BUSINESS NEWS - For most people work is something you have to do to earn money and that work is often less than stimulating, often numbingly routine and without any sense of achievement, purpose or future goals. 

For chefs however, their work is their passion and the rewards are not only the salary they take home every month but the creativity, inspiration and sheer joy they get from being in the kitchen.

So, if you love to cook and are passionate about food then why not develop your interest in cooking and turn it into a career? 

It's no secret that the food and hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing industries locally and internationally, and graduates have the opportunity to work anywhere in the world.

This is especially true of students who study at any of the seven Capsicum Culinary Studio campuses spread across South Africa - in Boksburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria, Rosebank and Ruimsig.  

If you have talent and are willing to work hard, being a chef is a rewarding and exciting job and one that is much in demand.

Ahead of any career decisions that will need to be made in 2025 – whether by a newly-graduated school leaver or someone who wants to follow their passion and change jobs - here are 10 more reasons why you might might want to consider studying to become a chef.

1. If you love food and cooking why not make a career out of it by becoming a professional chef. As well as the job satisfaction, being a chef offers great career progression from Commis Chef to Demi Chef, Chef de Partie, Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine and finally Executive Chef. You also have the option of working at many different venues including restaurants, hotels, resorts, cruise liners, catering companies and corporate or private events.
2. It's a growth-industry job. People will always want to eat out and as the hospitality industry is steadily growing year on year there are many new and challenging positions on offer.
3. Take your career global. Wherever you choose to live, finding work as a chef will always be an option. Whether you fancy preparing meals on a luxury liner or taking one of the jobs in a posh restaurant in London, New York or Paris, a career as a chef is highly portable!
4. You can specialise. Chefs learn by preparing and cooking all kinds of food to give them an overall understanding and a wide repertoire. But there's plenty of opportunity to specialise if you have a passion for a certain cuisine - be it Chinese, French or Mexican. Or, if you love cakes and desserts, you can become a pastry chef. Whatever your obsession, there are plenty of options to branch out and challenge yourself.
5. Self-employment. Some chefs spend a few years in a restaurant or hotel kitchen, making a name for themselves before branching out and opening their own eatery. Some set up catering companies, preparing meals for private functions and events, while others invest in a food truck and sell their wares at markets and social gatherings. Where there's a gathering of people, there's always a need for food!
6. It's creative. Plating up food and creating new dishes is an art in itself, so the perfect profession for those with a creative streak. Chefs are always looking to create new taste sensations, new food combinations and new recipes that will bring something different to the taste buds.
7. You make people happy. People love eating out, so whether you are helping make a special event even more me memorable or a lunchtime meal more delicious, it's good to know your work is being appreciated.
8. There is never a dull moment. Working in a kitchen can be challenging as you are under pressure to deliver and you spend a lot of time on your feet. However, if you are passionate about food and good at what you do, being a chef can create a real buzz and deliver a highly rewarding career.
9. Varied hours. This is no 9-to-5 job. Chefs work a variety of hours depending on where they work. Some restaurants are only open at night, others only during the day. Most hotels are open 24 hours (for guest who want a late-night snack), while catering companies work shifts and corporate catering can find you prepping breakfast, lunch and dinner.
10. Best of all - you don’t have to wear a suit! No ties for the men, high heels for the women or business suits for both. Which means less money spent on a wardrobe that's needed for that corporate gig.

If this sounds like the sort of thing that tickles your tastebuds, then why not consider enrolling in one of Capsicum Culinary Studio's courses, which include: A one-year Professional Chef Programme (full or part-time); a one-year Professional Patisserie Programme; a three-year Advanced Professional Chef Programme: a Foundational Cookery Programme; an Assistant Baker Skills Programme; a combination Professional Chef and Pastry Programme; and a combination Foundational Cookery and Assistant Baker Skills Programme.

Capsicum’s courses offer international certification through City and Guilds and are nationally accredited with CATHSSETA and the QCTO, attributing to their alumni making their mark throughout the world. Capsicum Culinary Studio has a partnership with The Swiss Education Group (SEG) and is a member of The South African Chefs Association, and by extension The World Association of Chefs Societies, exposing learners to international standards and opportunities.

Capsicum Culinary Studio will be hosting Open Days at all seven of its campuses on Saturday, January 25 from 09:00 to 12:00, at which visitors can tour the facilities, meet and chat with chef lecturers and find out more to see if it’s the career that suits them.

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