The Line Chef (also known as Chef de Partie, Station Chef or Line Cook) is responsible for an area of the kitchen. They're usually trained in one culinary area. The Line Cook and their team will be responsible for cooking meats or preparing vegetables or overseeing the sauces/soups, etc. To get a job as a Line Chef there are certain skills and experiences you will need on your CV to impress your interviewer.
To be a Line Chef you must have:
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At least 3 years in the culinary industry
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Excellent cooking skills
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Good communication skills
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Ability to work under pressure
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Excellent understanding of how a restaurant kitchen works
1. At least 3 years in the culinary industry
Line Chef isn't an entry level position, you will need experience working as a chef before you can apply for the position.
Getting work experience as a Commis Chef is the traditional starting point for most chefs. It's an entry level position where chefs are responsibile for preparing ingredients and assisting other chefs. Commis Chefs also work directly beneath a Line Cook so they can get valuable insight on what it's like to be in charge of a station in a kitchen.
You will be looking to get at least three years of work experience as a chef before you can apply to be a Line Cook.
2. Excellent cooking skills
As you rise the ranks in the kitchen, your cooking skills will be expected to grow. After being a Commis Chef, you should know the basic cutting techniques, know how to follow recipes and possess intermediate cooking skills. To be a Line Cook, you should be able to cook delicious meals independently and have a creative flair.
3. Good communication skills
The Line Cook is responsible for their cooking station and all the Commis Chefs who are working with them. So they need to be able to communicate successfully with their team and other chefs in the kitchen.
Creating meals requires team work between chefs. To show you have the potential to be a Line Cook, you need to show you have the ability to work with your colleagues and follow instructions from the Head and Sous Chefs.
4. Ability to work under pressure
Being a chef is an intense job, you have demanding deadlines and strict instructions. As a Line Cook, you have more responsibilites and there is more pressure on your shoulders. For those reasons, you need to show you can deal with that added pressure to prove you're an excellent candidate.
5. Excellent understanding of how a restaurant kitchen works
Line Cooks will have been in the culinary industry for over three years, they know their way around the kitchen and what is the normal routine. As these chefs are responsible for their working area and the Commis Chefs working with them, they need to be confident in what they're doing.
Do I need qualifications to be a Line Cook?
There is no necessity for you to have qualifications to apply for a job as a Line Cook. Many chefs start from the bottom of the chain and rise with experience.
Going to a culinary school or completing specialised cooking courses will help your application stand out from the crowd.
Dress like a Line Cook
To be considered as a Line Chef, you need to be professionally dressed for work. Remember being a Line Cook is a more senior position in the kitchen and it's important to be dressed correctly. Along with the correct chef uniform, you're expected to wear slip-resistant chef shoes.
Floors in restaurant kitchens are slippery, wearing work shoes with effective slip resistance tread reduces the chance of suffering an injury at work. Our SFC chef shoes are designed for chefs, they offer safety features, support for your long hour shifts and slip-resistant grip.
Visit our shop to see our shoes:
Want to earn more money in the Kitchen?
Get the ultimate guide to kitchen career progression. We've covered every role and explain what it takes to get into each role as well as those above it. If you're serious about your culinary career - this is the guide for you: