapt on the fly and come up with creative solutions.<\/p>\n

Culinary school provides an arena for students to make mistakes and learn from them. With the guidance of Chef Instructors, students can learn to view kitchen problems<\/a> with an inquisitive rather than a defeatist attitude.<\/p>\n\n\t

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The Essential Culinary Career Survey<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

The Essential Culinary Career Survey<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

What's your ideal culinary career: Fine dining? Your own restaurant? Pastry? Get our self-evaluation survey to find out!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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We\u2019ve compiled a checklist of all of the essential questions into one handy guide:<\/strong> career options, culinary interest surveys, educational opportunities, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYES, I want the survey!<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t

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