3 Tips for Choosing a School for Culinary Arts That’s Right for You
Just matriculated and uncertain about what to do with the rest of your life? Gone are the days when we had to spend hundreds of thousands in university fees so we could study something we weren’t interested in, only to secure a high-paying career. Today, you do not need a university degree to achieve financial stability and career satisfaction, especially for those interested in the culinary arts.
A thriving, lucrative industry, acknowledged as one of the 2020s most flexible, most exciting, and most recession-proof job markets, culinary arts and hospitality hold many positions for those who are creative, enjoy working with people and hungry for success. Once you’ve achieved an internationally accredited qualification from a chef school, you will be knowledgeable enough to work in just about any restaurant of your choice, and you’ll be confident to open your very own hospitality business. But first, you will need some help to find the right school for you.
- Accreditation and Placement Rate of Alumni
Do not waste your money and time if the school is not City & Guilds accredited. Find out where the school’s graduates work, so you know what to expect. For instance, Chefs Training & Innovation Academy alumni work in Michelin-star restaurants throughout Europe, and some have even become celebrity authors, influencers and entrepreneurs. Just recently, a CTIA alumnus received a job offer from MasterChef Australia’s George Calombaris in Australia.
- School Facilities, Curriculum and Hands-On Instruction
Start by short-listing schools that have existed for more than a decade – the longer the school’s existence, the broader your network of alumni. Also, visit the school to view its kitchen facilities and curriculum. A quality curriculum must cover food sanitation, restaurant management, marketing, ethical practices, flavour pairings, profiles, and the creation of dishes and menus. But for a chef-in-training, there’s no substitute for a real restaurant experience, and you’ll know you’ve found a school of excellence when they can offer practical hands-on experience in a real-world restaurant.
- Internships are a MUST!
There is no point in enrolling in a chef academy that can’t offer you anything beyond a diploma or certificate. When investing in a culinary arts career, you need a chef school that will push you to shine above your comfort zone. You need a school that will find you an internship on South African soil or in Europe and even help you find a job locally or internationally.
If you want to launch a career in a rapidly expanding marketplace, then the culinary courses at CTIA are an excellent launching pad. Contact us today for more information.