Food & farming · Art & stories
What does a
chef do?
Turns ingredients into meals people love.
A career guide for curious students · Grades 3–12
A day in the life
Plans menus, prepares food, manages the kitchen team, and keeps everything clean and safe.
Skills to practise
Creativity, speed, teamwork, taste.
How to explore this path
Culinary courses and kitchen experience.
Training, qualifications and professional rules vary by country. Check current local requirements with a teacher or careers counsellor.
School subjects & interests
Chef connects with Chemistry, Art. You may enjoy this work if you like hands-on, creative.
TRY A LITTLE OF THIS CAREER
A hands-on activity
With an adult, invent a new sandwich and ask for feedback.
Ask an adult to help. Follow the safety notes in the activity. Print this activity or save it as a PDF in your chosen language. Downloadable PDF files are in English.
For younger explorers: a simpler explanation
What do they do?
Chefs cook tasty food. They invent recipes and lead a kitchen team.
What helps?
Being creative, quick, and clean.
Learning about the path
You learn in kitchens and cooking schools.
Questions to explore next
- Which part of this work sounds most interesting to me?
- What did I enjoy when I tried the activity?
- What could I ask someone who works in this field?